Nghe An: Advanced school model creates opportunities for students to develop comprehensively

Across the country, many localities have implemented the advanced school model. In Nghe An, the model was first implemented in Vinh city with 5 schools: Hoa Sen Kindergarten, Le Mao Primary School, Dang Thai Mai Secondary School, Vinh University Pedagogical Practice School, and Huynh Thuc Khang High School.

For each level of education, the model has its own characteristics and in the implementation process, it requires full preparation from the project, facilities, staff, teaching equipment, curriculum and good propaganda and mobilization work, especially in schools with universal students.

Many advantages at advanced schools

The Pilot Project to build advanced kindergartens and general schools following the international integration trend was prepared by Nghe An Education Department for more than 2 years and received opinions from departments, branches and sectors before being approved by the Provincial People's Committee and issued a decision.

Enhanced English class for students at Hoa Sen Kindergarten. Photo: Duc Anh

According to Mr. Thai Van Thanh - Director of the Department of Education and Training: The goal of the advanced school model is to provide comprehensive education, aiming at the success of learners and forming modern skills, global thinking for students to prepare for global citizens, improving the quality of human resources of the province to meet the requirements of Resolution No. 26 of the Politburo - Nghe An is the pillar of the North Central region. The implementation project is also the basis for a number of educational institutions to become pioneers, core factors to effectively implement the 2018 Preschool and General Education Program.

Immediately after the Provincial People's Committee issued the project, the Department of Education and Training also held many meetings with localities and schools to discuss the implementation plan and consider the advantages, difficulties and obstacles in the implementation process.

Based on the actual conditions, in the next school year 2022-2023, the model will be piloted at 5 schools, namely Hoa Sen Kindergarten, Le Mao Primary School, Dang Thai Mai Secondary School, Vinh Pedagogical Practice School, Vinh University Pedagogical Practice School, Huynh Thuc Khang High School. Currently, the schools have also developed projects, enrollment plans and publicized teaching programs and expected tuition fees.

Class time of students at Dang Thai Mai Secondary School. Photo: My Ha

At Dang Thai Mai Secondary School, this school year, the school will pilot 9 advanced classes for all 6th grade students, including direct admission classes and gifted students. According to teacher Nguyen Thi Thu Hien - Principal of the school, implementing the advanced model, in addition to the program prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, the school will organize 7 enhanced education programs and organize 2 sessions/day and organize boarding for students. The enhanced education tuition fee is implemented according to Decision No. 31/2020/NQ - People's Council on regulations on maximum fees for service fees serving school education activities for public educational institutions at all levels in Nghe An province.

The principal of Dang Thai Mai Secondary School also added: In fact, in the past, in addition to regular school classes, students who took afternoon classes at school or students who studied the enhanced English program also had to pay tuition fees, which were all additional fees. Instead, this year, students will not have to pay these fees and they will be included in the advanced class tuition fee, and the actual fee will not be much higher.

Le Mao Primary School has also announced its plan to implement the advanced school project following the international integration trend with the goal of creating a learning environment for students with advanced quality and reasonable costs; helping students access educational programs in countries in the region and internationally and training generations of students with knowledge, good at foreign languages, information technology, dynamism and creativity.

Currently, according to the school's plan, in the first year the school will enroll 6 advanced classes for all first grade students. During the implementation process, the school strictly implements the 2018 General Education Program according to the regulations of the Ministry. At the same time, it builds a program to enhance teaching of Math, Vietnamese, English, physical development, life skills education and practical experience activities.

Parents from Hung Phuc ward come to learn about the enrollment plans of Dang Thai Mai Secondary School. Photo: My Ha

Teacher Pham Thi Truong Giang - Principal of Le Mao Primary School also said: Students studying under the advanced school program will have their own advantages in training programs to develop qualities, abilities, promote creativity, talents, and strengths of each student, meeting the requirements of international integration. In addition, the size of each class is only 35 students, so the learning conditions of the students will certainly be more favorable. The school has also selected teachers with enough experience and good expertise to be in charge of advanced classes and has cooperated with prestigious units to teach enhanced programs and has output commitments with parents of students.

Previously, before issuing the advanced school plan, the Department of Education and Training also requested specialized departments to support schools in developing programs and giving opinions on fees and charges. Currently, the average fees of advanced schools will range from 2,500,000 - 3,000,000 VND/month (including boarding fees) and will be collected in accordance with the guidelines.

Speaking more about the advanced school model, Director of the Department of Education and Training Thai Van Thanh also said: The advanced school model has been implemented in many large cities and this is considered a breakthrough in the education sector. For Nghe An, the advanced school model is built in a separate form, both adjacent and learning but also having changes to suit reality. This model is also different from the key school model and has up to 9 criteria for operation to ensure the quality of education at school.

