Teaching 2 sessions/day: Implemented in accordance with actual conditions

IMG_5095 (1) — Huynh Ngoc Hue Primary School (Thanh Khe Ward) held a parent meeting at the beginning of the new school year. Photo: KH

Many expectations

The Ministry of Education and Training issued Official Letter No. 4567/BGDĐT-GDPT guiding the organization of teaching 2 sessions/day for general education. Accordingly, the second session is not simply an "extension" of the main curriculum but becomes a useful time for students to consolidate knowledge, practice skills, develop talents and participate in experiential activities.

Ms. D.TNL, a teacher at Le Ba Trinh Primary School, shared: “If organized scientifically , the second session will not only reduce pressure on the main curriculum but also create a creative space, increasing the connection between the school and students. However, for teachers, teaching all day requires reasonable arrangements to ensure both class time and professional preparation time.”

From a management perspective, Ms. Nguyen Thi My Le, Principal of Le Ba Trinh Primary School (Ngu Hanh Son Ward), emphasized: “To meet the requirements of developing students’ qualities and abilities, teachers need to change their thinking and truly take students as the center. The school increases training, organizes practical topics, and at the same time creates a mechanism for teachers to learn from each other through teaching products such as AI applications, STEM teaching…”.

According to Ms. Le, the decisive factor is still the spirit of self-study and innovation of each teacher, which is encouraged and monitored through online channels. Besides the opportunities, implementing 2-session teaching/day also faces many difficulties, especially funding for extracurricular activities.

“The school does not have enough resources, while mobilizing parents to contribute is not a regulation, causing after-school activities to be limited,” said Ms. Le.

Many parents expressed concern about picking up and dropping off their children when they are at school all day. Ms. Phan Thi Hong Ngoc (living in An Khe ward) said: “We are worried about the pick-up and drop-off time, but if the school organizes well, helping students develop physically and aesthetically through sports and arts clubs, parents will feel more secure.”

Sharing the same opinion, Ms. Ngo Thi Men (resident of Lien Chieu ward) hopes: "Session 2 will be a time for students to develop their abilities, consolidate knowledge, nurture passion, practice life skills and soon orient their future."

Efforts to ensure the conditions

According to regulations, teaching 2 sessions/day must be appropriate to each student's ability. Teachers are responsible for regular assessment, from which they can develop a plan to tutor weak students and nurture gifted students.

Le Ba Trinh Primary School (Ngu Hanh Son Ward) held activities at the beginning of the new school year. Photo: K. H

In fact, in many schools in the city, this activity has become routine. Computer science, STEM, robotics, foreign language clubs, etc. are increasingly expanding, contributing to creating a rich learning environment, stimulating students' interest and promoting their creativity.

According to the Department of Education and Training, Da Nang City currently has 374 primary and secondary schools, of which 100% have arranged enough teachers and organized 2 sessions/day. Notably, 100% of students in grades 3, 4, and 5 learn English according to the 2018 General Education Program; 95% of students in grades 1 and 2 participate in elective English classes.

The education sector is continuing to strengthen the conditions for quality assurance, develop the school network, build more schools that meet national standards and invest in boarding schools in border areas. At the same time, it is necessary to arrange a reasonable team of teachers and have timely support solutions for local authorities to effectively carry out educational management in the context of administrative boundary mergers.

Along with facilities, the teaching staff is identified as the key factor determining the quality of education. According to statistics, teachers of cultural subjects and basic talents have now met the demand. Along with that, the education sector focuses on equipping students with IT right from grade 1, while increasing investment in facilities, schools and boarding schools in border areas.

In the coming time, the Da Nang education sector will continue to innovate teaching, testing and assessment methods towards developing students' qualities and abilities, promoting STEM/STEAM education, digital capacity, applying artificial intelligence, improving the quality of English teaching, and gradually making English a second language.

The policy of teaching two sessions a day is an important step towards fundamental and comprehensive reform of education. Along with the efforts of the industry, the support of parents and society, and the sense of responsibility of teachers will be the decisive factors for success.

When Circular 55 of the Ministry of Education and Training on teaching hour norms came into effect, the application of the ratio of 1.5 teachers/class still did not meet actual needs. This created great pressure for schools in arranging expertise, especially in gifted subjects and experiential activities.

To make the policy of teaching 2 sessions/day effective, schools believe that there needs to be more support mechanisms from higher levels. First of all, it is necessary to reduce the curriculum to ensure it is suitable for students, add enough teachers, especially for gifted subjects, and invest in facilities for culture and sports. In addition, there needs to be more flexible regulations for schools to cooperate with educational organizations to meet the increasing needs of parents.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/day-hoc-2-buoi-ngay-trien-khai-phu-hop-voi-dieu-kien-thuc-te-3301150.html