Advertisements for 'preschool' programs are booming.

The internet is flooded with advertisements selling sets of materials and programs marketed as "standard pre-primary education" for teachers and parents. Many of these materials are sets of exercises and worksheets for math and Vietnamese language, with no clear author or publisher.

In reality, is there such a thing as a "pre-primary" program that meets the standards of the Ministry of Education and Training?

THERE IS NO PROGRAM CALLED "PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOL"

Mr. Luong Trong Binh, Deputy Head of the Education and Training Department of District 3 (Ho Chi Minh City), affirmed to Thanh Nien Newspaper: "The Ministry of Education and Training does not have any program called 'pre-primary education'; in the Ministry of Education and Training's preschool education program, according to consolidated document No. 01/VBHN-BGDĐT dated April 13, 2021, on the promulgation of the preschool education program, in the field of language development education, there is content introducing writing to 5-6 year old preschool children. Along with this content, there is a set of accompanying learning materials. If teachers teach correctly and thoroughly, making full use of the learning materials for introducing writing, the children will have a basic foundation to prepare well for learning in grade 1."

Preschool children at the City Kindergarten participate in activities to familiarize themselves with writing, preparing for first grade.

Mr. Luong Trong Binh further shared: "Introducing writing in preschool is very important in education for the comprehensive development of children in all aspects. In particular, this activity helps children develop language skills. Through introducing writing, children's vocabulary is enhanced, they practice listening to distinguish and pronounce Vietnamese sounds, become familiar with letters, learn how to arrange letters into words, learn pronunciation, copying, tracing, and tracing letters. They understand the relationship between spoken and written language, and understand what 'reading and writing' means later in primary school. In addition, introducing writing in preschool helps children develop and practice skills such as holding a pen, holding a book, opening pages, proper sitting posture, etc., developing observation skills, memory, and focused attention. Therefore, children develop essential skills for learning Vietnamese in grade 1."

IS IT ENOUGH TO ONLY ATTEND PRESCHOOL TO ENTER GRADE 1?

During this time, many parents are eager to enroll their children in preparatory classes for reading and math before starting first grade. Some even send their children to extra classes at preschools so that kindergarten teachers can help them learn reading and math. Many worry that "if children only study the preschool curriculum, they won't have enough knowledge and skills to enter first grade." Is this true?

If teachers correctly implement the Ministry of Education and Training's preschool education program, and parents cooperate well with the school and teachers in raising, caring for, and educating their children, then by the time children complete kindergarten (5-6 years old), they will have sufficient skills, awareness, physical, aesthetic, and socio-emotional requirements to enter first grade.

A preschool teacher in Ho Chi Minh City, awarded the title of "Excellent Teacher" at the city level in 2023.

Mr. Luong Trong Binh said: "My advice is not to see other children attending extra classes outside of school and then feel impatient and force your own child to do the same. At each age, children only need to progress to a certain stage, from step 1 to step 2, step 3, and they will develop the willpower to move on to the next steps. Attending extra classes and knowing the material beforehand is like a child reaching step 3 and then immediately going back to step 1 in class. This negatively impacts the child's motivation and drive."

"The Ministry of Education and Training's preschool education program, when implemented nationwide, has been thoroughly researched by scientists , so educational institutions and teachers should adhere closely to it. Regarding extracurricular activities, I advise parents to carefully consider any program, class, or center they are considering. Learning is good, but parents must carefully examine the programs their children will be enrolled in," Mr. Binh noted.

A preschool teacher with many years of experience in teaching 5-6 year olds in Ho Chi Minh City, and also a recipient of the city-level award for excellent preschool teaching in 2023, said that many parents understand the issue and the developmental standards for 5-year-olds, the end of the age range announced by the Ministry of Education and Training, and therefore do not place much emphasis on children learning to read and write before entering first grade. This is because it creates a knowledge gap when children enter first grade and negatively impacts their psychology. However, some parents are worried and impatient, wanting their children to be able to read and write fluently before entering primary school.

"The teachers' task is to coordinate with parents, disseminate information, and communicate so that parents understand that learning to write in preschool is different from learning to write in primary school. The learning outcomes for 5-year-olds at the end of the age group are clearly defined, so parents shouldn't rush," this teacher said.

The female teacher also affirmed: "The current preschool education program of the Ministry of Education and Training does not mention anything about a 'pre-primary' program. This may be how some centers nowadays understand the psychology and needs of parents, opening classes with such names to attract students. If teachers follow the Ministry of Education and Training's preschool education program correctly, and parents cooperate well with the school and teachers in raising, caring for, and educating their children, then when children complete kindergarten (5-6 years old), they will have sufficient skills, awareness, physical, aesthetic, and socio-emotional requirements to enter first grade."

Introducing children to writing is not only demonstrated through educational activities organized by teachers, but also in daily life at all times and in all places, and especially through creating a diverse writing environment in the classroom.

Understanding the activities involved in preparing children for first grade.

In early April 2024, a workshop titled "Organizing educational activities to prepare 5-year-old children for first grade - familiarizing them with writing" was held at the City Kindergarten (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City).

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet, a specialist in the Preschool Education Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said that teachers design educational activities based on the principle of "learning through play, playing to learn"; organizing experiential activities to help children develop well physically, linguistically, and cognitively, and to be psychologically ready to enter first grade. At the same time, these activities help form essential life skills such as self-care, asking permission, waiting their turn, raising their hand to speak, discipline, concentration in class, turning pages in a book, sitting in the correct posture, and self-protection…

Ms. Anh Tuyet also stated that introducing children to writing is not only demonstrated through educational activities organized by teachers but also in daily life at all times and in all places, and especially through building a diverse writing environment in the classroom. In designing the educational environment, teachers should frequently change the environment with the children so that they are "immersed" in a writing environment. This could be a sign with the names of different types of trees in the schoolyard; a child's name tag on the locker in front of the classroom; a roll call board with children's names; a writing corner; the class library… Besides written language, there is also sign language such as the toilet sign; the sign not to step on the grass or not to climb…

There are many more important things to prepare children for first grade than just learning to read and do math.

The owner of a kindergarten in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, believes that the reason so many parents are rushing to send their children to extra classes and pre-school programs from kindergarten is because in a first-grade class of 35 students, sometimes more than 30 children have already started these classes. Word spreads from one parent to another; seeing their child's handwriting and math skills lagging behind others, parents become anxious and compete with each other, leading them to enroll their children in these pre-school programs year after year.

"My view is that we should strictly follow the Ministry of Education and Training's preschool education program. Before children enter first grade, there are many things that are more important to prepare them for than rushing to learn to read and do math proficiently. These include preparing them psychologically and mentally, developing skills in making friends, independence, teamwork, the ability to concentrate and pay attention during lectures, and self-care skills...", the school principal explained.

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