Ho Chi Minh City has 24 schools that have to teach on Saturdays.

GD&TĐ - Mr. Tran Luu Quang, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, requested the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training to clarify the issue of students having to go to school on Saturdays.

On September 15, at the fourth meeting of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, term 2020 - 2025, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang said that recently he has received many complaints from the people about students having to go to school on Saturdays. He asked the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training to give their opinions and soon propose solutions.

Previously, some schools in Ho Chi Minh City were forced to organize extra classes on Saturdays because each day they were only allowed 7 periods, not 8; if they added life skills classes, there would not be enough time during the week, leading to having to arrange classes on weekends.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang speaks at the conference. Photo: SGGP.

Responding to the above comments, Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, said that according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training , schools cannot teach more than 7 periods per day, but can flexibly organize supplementary activities along with regular classes.

Mr. Hieu said that this does not mean that schools should let students finish 7 periods and then go home, but can arrange an additional period for life skills, STEM and other activities. The Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City has given instructions to schools on this matter.

Schools that already offer two sessions a day will not schedule Saturday mornings. If they do, this session will only be for life skills activities and learning with foreign teachers with the consent of parents.

However, according to the leader of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, the city currently has 24 primary schools that do not have enough facilities to teach two sessions a day, so students still have to go to school on Saturdays.

Secretary of the City Party Committee Tran Luu Quang requested the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City to carefully review and avoid any problems in this issue; and not allow students to study on Saturdays when they have already studied two sessions a day, except in cases where there is an agreement between the school and parents on a voluntary basis.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/tphcm-co-24-truong-hoc-phai-day-thu-bay-post748541.html