Specialized schools and high-quality schools innovate to nurture talent

GD&TĐ - Specialized schools only remain at the high school level; secondary schools are no longer maintained due to universalization. Localities develop high-quality schools for key education.

Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in education and training development has clearly identified the requirements for innovation in specialized school models, while expanding specialized classes in the STEM/STEAM sector to discover, nurture and develop national talents in key areas.

Start innovation from the grassroots level

In the context of digital transformation and increasingly deep international integration, the demand for human resource quality is posing new challenges for the education sector. This requires comprehensive innovation of general education, especially the system of specialized schools, gifted schools and high-quality key schools.

No longer just a place to nurture excellent students for exams, the specialized school system is gradually transforming itself into a “nursery” of talent – ​​a place to discover and nurture students with the ability to create, innovate, research and have the potential to lead future development. This is a high-quality human resource force, contributing to realizing the aspiration of rapid and sustainable national development in the new era.

For the 2025-2026 school year, the Thanh Hoa Department of Education and Training (DET) has issued guidelines for implementing the school year's tasks, emphasizing the need to innovate teaching and testing methods and assessments in the direction of developing students' qualities and abilities. In particular, the department requires educational institutions to promote STEM education, digital skills, artificial intelligence (AI), enhance career guidance experiences and streamline students after junior high school and high school.

Not only stopping at instructions on paper, many schools in the province have proactively implemented innovation in a substantial and systematic way. In particular, Tran Mai Ninh Secondary School and Lam Son Specialized High School are typical units, leading the way in transforming from training excellent students to developing comprehensive capacity for students according to the new orientation.

Mr. Nguyen Doan Anh (left), - Secretary of Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee attended the opening ceremony of the 2025-2026 school year
at Tran Mai Ninh Secondary School. Photo: NTCC

As a key secondary school of Thanh Hoa City in the past, now Hac Thanh Ward, Thanh Hoa Province, Tran Mai Ninh Secondary School has been prestigious for many years in discovering and nurturing excellent students. However, according to Mr. Duong Le Hoan - Principal of the school, the current model of training excellent students needs to be restructured to suit the requirements of the times.

“We have determined that we cannot teach excellent students in the old way: study a lot, do well in exams, win prizes. Students need to develop critical thinking, cooperation ability, and problem-solving skills. That means they must be good at capacity, not just knowledge,” Mr. Hoan emphasized.

From that orientation, Tran Mai Ninh Secondary School has gradually changed its teaching methods towards integration and interdisciplinary. Many creative experiential activities, project-based learning, academic clubs and scientific research have been implemented. Students have access to STEM content through solving practical problems, applying knowledge of Mathematics - Physics - Chemistry - Biology - Information Technology in practical activities, experiments and product design.

Along with STEM, the school also gradually introduces topics on artificial intelligence (AI) into IT lessons, helping students get acquainted with programming thinking, automation, data technology... at an appropriate level. In particular, the use of technology in teaching is also flexibly applied by teachers, contributing to changing the classroom atmosphere, stimulating students to explore.

In addition to the main curriculum, Tran Mai Ninh Secondary School also focuses on early career orientation activities. Students can participate in career forums, meet experts, and experience real-life work models through simulation videos or direct visits. According to the school principal, career orientation not only helps students choose the right major in the future, but also motivates them to study and inspires their spirit of progress.

“We consider career education an important part of personal development. Students need to understand why they study, what they study for, and who they study to become. From there, they can proactively participate in their learning journey,” said Mr. Hoan.

Innovate to stay ahead

At the high school level, Lam Son High School for the Gifted is the destination of the most excellent students in Thanh Hoa province. Over the years, Lam Son has not only been the "cradle" of training excellent national students but also a symbol of high-quality education. Because of that position, the Board of Directors of Lam Son High School for the Gifted determined that it is necessary to innovate more strongly to avoid falling behind.

“The school is affirming the position and role of specialized schools in the new era. It is not just a place to teach a subject in depth, but it must be a place where students develop comprehensively: interdisciplinary thinking, digital skills, research ability, creativity and clear career orientation,” Mr. Son shared.

Students of Lam Son High School for the Gifted on the opening day of the new school year. Photo: NTCC

In fact, in recent years, Lam Son High School for the Gifted has implemented many integrated learning models such as STEAM (STEM combined with Arts), student science research projects, and organized specialized classes taught by university lecturers. The school also cooperates with universities, research institutes and technology enterprises to create conditions for students to access advanced science and technology fields, especially artificial intelligence, data technology, robotics and programming.

Students in the Informatics, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics classes no longer only study for exams, but are also guided to develop topics, write scientific reports, participate in national and international science and technology competitions, or apply knowledge to solve real-life problems. According to Mr. Son, this is the transition from "learning to know" to "learning to do" and "learning to innovate".

In particular, the school is also trying to gradually introduce foreign languages ​​as a tool to improve the quality of learning. Not only to take international certification exams, students are encouraged to give presentations, write reports, and read specialized documents in English. This is an important factor for them to be able to study and work in a global environment in the future.

Lam Son High School for the Gifted is also one of the pioneers in career guidance and student orientation. The school organizes career counseling sessions with the participation of experts, alumni, university lecturers; forums on major orientation and coordinates with businesses to give students practical experience. Through this, each student has the opportunity to explore their strengths, build a study plan and appropriate career orientation.

The leadership and teachers of Lam Son High School for the Gifted. Photo: NTCC

Not just a single transformation of a few educational institutions, the changes at Tran Mai Ninh Secondary School and Lam Son Specialized High School are clear evidence of the trend of innovating specialized school and gifted school models towards modernity, comprehensiveness and integration.

When the innovation policy from the education sector is concretized by schools with practical actions, students not only learn to take exams, but also learn to mature, learn to master their own future.

With the right approach, from early detection to intensive training, combining scientific education and career orientation, the system of specialized schools and gifted schools in Thanh Hoa is gradually becoming a true "incubator" of talent for the locality and the country.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/truong-chuyen-truong-chat-luong-cao-doi-moi-de-uom-tao-nhan-tai-post748681.html