Ho Chi Minh City bans teaching knowledge to children before entering first grade

On the evening of April 21st, Ms. Luong Thi Hong Diep, Head of the Preschool Education Department (Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training), requested all preschools in the city to ensure that they do not teach the first-grade curriculum to 5-year-old children in any form. This regulation has been emphasized by the Ministry of Education and Training since 2013, and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training reminds and reinforces it annually.

Ho Chi Minh City has banned extra tutoring for children before they enter first grade.

"Under no circumstances should we use the entire first-grade textbook to teach five-year-old children. Preschool children should only be introduced to numbers and letters according to the curriculum permitted by the Ministry of Education and Training. Simply adhering to the content prescribed by the Ministry is sufficient to ensure children are ready for first grade," Ms. Diep said.

According to the Head of Preschool Education , many children are currently being taught first-grade material at preschool age, meaning they are learning the same curriculum twice. She understands the parents' concerns, but emphasizes that this pre-learning is unnecessary, even unscientific, and can have many negative consequences.

"Giving children pre-school knowledge without the right methods will cause them to become discouraged. Preparing children for primary school must be appropriate for their age-appropriate development," Ms. Diep emphasized.

This source also added that Ho Chi Minh City is actively implementing a model of simulated classrooms organized by preschools in conjunction with primary schools. This model helps 5-year-old children gain practical experience before entering a new level of education.

The model is being implemented in two ways. Firstly, preschool children directly visit primary schools, observing and learning alongside first-grade students. Secondly, schools collaborate to organize mock classes right at the preschool. These classes have no toys; the children must sit still and behave properly. In some classes, teachers may award points or stars to children who perform well, helping them understand what a first-grade lesson is like.

According to Ms. Diep, May will be a crucial month for preparing for first grade, and classroom models like the one above help children prepare psychologically before the transition to the next grade.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has approximately 330,000 children of preschool age. According to the city's People's Committee plan, children will have their summer vacation starting from the end of May.

Hieu Lam

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