Need the cooperation of the whole society

(Baonghean) -The movement to build “friendly schools, active students” in Nghe An has been implemented for more than 2 years and has truly become a breakthrough in the comprehensive education strategy for students. However, the application of the movement into reality today also faces many difficulties, posing not only problems for the education sector that need to be solved so that the movement can achieve higher efficiency.

Through the implementation of the movement, many new factors and models have been discovered and promoted in schools such as: The movement to build green, clean and beautiful schools in Quynh Luu district; bringing folk games into schools in Yen Thanh district; drumming to study in Anh Son district; practicing beautiful handwriting in Quy Chau district; folk song singing contests in schools... The main goal of the movement to build "friendly schools, active students" is to mobilize the combined strength of forces inside and outside the school to build a safe, friendly and effective educational environment, suitable to local conditions, meeting social needs. Thereby, it also promotes the initiative, positivity and creativity of students in studying and in social activities in an appropriate and effective manner.

Bringing folk games into schools helps children avoid
The consequences of violent games.

Accordingly, schools must ensure good implementation of the following contents: Building green, clean, beautiful and safe schools and classrooms; teaching and learning effectively, suitable for the age characteristics of local students to help them be confident in their studies; training life skills for students; organizing students to participate in fun and healthy collective activities; participating in learning, caring for and promoting the value of historical, cultural and revolutionary relics in the locality.

It can be said that the contents proposed by the Ministry of Education and Training to help localities and schools apply in building "friendly schools, active students" have become specific guidelines as well as criteria for objectively evaluating the movement. But the important thing is whether the contents can be fully implemented for all levels and schools at a common level in the locality or not? This is clearly demonstrated in Nghe An, and at the same time, it also reveals difficulties that need to be resolved in the implementation process.

As a province with 11 mountainous districts out of 20 districts and towns, including 3 poor districts among the 62 poorest districts in the country, this has created a certain gap in investment in equipment to improve the quality of teaching and learning between the mountainous areas and the plains. Currently, the education sector is having to continue to resolve the fierce conflicts between the scale of development, the quality of education and the response to school facilities. Therefore, although the network of schools in the mountainous areas is currently quite widespread, in many places students still have to study in combined classes, separate schools... Not to mention the fact that the equipment in many schools cannot meet the requirements of educational innovation. Most schools from the mountainous areas to the plains lack subject classrooms, libraries, laboratories, information technology, medical facilities, and even student toilets are not guaranteed. In the 2008-2009 school year alone, the number of schools with sanitary facilities and clean water facilities was still inadequate: 324/504 preschools; 465/570 primary schools; 378/445 secondary schools; 62/90 high schools. This has somewhat affected the work of building green, clean, and beautiful schools.

Through cultural and artistic activities,
Students confidently show their talents.

In addition, the difference between mountainous areas and plains is also the cause of difficulties in organizing collective activities, cultural activities, sports, folk games and learning about and taking care of historical and cultural relics in the locality. In reality, in mountainous schools, especially schools in high mountainous areas (even schools in the plains), the land fund for building classrooms, campuses, and training grounds is very limited. There are places where schools are located that do not have any historical or cultural relics, so it is impossible to implement physical education, sports, sightseeing, and learning activities. Through this, it is also necessary to see that applying the contents in the implementation of the movement to build "friendly schools, active students" is a good and appropriate thing, but being flexible in the way of applying it to the reality of each locality without losing the good nature of the movement is even more important.

Moreover, for each region, especially in Nghe An where there are many ethnic groups living with different folk games, songs and dances, determining to apply them to schools is not simple, requiring teachers to clearly understand the cultural identity of each region to guide students, and at the same time, to have appropriate selection according to certain criteria. If this cannot be done, the application of the content of bringing folk games and folk arts into schools will only be a formality.

It is also necessary to add that, although the construction of “friendly schools, active students” is a general movement launched through schools, the subjects that contribute significantly to the success of the movement are the students. However, changing old habits, even bad habits to become “active” of each student requires time as well as educational and propaganda measures suitable for the psychology of each student at different levels of education.

It is thought that the difficulties encountered in implementing the movement to build “friendly schools, active students” can be resolved once this is considered a common responsibility of the whole society, not just the education sector. In particular, it is necessary to invest in education, especially upgrading schools, equipment for teaching and learning as well as facilities to ensure hygiene for students, considering it an investment for the future. It is necessary to replicate good and effective models in implementing the movement. Between units, especially youth organizations, there must be active coordination with schools in applying models, games, sports and collective activities. On the family side, it is necessary to build a friendly environment, all members love and respect each other. Only when that is done, students will become active and schools will be friendly.

Quang An