Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training: Detailed instructions on teaching 2 sessions/day at each level

(NLDO) - Teaching time for session 1 and session 2 of the week is flexible in arrangement; session 1 is not fixed in the morning and session 2 is in the afternoon.

On the afternoon of September 10th, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training officially issued a document guiding the implementation of two-session-per-day teaching at each educational level.

In its guidelines for teaching two sessions per day, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training requires that when organizing two-session-per-day teaching, schools must effectively implement the objectives of the General Education Program, ensuring sufficient teaching time for subjects and organizing educational activities; avoiding overload, and ensuring suitability to the students' psychology, physiology, and health.

Ensuring the rights and needs of students are met, in accordance with the actual conditions of the school and locality; prioritizing budget allocation for organizing two-session-per-day teaching, effectively implementing the policy of socializing education while ensuring the principles of voluntariness, transparency, and compliance with the law.

The teaching time for the first and second sessions of the week is flexible; the first session is not fixed to the morning and the second to the afternoon.

The time allocated for teaching and educational activities in the second session should not be used to teach compulsory or elective subjects, educational activities, or specialized topics of the General Education Program, nor for conducting student assessments.

Detailed instructions for each level are as follows:

For primary school level

Teaching will be conducted in two sessions per day, with no more than 7 lessons per day, each lesson lasting 35 minutes; the teaching plan will consist of a minimum of 9 sessions per week (equivalent to 32 lessons per week).

Content and teaching methods

- Session 1: Organizing the teaching of the content of the General Education Program for subjects and educational activities issued with Circular No. 32/2018 of the Ministry of Education and Training.

- Session 2: Organize reinforcement activities to help students complete the learning content, including cultural and artistic education, STEM/STEAM education, reading culture education, school culture education, moral education, life skills education, financial education, traffic safety education; digital literacy education, artificial intelligence (AI), foreign languages, sports , activities exploring the natural, social, cultural, historical, and traditional aspects of the locality, and other educational content as prescribed, meeting the needs, interests, and talents of students,...

- Diversify teaching and learning methods: guided self-study, group learning, experiential learning, club activities.

For lower secondary school level

Implement a two-session-per-day teaching schedule according to the plan; organize and conduct two-session-per-day teaching in schools with sufficient facilities and teaching staff; arrange a minimum of 5 days/week and a maximum of 11 sessions/week, with no more than 7 lessons per day, each lesson lasting 45 minutes.

Content and teaching methods

- Session 1: Organizing the teaching of the content of the General Education Program for subjects and educational activities issued with Circular No. 32/2018 of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Session 2: Organizing review and tutoring for students who have not met the requirements of the general education program; fostering gifted students; organizing review sessions for students taking the entrance exam to grade 10; organizing scientific and technical research activities, career guidance education, experiential activities, STEM/STEAM education; education on reading culture, ethics, school culture, life skills education, financial education, education on traffic safety; education on digital skills, artificial intelligence (AI), foreign languages, sports, culture, arts and other educational content as prescribed, meeting the needs, interests and talents of students,...

- Diversify teaching and learning methods: group learning among students of similar level and ability, or through interest-based clubs; guide students in self-study; combine classroom learning with extracurricular educational activities, such as multi-purpose halls, libraries, and playgrounds.

For high school level

Implement a two-session-per-day teaching schedule according to the plan; organize and conduct two-session-per-day teaching in schools with sufficient facilities and teaching staff; arrange a minimum of 5 days/week and a maximum of 11 sessions/week, with no more than 7 lessons per day, each lesson lasting 45 minutes.

Content and teaching methods

- Session 1: Organizing the teaching of content for compulsory and elective subjects and educational activities, as well as specialized study topics issued with Circular No. 32/2018 and Circular No. 13/2022 of the Ministry of Education and Training.

- Session 2: Organizing review and tutoring for students who have not met the requirements of the General Education Program; fostering gifted students; preparing for the high school graduation exam; organizing scientific and technical research activities, career guidance education, experiential activities, STEM/STEAM education, reading culture education, school culture education, career counseling, volunteer activities; moral education, life skills education, financial education, education on traffic safety; education in digital skills, artificial intelligence (AI), foreign languages, sports, culture, arts and other educational content as prescribed, meeting the needs, interests and talents of students,...

- Diversify teaching and learning methods: group learning among students with similar abilities and interests; organize clubs, guide students in self-study, combine classroom learning with extracurricular and after-school educational activities; coordinate with higher education institutions, research institutions, vocational education institutions, businesses, organizations, and individuals to participate in appropriate educational activities to support the organization of two-session-per-day teaching.

The teaching time for the first and second sessions of the week is flexible; it is not fixed to the first session in the morning and the second session in the afternoon.

When developing a plan for teaching two sessions per day, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training noted that school principals are responsible for researching the legal documents of units wishing to cooperate and collaborate in organizing activities.

School leaders, subject departments, and teachers understand students' needs (through assessments, surveys, discussions, interviews, etc.) and regulations to determine appropriate teaching content, educational activities, duration, and methods.

- Reinforce learning content to ensure students complete the curriculum; review and provide remedial instruction for students whose end-of-semester results in the subject are below par (no more than 2 lessons/subject/week; first-year classes implement this from the second semester of the school year; other grade levels implement it from the beginning of the school year).

- Providing advanced training for gifted students in specific subjects (no more than 2 lessons/subject/week; implemented from the beginning of the school year until the students participate in the exam).

- Review for the 10th grade entrance exam and the high school graduation exam (no more than 6 lessons/week; implemented from the beginning of the school year).

- Career guidance activities, experiential learning, STEM/STEAM, life skills, digital literacy, AI, foreign languages, sports, culture, arts, and career counseling...

- Activities and learning content aimed at organizing and implementing projects and plans of the city and the education sector.

Duration: The first and second sessions, the number of periods for the first session and the number of periods for the second session per day and per week are arranged flexibly according to the prescribed time allocation, suitable and convenient to the conditions of the school, students and parents.

Implementation methods: Organize diverse, rich, appropriate, and effective teaching methods (group learning, self-study, clubs; combination in/outside the classroom; direct, online, or collaborative; collaboration between school teachers and experts from social organizations, higher education institutions, businesses, etc.).

After determining the teaching content, educational activities, duration, and implementation methods, school leaders develop appropriate plans:

Lesson plan and educational activities for the first session: Arrange the number of first sessions within the total number of sessions per week to ensure sufficient lessons per week for compulsory, elective, and thematic subjects and educational activities as prescribed in the General Education Program.

The teaching plan and educational activities for the second session are implemented using budget funds.

The plan's content must comply with regulations, be scientific, reasonable, and effective; it must specifically and clearly define the purpose, requirements, content, time, and location: Consolidating learning content to help students complete the coursework; reviewing and providing remedial instruction for students whose end-of-semester results in the subject were below par.

- Providing advanced training for gifted students in specific subjects. Preparing students for the 10th grade entrance exam and the high school graduation exam. Professional activities are converted into teaching hours according to Circular 05/2025 of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Specifically, the time allocated for teaching and educational activities in the second session should not be used to teach compulsory or elective subjects, educational activities, or specialized topics of the general education program, nor for conducting student assessments.

The teaching plan and educational activities in the second session are implemented through a socialized approach. This ensures voluntary student participation, parental consent, and suitability to the school's organizational capabilities (evidence provided).

Source: https://nld.com.vn/so-gd-dt-tp-hcm-huong-dan-chi-tiet-day-2-buoi-ngay-o-tung-bac-hoc-196250910202850333.htm