More than 1,600 schools in Nghe An enter new school year

My Ha• DNUM_AFZAJZCABJ 08:07

(Baonghean) - Today, more than 860,000 teachers and students in Nghe An province will begin the new school year 2019 - 2020. Due to heavy rain, 135 schools had to postpone the opening day, many schools opened in multi-function halls.

This is a school year with many advantages and also many difficulties and challenges to strive to complete the goals and targets set by Party Congresses at all levels and prepare essential conditions to anticipate innovation, change textbooks, and implement the comprehensive general education program.

Looking forward to school day

This new school year is very special for Thach Ngan 2 Primary School (Con Cuong) as the school has just been recognized as a National Standard School. Although this is the last primary school in Con Cuong district to receive this title, the achievements are a testament to the outstanding efforts of the school, which is located in a remote, disadvantaged area and nearly 100% of the students are children of ethnic minorities, mainly from poor households.

Giáo viên, học sinh Trường Tiểu học Thạch Ngàn 2 (Con Cuông) luyện tập chuẩn bị cho lễ khai giảng năm học mới.

Teachers and students of Thach Ngan 2 Primary School (Con Cuong) practice preparing for the opening ceremony of the new school year.

Along with the good news of welcoming a standard school, this year Thach Ngan 2 Primary School welcomed new students from Dan Lai who had just moved from Mon Son commune to Thach Ngan commune. Although there are only 9 students, Con Cuong district and the school have also prepared a new school, right at the Thach Son 2 resettlement area with 5 levels of education from grade 1 to grade 5.

To ensure that Dan Lai students are not overwhelmed by the new environment, Thach Ngan 2 Primary School also decided to transfer all students from Ba Ha to the same school in Thach Son. Teachers are selected from those with experience, prestige, and many years of working with ethnic minority students.

Before the new school year started, teaching and learning for Dan Lai students gradually stabilized, even though they had to share a room.

“When we were transferred to the new school, we were also very worried. But now we are all reassured because we see that the students are very well-behaved, love going to school and are excited about the new environment.”

Teacher Vi Thi Duyen - Thach Ngan 2 Primary School

Before the opening ceremony, although the school’s conditions were still very difficult, the board of directors still decided to boldly invest nearly 100 million VND to purchase teaching equipment, desks and chairs for students in the resettlement area. In addition, the school’s teachers also donated books, notebooks, pens, paper and school supplies to give to students before the new school year.

“Our school is located in a difficult area, so for many years the school has not collected social contributions from parents. Instead, we have received spiritual and working day support from parents to repair and renovate the school. The support of parents and their care for their children is also the biggest motivation for the school to strive, overcome difficulties and do well in teaching and learning.”

Teacher Nguyen Duy Linh - Principal of Thach Ngan 2 Primary School

The opening ceremony of the new school year 2019 - 2020 took place in unfavorable weather conditions when heavy rain continuously occurred in many localities. However, the atmosphere of preparation for the school festival still received special attention from localities and schools with the aim of creating a joyful and excited mood for students.

Many schools in Vinh city postponed the opening day due to rain. Photo: My Ha

In Vinh city, this year, many schools have proposed opening ceremonies without balloons and instead have many other meaningful activities such as organizing fan dance performances with the participation of about 600 students of Cua Nam Secondary School with the theme "Happy festival - continue singing dreams".

At Hung Dung 2 Primary School, this year the opening ceremony will also focus on the "festival" part with many contents such as: Group dance and singing performances in the school yard, folk dance and singing, and coordinating with the mobile vehicle of Nghe An Library to organize a reading festival. Due to the rain, many schools have also prepared plans for the opening ceremony, such as in Cua Lo town, which will be held in a multi-function house.

If it rains, the opening ceremony will be conducted in a small class-by-class manner. Instead of group activities, the teacher will lead the students into the classroom to talk to them about the new school year, give them advice, and encourage their spirit in the new school year.

Mr. Phan Van Thiet - Deputy Head of the Department of Education and Training of Ky Son district

Teaching letters parallel to teaching people

Teachers and students of Xa Luong Kindergarten (Tuong Duong) prepare for the opening ceremony of the new school year 2019 - 2020. Photo: Dinh Tuan

In the 2019-2020 school year, Nghe An Education sector has identified 3 important goals, notably "committing to the quality of each level, grade and educational institution towards developing the qualities and capacities of learners".

This is also not an easy task when looking at the whole picture, the education sector of the province is still facing many difficulties and challenges. That is, although the new school year has begun, in general, thousands of students in the whole province are still having to study in makeshift classrooms, with inadequate facilities and lack of equipment for teaching and learning.

According to statistics up to this point, the whole province is lacking nearly 3,000 preschool teachers and more than 1,900 primary school teachers.

Although the school year has not yet started, students at Thach Ngan Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities (Con Cuong) have settled into their studies. Photo: My Ha

This is also a big challenge for the industry in organizing 2 sessions/day at primary level or ensuring safety for students at preschool level. Regarding the quality of education, although the key quality has been affirmed, there are still many gaps in regions, especially the quality of education in schools in remote, isolated and disadvantaged areas.

With these difficulties, in the 2019-2020 school year, the provincial education sector has also proposed many important solutions to improve the quality of the teaching staff; innovate the form and method of organization, teaching, and assessment; build modern and integrated teaching programs and content, aiming at the goal of global citizens.

Many meaningful gifts from agencies, departments, branches and charitable organizations were presented to the school and students at the opening ceremony of the new school year 2019 - 2020 at Huu Khuong. Photo: Thanh Quynh

This school year, Nghe An will begin implementing a pilot model to build high-quality high schools, increase access to new general education programs, encourage cooperation, link advanced education programs, and develop global citizens.

In particular, this is also the year the industry is determined to make changes in implementing two contents: teaching foreign languages in accordance with international standards and teaching linked to practice. In the immediate future, the pilot will be implemented in schools in Vinh city, schools in central and convenient areas, and 14 key schools.

Along with teaching literacy, the industry also clearly defines "teaching people" through training, educating students in ethics and personality, and organizing many activities on life skills.

Many activities are organized to prepare for the new school year. Photo courtesy of Dinh Tuan

From this school year, the “Happy School” model will also be piloted, with the main criteria being schools with no violations of teacher ethics or school violence. The entire sector also launched a plan to “Improve pedagogical behavior capacity, teacher ethics, and workers to meet the requirements of tasks in the new situation” and issued a code of conduct in schools.

Thereby contributing to creating fundamental changes in awareness and actions on ethics and pedagogical behavior of cadres, teachers and workers, towards standards, not violating regulations and rules of the industry, policies and laws of the State.

“The 2019-2020 school year is a very important year, marking the results after 5 years of implementing the goals and targets set by the Party Congresses at all levels. We believe that Nghe An Education will enter a new school year with great determination to strive to achieve many high achievements in teaching and learning, worthy of the expectations of the government and many parents.”

Professor, Doctor Thai Van Thanh - Director of Department of Education and Training