Teaching 2 sessions/day: Flexible, practical, for students

GD&TĐ - The Ministry of Education and Training issued guidelines for teaching 2 sessions/day for all three levels of education, applicable from the 2025-2026 school year.

Hanoi is preparing the necessary conditions to implement in accordance with the directive spirit, ensuring quality and suitability with reality.

No cramming

According to the guidance of the Ministry of Education and Training , organizing 2 sessions/day is mandatory for primary schools. Specifically, primary schools teach a maximum of 7 periods/day, each period is 35 minutes. Session 1 teaches the main curriculum according to regulations; session 2 is for consolidation and supplementary activities, skills education, experience, career guidance, reading culture, financial education, digital skills, sports, arts, artificial intelligence, learning about local history and culture...

At junior high and high school levels, teaching 2 sessions/day is encouraged according to the roadmap, applied in places that ensure conditions for staff and facilities. The school arranges a minimum of 5 school days per week, a maximum of 11 sessions/week; each day no more than 7 periods, each period 45 minutes. The content of session 2 focuses on three main groups: tutoring for students who have not achieved, nurturing excellent students and reviewing for final exams; in addition, there are STEM/STEAM educational activities, career guidance, scientific research, reading culture, life skills...

A notable new point is that the Ministry of Education and Training does not strictly stipulate that the morning is the first session and the afternoon is the second session; it does not allow alternating between compulsory and optional sessions in the same session. To ensure fairness and reduce the financial burden on parents, the school does not charge for the second session. Funding is allocated from the local budget, while promoting socialization.

Ms. Nguyen Thu Hong (Bach Mai ward) shared her joy because the school has boarding schools, so her child gets enough food and a nap at noon. Not too concerned about the fees, what Ms. Hong wants to know is what her child will learn in the second session, whether she can choose the content or not, and said that she would fully support her child if she could read books in the library, study on her own, or join some skill-themed clubs...

As a parent with two children in primary and secondary school, Ms. Pham Thu Quynh (Thanh Liet ward) supports the policy of teaching two sessions per day. However, what she is concerned about is what content, knowledge and skills students will learn in the second session. "In primary school, I expect my children to learn more life skills. In secondary and high school, career orientation content can be included in the second session instead of learning cultural knowledge," Ms. Quynh suggested.

Teachers and students of Quoc Oai High School (Hanoi) during an experiential activity hour.

Promote experiential activities

In Hanoi, 100% of primary schools organize two sessions a day. Currently, schools are focusing on improving the quality of the second session with many new contents such as digital skills and reading culture.

Ms. Nguyen Phuong Hoa - Principal of Vinh Tuy Primary School (Vinh Tuy Ward) said that currently, most primary schools in Hanoi have taught 2 sessions/day and organized boarding for students, so the implementation of the new regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training is basically favorable. This year, the city also has an additional policy of supporting lunch for students, helping parents feel secure in leaving their children at school.

Mr. Tran Quoc Dat - Principal of Trung Vuong Secondary School (Quang Minh Commune) informed that previously, the school organized 2 sessions/day and found that parents were satisfied, students had better learning conditions. Following the guidance of the Ministry of Education and Training, the school will build flexible content for the 2nd session, including activities to educate life skills, career guidance, experience, reading culture, and scientific research.

Ms. Pham Thi Huong Giang - Principal of Giang Vo 2 Secondary School (Giang Vo Ward) shared that, following the instructions of the Ministry of Education and Training, the school has carefully prepared its facilities and staff. The school and related units are completing the system of classrooms, subject rooms, living areas, multi-purpose halls, dining rooms... to ensure sufficient conditions for 100% of students to study 2 sessions/day with a diverse program.

At the high school level, the proportion of educational institutions qualified to organize 2 sessions/day is still modest, mainly concentrated in private schools. These schools focus on investing in facilities and designing flexible programs, linked to students' career orientation. Parents' expectations are that the 2nd session is not simply about cultural education. The general opinion is that, at this age, students need career orientation; therefore, the 2nd session can be designed into skill classes, career experiences or specialized subjects related to future careers.

Mr. Nghiem Hong Trung - Principal of Quoc Oai High School (Quoc Oai Commune) said that teaching 2 sessions/day is reasonable and the school has a roadmap to do it. At that time, the 2nd session will be for club activities, experiential activities, and sports, helping students have a healthy environment to develop, and parents can rest assured.

According to the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, to ensure proper implementation of the new guidelines of the Ministry of Education and Training, schools need to strengthen surveys of actual needs, flexibly organize activities in the second session, not impose or make it a formality. At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Training needs to guide inspection and supervision of implementation to avoid turning into extra teaching and learning.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh - Principal of Hanoi School of Education Officials, said that to implement the second session in schools that do not have enough facilities, each class/room can flexibly and reasonably arrange student activities inside or outside the classroom in the direction of dividing into small groups or concentrating; even have space for students to do individual activities such as self-study, reading, participating in practice and experiments.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/day-hoc-2-buoingay-linh-hoat-thuc-chat-vi-hoc-sinh-post747832.html