Parents react to school 'inserting' 'voluntary' subjects into the curriculum, what does the principal say?

Many parents of Dong My Primary School (Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh) reported that the school 'inserted' 'voluntary' subjects into regular school hours. School leaders acknowledged this and said they would find a more reasonable way to arrange things.

In recent days, Thanh Nien Newspaper has recorded the complaints of many parents of Dong My Primary School about the school inserting some 'voluntary' subjects into regular school hours. Specifically, English (taught by foreign teachers) and life skills.

"These subjects are registered voluntarily, but are implemented in a way that no one can… not volunteer. Because the "voluntary" subject classes are placed between regular school hours, if our children do not register for them, where will they go and what will they do? Not to mention the differences in the class, which will cause many other consequences," one parent reflected.

Dong My Primary School

BA CUONG

Regarding life skills, some parents are upset because students are absent from school at 10:30 on Fridays, but have to stay 30 minutes longer to study this "voluntary" subject. Meanwhile, most of the time in this subject, teachers only turn on the TV for students to watch episodes of life skills education , without any new, lively ways of teaching, according to parents' feedback.

Although many parents assert that studying "voluntary" subjects is not bad, and even good, not all students have the need, so inserting "voluntary" subjects into the official timetable is unreasonable. In addition, according to parents, this "insertion" will reduce the amount of time for studying official subjects.

Not to mention, if you register for classes, parents will have to pay an additional fee. Specifically, at Dong My Primary School, parents will pay 40,000 VND/month for life skills classes and more than 7,000 VND/period for voluntary English classes.

The voluntary registration form for computer learning has been distributed to parents with children in grade 1.

THANH LOC

In addition, some first grade parents reported that even though their students had just entered school, the homeroom teacher had given them a registration form for the voluntary computer science course.

Regarding the above reflections, Thanh Nien Newspaper reporter spoke with Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy, Principal of Dong My Primary School. Ms. Thuy said that although she had just been transferred to be the school's leader for only 2 months, she still answered questions frankly.

According to Ms. Thuy, the school initially intended to let first graders take an additional "voluntary" subject called computer science and had sent out registration forms to parents. However, after recalculating, the school decided not to do this due to inadequate facilities.

Regarding life skills, Ms. Thuy said that this subject has been taught at Dong My Primary School for many years. According to Ms. Thuy, this is a system of 36 lessons in 1 year (1 lesson per week). The class is held late Friday morning and is not "inserted" into the main curriculum.

If you register to learn life skills, each student must pay 40,000 VND/month.

THANH LOC

Regarding the "voluntary" English subject, Ms. Thuy said that the school has distributed registration forms, and only parents who agree will have their children take the class. Ms. Thuy said that during the "voluntary" English class, which takes place during the regular school year, if any child does not attend, the homeroom teacher will... review literature and math in class.

According to Ms. Thuy, Dong My Primary School is currently contracting with an outside center to teach "voluntary" English. Each class will have a foreign teacher and a Vietnamese assistant. All classes will have 1 "voluntary" English period each week.

The principal added that the school also wanted to separate the voluntary subjects from the regular subjects, but that would mean there would not be enough teachers to teach them. Ms. Thuy said that the school would have more reasonable arrangements in the near future.

Regarding this issue, Thanh Nien Newspaper reporters contacted Mr. Ho Thanh Hai, Head of the Department of Education and Training of Dong Hoi City. Mr. Hai received the feedback and said he would review it and respond to Thanh Nien Newspaper in the next few days.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phu-huynh-phan-ung-truong-chen-mon-tu-nguyen-vao-chinh-khoa-hieu-truong-noi-gi-185231018102942684.htm