What to learn, how to learn?

(Baonghean) - Hey dad, I read in the newspaper that: The Ministry of Education and Training issued an official dispatch requesting localities to decide for themselves whether to stop or continue to replicate the VNEN model. Whoever wants to do it can do it, whoever can't do it can do it, no pressure. My son Tun is also studying VNEN, dad, should I let him continue studying or stop?

VNEN program class at Hung Dung Secondary School

- Mom is always worrying about useless things. I am studying, not you, so why do you have to give me your opinion? When Tun expresses his wish to me: "Dad, I think the VNEN model is not effective and not suitable for my ability. I suggest you let me change classes, change schools, and return to the mainstream program", then it will be good!

- His father talks like a movie. He is still young, what does he know to have opinions and wishes? But I said it for him, not for anyone else. The neighbor's child who goes to a normal school always brags about getting 9s and 10s, being the top or second in class. When my child comes home from school, my mother asks him and he says: At school, we play games, build models, tell stories to each other... All useless things, who knows if he will do well in exams later on?

- Damn, that's so short-sighted. That's foreign-style education, training life skills, creating excitement for students. Being foreign, of course it has to be more advanced and modern than traditional, understand?

- What do you think? Foreign country here is Colombia, not France, America, or Japan. I have also researched thoroughly before I say anything. Their model is only used for students in remote areas, with small classes. But this class is crowded like a swarm of bees, there are not enough textbooks, let alone equipment and models. My child does not know what he has learned, he only knows how to arrange the tables and chairs facing each other, and if he wants to look at the board, he has to twist his back and neck. It will only cause myopia and spinal curvature, it is really harmful!

- The fault is not in the model, it is in the people who do it in a stereotyped and rigid way. If you are afraid of back pain, just let the children sit normally, and when they need to study in groups, let them face each other. If there is no ready-made logo model, let the children do manual techniques, draw, cut and paste. It is simple, economical and fun. Why do you have to complicate a small matter like a cockroach? I don't see any mother worrying about anything...

- What is he worried about?

- I am worried about the organization and teachers. Don't think that a student-centered program that allows students to self-manage means that teachers are idle and have a light load. Just think about it: In the past, teachers only had to lecture endlessly for students to copy, as easy as feeding their children. Now, teachers have to guide and instruct students to understand and absorb knowledge on their own, which means setting out a tray and encouraging them to eat by themselves. Which is more difficult? Of course it's the second one. If teachers can't guide, students won't absorb anything, that's what I'm worried about.

- Dad is right, so no matter how advanced a foreign model is, it must depend on the actual situation to have a suitable plan, otherwise it will fail. Learning from other countries but still have to filter out what to learn and how to learn, right Dad?

Hai Trieu