The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has just issued a document providing professional guidance for primary schools in the 2024-2025 school year. One of the main requirements is to streamline competitions for teachers and students, while promoting the implementation of the new classroom model. What are the current competitions in schools?
"Exams every month, but I fear November the most"
"When we innovated the curriculum and textbooks, we were already under a lot of pressure. But there was another pressure that was even more terrible. That was a series of competitions organized by various sectors and levels that teachers had to participate in," said Ms. M., a preschool teacher in Ho Chi Minh City.
Similarly, Ms. MH, a teacher in Binh Chanh district, also shared: "The main task of teachers is to teach, but we often find it difficult to concentrate. Teachers currently have to participate in many competitions from ward level to district level and then city level.
There are quite a few competitions organized by schools, education and training departments, and other departments. Not to mention competitions organized by other associations, departments, and sectors... Among them, there are many competitions that have nothing to do with teaching, but teachers still have to compete."
Ms. Th., a primary school teacher in District 5, calculated: "We have competitions almost every month. Competitions related to teaching and learning such as competitions for excellent teachers and excellent homeroom teachers are not mentioned. But we have to participate in competitions such as Ao Dai fashion shows; flower bicycle design competitions - to propagate and encourage people not to litter.
Then there are the recycled fashion design contests; the banh tet wrapping contests; the organization research contests; the HIV/AIDS prevention propaganda contests... When taking the contests, every teacher has to smile brightly, but behind that is a lot of sweat and effort."
When doing fieldwork for this article, we were surprised to see that many teachers expressed their wish that the number of competitions held to celebrate Teachers’ Day each year would be reduced. We know that society honors, respects and shows gratitude to teachers on Teachers’ Day, but currently, it seems that the number of competitions is quite dense, making teachers exhausted.
"Because in November, to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers' Day, we are busy with competitions from small to large," some teachers confided.
Teachers said that in the school there were a series of competitions such as good teaching (also known as demonstration teaching), wall newspaper, performing arts, decorating student photo frames, teachers' beautiful handwriting... Next were performing arts, cooking, flower arranging, and sports competitions exclusively for teachers... Perhaps that is why some teachers honestly confided that the hardest time for them was November, not exam season or the beginning of the school year.
Can't teachers take the test?
It was thought that among the competitions, the excellent teacher competition would receive the approval of the majority of teachers. However, the results of our pocket survey with 18 primary, secondary and high school teachers in Ho Chi Minh City showed that 100% of teachers proposed to abolish the excellent teacher competition.
The reason is that it puts pressure on the candidates; the current excellent teacher competition is for show, difficult to apply in practice; it is costly, teachers spend a lot of time and effort, the excellent teacher competition does not benefit the students...
However, when reviewing the contest rules, the author of this article always sees the words below that participants are voluntary and not required. So if they are under pressure and tired, why don’t teachers refuse?
"Voluntary but mandatory because the competitions are sent down to the principal by the organizing unit. The school also needs reputation (winning prizes means having reputation), needs close relationships with the locality and departments and branches outside theeducation sector, so it cannot not participate.
When the principal gives instructions, no teacher dares to refuse. Because if they refuse, they will be judged as not completing their tasks excellently and of course the additional income will be greatly reduced. Not to mention the quarterly and annual emulation will also be downgraded" - Ms. H., a teacher in District 5, explained.
Teachers said that when they take part in a competition, they must have a sense of responsibility to bring home prizes for the school. But to win prizes, they must invest time and effort while teachers still have to complete their teaching duties, complete paperwork, etc.
Take advantage of lunch break to practice performing arts
Teachers also said that they are sometimes "overloaded" with art competitions of all sectors and levels. "Every holiday, I... have to take part in art competitions. It's already very hard for teachers to take part in competitions. Many units even require both teachers and students to take part in competitions.
Meanwhile, students cannot skip class to practice performing arts. So both teachers and students have to take advantage of lunch break to practice" - Ms. N., a teacher in District 1, shared.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thay-co-quay-cuong-voi-cac-cuoc-thi-thoi-gian-dau-day-hoc-20240920083605655.htm
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