Implementing extracurricular activities: Still have concerns

Along with equipping students with knowledge of cultural subjects, the flexible implementation of extracurricular activities for students contributes to the comprehensive development of capacity and qualities, encourages creative thinking, helps practice important soft skills such as teamwork, communication, self-confidence, adapting to the living environment... to meet the requirements of fundamental and comprehensive innovation in education and training. However, the implementation of extracurricular activities still has concerns.

Patriotic education activity "Fatherland in the heart" of teachers and students of Hai Nhan Primary School (Tinh Gia ward).

At Hai Nhan Primary School, Tinh Gia Ward, in addition to the compulsory subjects according to Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), the school also enhances the integration of STEM activities into lessons and subjects, and organizes STEM festivals outside of regular school hours. For English, the school has arranged and assigned teachers to teach English from grade 2.

Life skills activities are also organized by the school to be taught according to the traffic safety skills documents that have been provided. In addition, the school's professional groups also develop skills training content from the skills that have been formed in the subjects and educational activities each week. Or from necessary issues through monitoring activities and implementing the discipline of the Union.

Principal of Hai Nhan Primary School, Do Thi Thu, said: “In order to improve the quality of comprehensive education in the school, every week and every month, the school organizes extracurricular activities for students, through surveying the needs of students and what activities they want to organize so that the school can build and adjust the organization plan accordingly. This not only helps students develop their abilities and qualities comprehensively but also helps promote the capacity of teachers in designing and building their own programs and educational content to organize practical educational content for students. In addition, the school's organization of extracurricular activities without training with centers also helps reduce the contribution of parents.

In order to promptly guide schools in implementing general education tasks, right before the 2025-2026 school year, the Thanh Hoa Department of Education and Training issued Official Dispatch No. 3153/SGDĐT-GDPT guiding the implementation of general education tasks for the 2025-2026 school year. This includes promoting STEM education, digital skills, artificial intelligence (AI), improving the quality of English teaching and learning, gradually making English the second language in schools...

However, to implement these lessons outside of regular school hours, the use of public assets at public service units for joint venture and association purposes must comply with the provisions of Article 58 of the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets; Article 47 of Decree 151/2017/ND-CP of the Government guiding the Law on Management and Use of Public Assets; Article 6 of Circular 144/2017/TT-BTC guiding Decree 151/2017/ND-CP. Accordingly, public assets at educational institutions can only be used for purposes serving educational, research and public service activities of the unit. If joint English teaching is implemented, educational institutions must develop a plan for the use of public assets and submit it to competent authorities for appraisal and approval. The requirement to develop a public asset plan makes schools confused during the implementation process.

Many schools said that the public property project for English subjects makes it impossible for schools to integrate English into their schools. Many schools also wonder whether teaching life skills and STEM activities must be bid according to the provisions of the Bidding Law or not?

Teacher Hoang Thi Huong, Principal of Quang Phu Primary School, Quang Phu Ward, shared: "Many students do not have the conditions to go to the center to learn English, so parents want their children to learn English outside of regular school hours to improve their English skills. However, according to regulations, it is very complicated and difficult to implement a public property project."

At Tuong Linh Primary School, Tuong Linh Commune, teacher Tran Thi Tien, the school's principal, also shared: "Currently, the school has not organized activities to teach enhanced English, life skills activities, STEM... but is waiting for instructions."

To promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles, schools hope that relevant levels and sectors will soon have specific instructions. In addition, authorities also need to strengthen management and direct educational institutions to strictly implement regulations on linkage, organization and implementation of extracurricular educational activities according to learners' needs to ensure that linkage activities are effective, public and transparent.

Article and photos: Linh Huong

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/trien-khai-cac-hoat-dong-ngoai-gio-chinh-khoa-van-con-nhung-ban-khoan-268676.htm