Bhutan is known as one of the happiest countries in the world. But interestingly, few people know that among the team that developed the philosophy of education on happiness, there is a person of Vietnamese origin: Professor Ha Vinh Tho.
After making significant educational contributions worldwide and being honored by UNESCO, Professor and Doctor Ha Vinh Tho returned to Vietnam and has been quietly spreading the spirit of "happy schools" for many years.
Ms. Nguyet, a teacher at a primary school participating in the "Happy Schools" project in Hue , recounted a story with her fourth-grade students. Last semester, her school held a drawing competition on the theme of saving energy and protecting the environment. Students were encouraged to draw wishes about nature. When the competition ended, her students ran up to her and asked, "Did our class win anything, teacher?"
Seeing the eager eyes of the children awaiting the results, Ms. Nguyet asked, "Did you enjoy drawing your ideas together?" "Yes." Ms. Nguyet continued, "Do you feel you were able to express your deepest ideas and desires through your drawings?" "Yes."
Ms. Nguyet smiled and said, "So we've already won the biggest prize for ourselves. That's the prize of true joy." The fourth-grade children paused, momentarily surprised, but immediately understood. For them, subjects or experiences are just a means to help them develop their potential. "The most important thing is that they learn to participate and explore with enthusiasm and passion, and that they enjoy the joy in the learning process. For me, that is the greatest prize," Ms. Nguyet shared.
This is just one of many simple stories that participants in the Happy Schools project have experienced, and they are feeling happier every day.
In April 2018, teachers from many primary to high schools in Hue participated in training courses on the operating mechanism of a happy school. Teachers experienced firsthand what they would practice with their students, such as learning meditation, sharing, and listening. In August 2022, a pilot program in Hanoi opened training courses for teachers with activities such as mindfulness practice, dialogue walks, networking activities, lectures, and practice exercises… aiming to help teachers build a friendly school and a happy educational environment for students.
Ms. Le Mai Lan, former principal of Thuan Thanh Primary School (Hue City), said she was very frustrated when her teenage daughter came along, and the two of them struggled to get along, often arguing fiercely. Everything was resolved after she participated in a training course.
“Before, when my daughter was distant, I wondered what was wrong with her. But since participating in the training and listening to about the different stages of child development, I realized that my child is developing normally. The key issue is that I haven't changed, haven't adapted to my child's development. My child is giving me the opportunity to grow as a mother.”
Professor, Dr. Ha Vinh Tho, President of the Eurasia Association, Founder of the Eurasia Learning Institute, former Program Director of the National Happiness Center in Bhutan, Head of Training, Learning and Development at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has many years of experience in education and mental health therapy for adolescents.
He wrote the curriculum for the Happy Schools project in Vietnam, hoping that these would truly be happy schools where mental health education is prioritized, similar to the education systems in Bhutan, Germany, Switzerland, and other countries.
As a Vietnamese-born scholar who grew up in Europe, Professor Tho returned to Vietnam for the first time in 1982 as the director of a teacher training graduate school and became involved in a community for children with special needs. At that time, he and his team cared for seven children with severe symptoms of depression and helped other children affected by post-war psychological trauma.
After working in child psychology, in the late 1990s, his group established the Eurasia Foundation to support children with special needs in Vietnam, and launched the Happy Schools project.
After four years of implementing Happy Schools in Hue and Ba Dinh district (Hanoi), along with the development of online training programs to easily scale the project, more and more people are becoming aware of the importance of mental health, especially among teenagers. Teachers participating in the training are equipped with the understanding, knowledge, and skills to help them pay attention to and care for the happiness and health of all students. Professor Tho said: "The saying 'happy teachers can change the world' has always made a strong impression on me. And I think that the beginning of a happy society should and must start with the teacher."
Beyond working with teachers, the project also engages with and understands the concerns of many parents. Most families with children participating in the Happy School program are working-class households with simple lives, where the struggle for survival leaves parents with little time to pay attention to their children, especially their mental health.
Speaking about the goals of the School of Happiness, Professor Tho emphasized three fundamental aspects: living in harmony with oneself, with others, and with nature in all subjects and activities.
"Regardless of the environment, our ultimate goal remains to provide the best support for a child's development. Happiness is a skill, and as a skill, people can be trained to be happy," the professor shared.
According to the plan, the International Conference on the theme "Happy Schools 2023" will take place from April 3-6, 2023 in Hue, as part of the long-term mission of Happy Schools, which aims to create a happier learning environment in Vietnam through non-profit activities.
Notably, the conference was attended by Mr. Thakur S. Powdyel, former Royal Minister of Education of Bhutan, a supporter of the Gross National Happiness (GNH) philosophy, and a key figure in implementing GNH in Bhutan's education system. Although not a wealthy nation, Bhutan, with its view that GNH is even more important than Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world, with its emphasis on education and human development as the foundation for this happiness.
Source
Comment (0)