Ensure all rights for universal students

Due to the specific characteristics of Nghe An province, up to this point, building a separate advanced school is impossible. Therefore, in the first year of the pilot implementation, in addition to the schools under the Department and Vinh University, the two remaining schools, Le Mao Primary School and Dang Thai Mai Secondary School, are located in Hung Phuc and Le Mao wards.

An extracurricular activity of Le Mao Primary School. Photo provided by the school

Regarding the pilot project to build advanced schools, one of the issues that many parents are concerned about is the enrollment of general education students in Hung Phuc and Le Mao wards. Through research with many parents whose children are about to enter grades 1 and 6 in the two wards, many parents said that they agree with the advanced school model. However, with tuition fees 2 or 3 times higher than before, studying in an advanced school model is difficult for many families.

Mr. Hoang Manh Hung (Tan Tien block) whose son Hoang Duc Quang is entering first grade this year said: We have heard about the advanced school for several months now and have also researched this model quite thoroughly. Indeed, we are children of the ward, our eldest child also studied at Le Mao, so the family's wish is still for our child to study at the ward school. However, if the tuition fee is not reasonable, I will ask to transfer my child to another school to suit the family's circumstances.

Students participating in the advanced program will be taught many enhanced programs to develop their talents. Photo: Duc Anh

Mr. Le Thanh Hai - Secretary and Head of Tan Tien Block (Le Mao Ward) also said: For many years, children in the block have studied at Le Mao Primary School. Therefore, when the city had a policy to build advanced schools, parents in the block were also very interested. People wanted to study at the ward's school because in reality, transferring their children to another ward would have difficulties such as having to apply for a school in another ward, and inconvenient pick-up and drop-off. The problem here is that not every family can afford to pay tuition.

Perhaps the school should organize two parallel teaching programs, one following the current program and the other following the advanced program so that parents can easily choose.

In Hung Phuc Ward, previously, according to a survey by Dang Thai Mai Secondary School, this year the ward has nearly 200 students eligible for universal education, of which 135 students are studying at Hung Phuc Primary School. The rest are scattered in other schools in the city. Through the parent meeting of 5th grade parents, many parents with excellent students agreed with the policy and will transfer their children to study at Dang Thai Mai Secondary School.

Some parents whose children have weaker academic performance are still having to consider because Dang Thai Mai Secondary School has been a key school in the city for many years and its teaching quality is among the top in the province. However, this environment also requires students to be capable and have good academic performance.

Dang Thai Mai Secondary School advises parents when they come to learn about the advanced school model. Photo: My Ha

Regarding the implementation of advanced schools in Vinh city, Ms. Hoang Phuong Thao - Head of the Department of Education and Training of Vinh city said: The city has also considered whether to build advanced schools in the whole grade or a few grades. However, if only a few grades are implemented, there will be certain difficulties in organizing teaching and learning such as uneven curriculum and teaching quality, and difficulty in arranging teachers. Moreover, at the age of the children (primary and secondary school), if the same grade is taught according to two programs, it will create inequality and will not be good for the development of students.

Regarding parents' concerns about universal education students, the city is committed to creating all conditions for universal education students to be able to register at any school in Vinh city for the convenience of parents and the city will directly transfer the records to the children on the city's enrollment software and parents can sit at home to register their children to study online.

Commitment to output standards and quality must be top priority

According to the plan, from mid-July, schools will begin enrolling students in advanced classes. During the implementation process, in order for people to fully understand and grasp the policy, propaganda is an issue that needs to be given top priority. In addition, schools and localities also need to listen to people's opinions to promptly explain, remove obstacles and find appropriate solutions to reassure people and gain their agreement and support.

Stem class of Le Mao Primary School students. Photo: Provided by the school

Regarding the construction of advanced school models, Director of the Department of Education and Training Thai Van Thanh also affirmed that this is an inevitable trend in the current period and is a basis for Nghe An to improve the quality of education and training. In addition, the head of the education sector also said that because this is a new model, it is inevitable that there will be initial difficulties and problems and it is necessary to share with parents and students with the common goal of developing the education career of the province. With the role of the sector, the Department will continue to accompany schools in the implementation process, support in program development, training of teachers and will supervise during the implementation process.

For the model to be implemented effectively, schools must also commit to the output standards and if they do not meet them, the school must re-organize teaching so that students can achieve the set goals upon graduation. At the same time, the Principal must be responsible for the quality of the students and the school.