Teaching 2 sessions/day: Many primary schools in Ho Chi Minh City have not been able to do it, why?

According to many parents, many primary schools in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly in Binh Duong province) have not organized two sessions per day for various reasons.

On September 13, leaders of Tan Khanh, Binh Duong , and An Phu wards (HCMC) said that some primary and secondary schools in these localities could not organize two sessions per day due to insufficient classrooms, lack of teachers, etc., or waiting for additional school construction.

Teaching 2 sessions/day is difficult because the school is overloaded with over 50 students/class.

An Phu Ward (merged old An Phu Ward and part of Binh Chuan Ward, Thuan An City, Binh Duong before), Ho Chi Minh City is a locality with a large concentration of residents, workers and industrial parks and clusters with a population of over 162,930 people.

Many schools in An Phu ward (HCMC) do not teach 2 sessions/day.

PHOTO: DO TRUONG

Mr. Nguyen Huu Chau, Chairman of the People's Committee of An Phu Ward, said that the local school facilities are currently seriously lacking. "With the current population size, An Phu Ward needs 4 more schools but still cannot meet the schooling needs of workers' children in the area," Mr. Chau shared.

According to Mr. Chau, currently many primary schools in An Phu ward have more than 50 students per class, creating great pressure for the locality, so organizing 2 sessions per day is very difficult to do.

When Thanh Nien reporters raised the issue, in the 2024-2025 school year, the old Binh Duong province surveyed and found that localities basically met the requirement of teaching 2 sessions/day, but why is there a shortage of schools now?

Mr. Chau said that before, Binh Duong had not merged with Ho Chi Minh City and had not implemented a two-level local government, so some localities basically met the requirements. However, after the merger at the commune level, some key areas with a large concentration of workers resulted in a lack of schools.

Not only lacking schools, An Phu ward also lacks teachers.

PHOTO: DO TRUONG

In addition, Mr. Nguyen Huu Chau said that the locality is currently lacking teachers because the education sector has not yet assigned staff or given teachers contracts, leading to the locality not being proactive in recruiting teachers.

Must contract with outside center to teach skills to students

In Tan Khanh ward (merging Tan Phuoc Khanh, Tan Vinh Hiep, Thanh Phuoc wards, Thanh Hoi commune and part of Thai Hoa ward, Tan Uyen city, old Binh Duong), Ho Chi Minh City also has a serious shortage of schools.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Phuong, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tan Khanh Ward (HCMC), said that with a population of over 126,393 people, this locality is still unable to organize two sessions per day in some primary schools.

Specifically, Mr. Phuong said that Tan Phuoc Khanh A Primary School is having to teach one session per day due to lack of classrooms. "We have to cooperate and contract with outside centers to teach skills to students in the remaining session, but we still cannot meet all the needs and are not confident about the quality because the centers are not public," Mr. Phuong shared.

Many primary schools in Binh Duong ward, Ho Chi Minh City still do not teach 2 sessions/day.

PHOTO: DO TRUONG

Regarding the solution, Mr. Phuong said that Tan Khanh ward has just started construction of Tan Vinh Hiep B Primary School. After completion, students will be divided into groups to teach 2 sessions/day. However, Mr. Phuong said that it will take 5 years to prepare for the construction of Tan Vinh Hiep B Primary School due to the lengthy procedures for investment in construction and arranging budget sources.

Similarly, in Binh Duong ward (HCMC), where 7 industrial parks are concentrated (the most in the country, population 107,576 people), many primary schools such as Hoa Phu and Phu My do not teach 2 sessions/day due to lack of classrooms; students have to study at outside centers for 1 session (morning or afternoon), making many parents worried.

Primary schools will teach 2 sessions/day from the 2025-2026 school year.

Pursuant to the announcement of the conclusion of General Secretary To Lam requesting primary and secondary schools to teach 2 sessions per day without charging fees from the 2025-2026 school year and the Prime Minister's Directive on organizing 2 sessions per day and organizing summer activities for children and students, on August 5, 2025, the Ministry of Education and Training issued an official dispatch guiding 2 sessions per day.

Accordingly, for primary school, teaching will be conducted in 2 sessions/day, with no more than 7 lessons per day, each lesson lasting 35 minutes. Secondary and high school levels will implement 2 sessions/day according to the roadmap, implemented in schools with adequate facilities and teaching staff.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/day-hoc-2-buoi-ngay-nhieu-truong-tieu-hoc-tai-tphcm-chua-thuc-hien-duoc-vi-sao-185250913120914566.htm