Brian Jeffrey
According to Lam Hong Lam Thuy from the HCM City Department of Education and Training, only 39 out of 556 primary schools do not provide two-session days, resulting in a coverage rate of 92.98 percent. For secondary and high schools, the participation rate stands at 93 percent.
The implementation of two-session education is a longstanding objective of HCM City officials aimed at advancing holistic education, enhancing quality, and addressing both parental and societal demands for student oversight while bolstering life skills.
To achieve this, educational institutions have crafted plans that consider their teaching staff, infrastructure, and equipment, ensuring alignment with the latest curriculum and textbook updates.
Nguyen Bao Quoc, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Education and Training, emphasized the importance of schools formulating strategies that enrich the main curriculum when executing the two-session-per-day initiative. This includes organizing subjects based on students’ abilities and talents to foster their growth, particularly in foreign languages and computer skills.
The second session allocates a maximum of half its time to academic learning, enabling schools to facilitate various educational activities such as hands-on learning, scientific exploration, STEM education, career guidance, life skills, social practice, clubs, talent identification, and community engagement.
Teaching during the second session is capped at 50% of the total time, ensuring that ample time is available for diverse educational pursuits, enabling students to engage in experiential activities, scientific inquiry, STEM pathways, career counseling, life value development, social skills practice, and community-centric projects.
Core academic education adheres to the Ministry of Education and Training’s (MOET) guidelines, focusing on creative teaching methods, real-world applications, and interactive learning experiences. Schools provide support for those struggling academically and enrichment opportunities for high achievers to maintain educational quality.
Additionally, there is a need for a variety of experiential and career-focused activities that aid in the all-around development of students, guiding them towards appropriate career paths.
Schools will enhance reading sessions, math reasoning skills, English clubs, and STEM/Natural Science programs according to student interests and needs.
General education is categorized into three levels: primary, secondary, and high school.
At the primary school level, students engage in seven core non-mandatory academic periods daily (each lasting 45 minutes), distributed as four in the morning and three in the afternoon. The schedule is structured to balance teaching content with educational activities, ensuring a suitable distribution of time and alignment with primary students’ psychology and the structuring of teacher schedules.
In addition to core subjects, schools provide life skills training and clubs that cater to students’ abilities to achieve learning objectives without overwhelming them.
At the secondary level, student engagement involves a total of 37-42 teaching periods weekly, including both the academic curriculum and extracurricular activities as stipulated by MOET’s Decision 16/2006 regarding the two-session-per-day framework.
For high school students, the weekly teaching period total ranges from 42-48 periods, comprising both academic programs and educational activities as per Decision 16/2006.
Ha Huu Thach, Principal of Luong The Vinh High School in District 1, HCM City, observed that the second session prioritizes character development and skill enhancement through academic, English, and STEM clubs.
Students previously dedicated considerable time to reviewing thematic lessons. Now, they enhance their knowledge in Physics and Chemistry utilizing ChatGPT, with teachers guiding and addressing their inquiries.
Each year, the HCM City Department of Education and Training sets additional fees, which vary depending on the education level. There is no cap on the fees, allowing schools to determine appropriate amounts to collect from students based on their unique circumstances.
Generally, students are expected to pay between VND150,000 and 200,000 per month.
The Department of Education and Training noted that the two-session/day approach enables students to achieve their goals with high success rates. This format has contributed positively to educational quality and has allowed for development tailored to individual capabilities within a diverse learning environment.
In Districts 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, Phu Nhuan, Can Gio, and Nha Be, 100 percent of students participate in the two-session-per-day system. However, certain districts experience difficulties due to overcrowded secondary schools that exceed class size regulations, resulting in lower participation rates and insufficient resources such as playgrounds and libraries, complicating efforts to enhance teaching and learning experiences. Annual growth in student enrollment necessitates additional classrooms, teachers, and staff, though expanding staffing quotas remains challenging.
