On September 24, Mr. Tran Hung Quoc, Deputy Head of the Department of Education and Training of Ha Tinh City, said that the unit is piloting a program for middle school students to have Saturdays off from school from the 2024-2025 school year.

The pilot policy of teaching 5 days a week (from Monday to Friday) was implemented after receiving permission from the Department of Education and Training of Ha Tinh.

The Saturday school break is to reduce pressure on teachers and students. Currently, Ha Tinh City has 9 middle schools, 8 of which have implemented this policy.

“The decision to let students take a day off from school on Saturdays has received a high level of consensus from teachers, parents and students. We also require schools to have a plan to arrange teaching and learning in accordance with regulations, not exceeding 8 periods per day, not forcing study hours and not cutting down on the general curriculum. In addition, schools require teachers not to organize extra teaching and learning,” Mr. Quoc said.

According to Mr. Quoc, instead of regular classes on Saturdays, secondary schools can organize enrichment activities in art, physical fitness and life skills or extracurricular activities according to students' interests.

Previously, the Department of Education and Training of Ha Tinh province issued a document giving opinions on teaching 5 days a week, with Saturday off for secondary school students in Ha Tinh city from the 2024-2025 school year as proposed by the Department of Education and Training of the city.

Ha Tinh Department of Education and Training requested the City Department of Education and Training to review, research carefully, and ensure conditions during implementation.

In particular, the department ensures the study time according to the current general education program and is suitable to reality; develops a scientific and reasonable teaching plan for 2 sessions/day in schools; surveys the opinions of teachers, parents and students to create consensus.