Rectifying extra teaching and learning at primary school level: Reducing pressure on students

(Baonghean) - On November 3, 2014, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Directive 5105-CT/BGD&DT on rectifying the situation of extra teaching and learning in primary education. The regulations in this directive have received much attention from the public. Nghe An Newspaper reporter had an interview with Dr. - Meritorious Teacher Thai Huy Vinh - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Education and Training on this issue...

Foreign language class of students at Hoa Hieu 2 Primary School, Thai Hoa Town. Photo: Nguyen Son

PV:As an education and training manager, what is your assessment of the directive of the Ministry of Education and Training? How has the Nghe An Department of Education and Training implemented this directive?

Mr. Thai Huy Vinh:I find that Directive 5105 dated November 3, 2014 of the Minister of Education and Training on the rectification of extra teaching and learning at primary school level is extremely necessary, correct, timely and appropriate. According to the directive, for schools and classes that teach 2 sessions/day, the Ministry of Education and Training requires students to complete the learning content in class; strictly prohibits assigning homework to students; encourages students to leave books and learning materials in class. For schools and classes that teach 1 session/day, only assign homework equal to the maximum number of exercises for students who study 2 sessions/day; do not assign exercises outside of textbooks. The Ministry of Education and Training also does not allow the organization of excellent student competitions for primary school students; does not organize teams to participate in exchange activities or intellectual "playgrounds". The acceptance of education quality and the handover of students from lower to upper grades, from primary to secondary school must be carried out seriously; at the same time, no student surveys are organized at the beginning of the school year, and no entrance exams for students entering grade 6 are organized.

To implement that directive of the Ministry of Education and Training, the Department of Education and Training of Nghe An has issued an official dispatch to thoroughly disseminate and direct the Departments of Education and Training and primary schools to strictly implement this directive, ensuring 5 no's: For students studying 2 sessions/day, no homework; no primary school excellent student competitions; no formation of teams for training, intellectual playgrounds; no quality checks at the beginning of the school year; no entrance exams for grade 6. The Department also encourages primary schools, where students study 2 sessions/day, to leave their books and notebooks at school, except on Fridays, to bring them home for parents to check and consider to have coordination between parents and schools.

PV:Many parents wonder, if they don't give homework, their children don't have to do homework, they don't get to reinforce what they've learned, will it affect the quality of their studies? What is your opinion on this issue?

Mr. Thai Huy Vinh:Not giving homework to students is absolutely the right thing to do. Parents, accustomed to the old way of learning, are impatient when teachers do not give homework. But parents can rest assured that schools must teach all the required knowledge and skills and improve the quality - especially schools that teach two shifts a day, pay attention to each student, accurately assess each student's level and nurture them right in class. For students with difficult circumstances in learning, the school must have a separate plan to support them.

For children - studying, playing and eating and sleeping must be balanced and harmonious to suit the characteristics of their age. Studying at school all day, at night they can have fun and entertainment such as watching TV or other activities which are also very beneficial.

Comrade Thai Huy Vinh answered an interview with Nghe An newspaper.

PV:Currently, one of the issues that many parents are concerned about is the lack of enrollment in grade 6, especially for students who wish to enter specialized schools and selective classes. So how can we solve the needs and learning abilities of students before entering secondary school?

Mr. Thai Huy Vinh:Admission to grade 6 of junior high school has been regulated by entrance exams for the first grades of junior high school and high school. Accordingly, the Ministry prohibits not organizing exams but only selecting students for junior high school. As for the schools that we often call high-quality schools or key schools (which are specialized junior high schools), Resolution 2 of the Central Committee, Session VIII (1996) stated: Do not organize selective classes at all levels, do not organize specialized schools at primary and secondary school levels, except for schools with talent in arts and sports. In fact, these schools still exist due to demand. In my opinion, this system of specialized schools is still necessary, creating satellites for Phan Boi Chau Specialized High School, associated with the work of discovering and nurturing talented students, creating conditions for them to develop their strengths and abilities.

For a long time, these schools have been organizing exams, but now according to the directive of the Ministry of Education and Training, they are definitely not allowed to organize exams. We will have a seminar on how to select students for these schools appropriately, without putting too much pressure on parents and students. Selection will be based on many criteria: 5-year ranking assessment, through intellectual playgrounds (there will be no team formation, no competition assessment of units, no training for students to compete in these games,... but still organized to evaluate and develop students' abilities)

PV:With two options of admission and entrance exam, which option will be more effective, especially for key schools like Dang Thai Mai Secondary School?

Mr. Thai Huy Vinh:For a long time, with the traditional method, the selection exam method is easier to organize, clearer, and more distinct. But it puts pressure on extra teaching and learning in elementary schools, choosing this teacher or that teacher, evaluating this school or that school with many students passing the exam, then comparing the quality of this school with that school, causing the race for schools, classes and the problem of extra learning. If there is no exam but only selection, then the situation of extra teaching and learning will definitely be greatly limited.

PV:In fact, many teachers do not want to organize extra classes, but the demand from parents and students is very high. To some extent, should we address this demand - the real demand of society, not of schools and teachers?

Mr. Thai Huy Vinh:For a long time, the situation of extra teaching - extra learning, exams, and assessments has not been appropriate. And especially because of the educational system of exams, it has created pressure for parents and students. To overcome this situation, the Education sector has directed to rectify extra teaching - extra learning in primary schools, promoting teaching 2 sessions/day. Many parents are too worried, putting pressure on their children; cramming knowledge into their children, forcing them to study, having unrealistic expectations, putting unnecessary pressure on their children.

Therefore, the industry will step up propaganda to parents, schools, teachers to make parents more aware of this issue. For primary school students, just studying at school is enough, time at home, for them to receive other information in life, pay attention to physical education, life skills...

It is entirely legitimate to be concerned about your children's education. However, it must be done scientifically and appropriately, not in the sense of forcing them to study a lot. Let them both study and play. We hope that parents will cooperate with the school to properly implement the directive's contents; helping their children to balance study and play.

PV:Thank you!

PV(Perform)