5 years of implementing the 2018 General Education Program: Education for students, for people: What do insiders say about the program and textbooks? (Part 1)

Lesson 1: What do insiders say about the curriculum and textbooks?

After 5 years of implementing the 2018 General Education Program, there are still many different opinions about the new program and textbooks. The group of reporters recorded the opinions and perspectives of teachers and students in Long An province (old), now Tay Ninh province (new). For personal reasons, some characters in this series will not be named specifically.

During class at Thanh Hoa High School

Open up new space for teachers and students

“I find that the content of some subjects is presented in a coherent and clear manner, making it easy for students to access. However, some textbooks have concepts and knowledge that are quite long and difficult to remember. I hope the content will be adjusted to be more concise and easier to understand so that students can grasp it easily. If we can divide it into ideas and create a mind map, it will be easier to absorb the lesson,” said TTN, a student at Tran Phu Secondary School, Tan An Ward.

A teacher teaching at a high school in Long An ward assessed that the implementation of the 2018 General Education Program and the replacement of new textbooks opened up great opportunities for teachers and students. Many textbooks and subject combinations help students have the opportunity to study more deeply and develop career orientation skills right from the beginning of the school year. The program is rich, close to life, practicing many necessary skills, promoting students' positivity and initiative. "Students are more confident and active. That is the most remarkable point in the innovation program" - this teacher said.

According to the above opinion, the fact that each school can choose a different set of textbooks leads to a lack of uniformity in materials, affecting teaching and the psychology of parents and students. Many contents are not consistent between the materials, making it difficult for teachers to access and implement lessons. Changing the subject combinations and final exam subjects makes students not have enough time to prepare, especially those who have never studied the subjects in the chosen combination.

Another significant pressure is staffing. Some subjects lack teachers, while others have extra periods, affecting the overall teaching plan. Many new guidelines are continuously issued but are not really clear and specific, causing confusion among management staff and teachers in the implementation process.

Books need to be more concise

Ms. KAN - a teacher at a high school in Nhut Tao commune, commented: "The 2018 General Education Program has shifted positively from imparting knowledge to developing students' abilities and qualities, in line with modern educational trends". According to her, the new textbooks are flexible, updating knowledge and life skills close to real life, helping students develop thinking, teamwork and creativity. In particular, many textbooks help schools and teachers to choose the right ones for students' characteristics, no longer being bound by rigid patterns as before.

However, according to her, many existing problems still need to be overcome soon. Notably, the amount of knowledge in some subjects is still heavy, especially in transition classes such as grade 6 and grade 10. The language in textbooks of some subjects is still academic and abstract, causing difficulties for both students and parents when supporting their studies. The fact that each locality chooses its own textbooks makes it difficult for students to transfer schools, and teachers are also under pressure to constantly change, but the training time is not deep enough. The teacher suggested that "it is necessary to reasonably reduce the content, focus on core competencies, avoid spreading heavy theories, and at the same time have a mechanism to evaluate, select, and streamline textbook sets to ensure uniform quality, and limit the situation of too many sets.

Long An Province (old) agreed that a common set of textbooks should be used nationwide to avoid disruption in the learning process, waste, and reduce psychological pressure on students, parents, and teachers. The program for high school students should also be considered so that they can study all subjects and have comprehensive background knowledge before specializing in their career orientation.

Reduce the number of subjects and class hours

According to the design of the new program, primary school includes 11 compulsory subjects and educational activities, including: Math, Vietnamese, Ethics, Foreign Language 1 (grades 3, 4, 5), Nature and Society (grades 1, 2, 3), History and Geography (grades 4 and 5), Science (grades 4, 5), Information Technology and Technology (grades 3, 4, 5), Physical Education, Arts (Music, Fine Arts), Experiential Activities. Two optional subjects are Ethnic Minority Language and Foreign Language 1 (grades 1, 2). Duration is 2 sessions/day, each session does not exceed 7 periods, each period does not exceed 35 minutes.

Secondary school level includes 12 compulsory subjects and educational activities: Literature, Mathematics, Foreign Language 1, Civic Education, History and Geography, Natural Sciences, Technology, Information Technology, Physical Education, Arts (Music, Fine Arts), Experiential Activities, Career Guidance, Local Educational Content. Two elective subjects are Ethnic Minority Language and Foreign Language 2. Education duration is 1 session/day, each session does not exceed 5 periods, each period lasts 45 minutes.

At high school level, there are 7 compulsory subjects and activities including Literature, Math, Foreign Language 1, Physical Education, National Defense and Security Education, Experiential Activities, Career Guidance, and Local Education Content. Two optional subjects are Ethnic Minority Language and Foreign Language 2.

In addition to compulsory subjects, high school students must choose 5 elective subjects from 3 subject groups (each group chooses at least 1 subject). Specifically as follows: Social science group (History, Geography, Economic and Legal Education); Natural science group (Physics, Chemistry, Biology); Technology and art group (Technology, Information Technology, Art). Education duration is 1 session/day, each session does not exceed 5 periods, each period is 45 minutes.

Thus, the 2018 General Education Program is designed completely differently from the 2000 and 2006 General Education Programs. This is a testament to the fundamental and comprehensive innovation of the education sector in the spirit of Resolution 29 of the Central Committee./.

(to be continued)

Viet Dong - Ngoc Man

Lesson 2: Advantages prevail

Source: https://baotayninh.vn/tron-5-nam-thuc-hien-chuong-trinh-giao-duc-pho-thong-2018-nen-giao-duc-vi-hoc-sinh-vi-con-nguoi-n-a192325.html