Hoang Mai High School reaches out to the youth of 'age 20'

(Baonghean) - In the 2017-2018 school year, Hoang Mai High School entered its 20th year. The past journey has been marked with many achievements, making the school one of the schools with the best achievements in the system of high schools in the province.

Recalling the beginning of August 2017, right after the Ministry of Education and Training announced the results of the National High School Exam, the "center of attention" of the whole country turned to Hoang Mai High School because this was the first school to have a student who was the valedictorian of the whole country with an absolute score of 30 points. Calling teacher Nguyen Ba Vinh, the school's principal, his voice was filled with emotion: This is the greatest achievement of the school after twenty years of establishment. We are really happy because this is the result of many years of tireless efforts and struggles!...

The joy of teachers and students of Hoang Mai High School on the school's founding day. Photo: Huong Ha

Also at this exam, in addition to the national valedictorian title, Hoang Mai High School also had two other runners-up and was one of the schools with the most students receiving high scores in the province. At the end of the 2016-2017 school year, Hoang Mai High School was also one of the schools honored to be reported as typical at the year-end conference organized by the Provincial People's Committee. After the teacher's brief but concise speech, I also saw that many teachers asked to take pictures for reference and teaching experience...

Hoang Mai High School was established in June 1997 from a branch of Quynh Luu High School. Memories of the early days are still clear through old color photos hanging in the school's tradition room.

At that time, difficulties were inevitable, because after its establishment, the school's biggest asset was the 20,000 square meters of land that Quynh Thien commune left for the school. The remaining, to build 10 grade 4 classrooms and a council meeting room, the authorities of surrounding communes such as Quynh Thien, Mai Hung, Quynh Di, Quynh Vinh, Quynh Loc, Quynh Trang had to support the school with 15 million VND each. Due to the lack of facilities, in the first years, because the number of students in each class was too large, teachers and students had to teach and study in two places at the same time, in two shifts, and had to rely on the location of Quynh Di Secondary School to have enough classrooms.

However, despite the difficulties, the enthusiasm for teaching and learning of teachers and students did not disappoint. At the end of the first school year, there were 10 excellent students at the provincial level, 100% of students were recognized as graduates and 20 students passed the university entrance exam.

These favorable initial steps have created a premise for the school in the future, especially in teaching and learning. To achieve that success, the school pays special attention to improving the qualifications of the teaching staff. In the teaching process, the school creates all conditions for teachers to promote their capacity, creativity and encourages teachers to study and research on their own. Currently, 100% of the school's teachers meet the standards, including 18 teachers with master's degrees, 15 teachers with provincial-level teaching excellence, and many teachers with A and B level experience and initiatives.

Students of Hoang Mai High School on the final day of the 2016-2017 school year. Photo: Archive.

During its operation, the school also identified the quality of education as an internal factor that determines the school's steady progress. Therefore, in any circumstance, teaching and learning are always given top priority and considered a central and important task for both teachers and students. To do so, the school has proposed 10 solutions, in which the most important focus is on innovating teaching and learning methods and considering this a key solution. In addition, it focuses on building school order and discipline, implementing emulation movements to contribute to innovating teaching methods, and organizing activities and movements in the school well.

In fact, compared to many other schools in the region, the enrollment area of ​​Hoang Mai High School is more difficult, so the school focuses on classifying and nurturing students right from when they enter grade 10. On that basis, students are educated comprehensively in both knowledge and skills, helping students develop their abilities... The school also focuses on tutoring for weak students and students at risk of dropping out of school, increasing encouragement instead of criticism; providing psychological support when students have to live in a discordant family situation...

Students of Hoang Mai High School participate in the propaganda session. Photo: Archive.

With the above tireless efforts, from this school, after twenty years of establishment, there have been more than 10,000 high school graduates; more than 5,000 students entered universities. Regarding the key quality, there is 1 national excellent student who won 3rd prize in geography, 4 students won Bronze Medal, 7 students won National Encouragement Prize in English through IOE exam; more than 400 provincial excellent students, many students achieved high scores in university entrance exams... Most recently, in the 2016-2017 school year, the school had 2 creative science and technology topics winning second prize, 1 first prize, 7 second prizes, 12 third prizes and 2 encouragement prizes at the Provincial Excellent Student Competition and rose to rank 5th out of 64 high schools in the province.

The success of training results also creates a foundation and trust for the government, people and parents in the whole school. This is also the "secret" for many years that the school has done well in socialization work in calling for and mobilizing school construction and contributed significantly to bringing the school to national standard school status in 2016. It is impossible to express the joy that in just a short time, from the first 10 grade 4 classrooms, the number of classrooms has increased nearly 5 times with 4 spacious high-rise buildings, an office building with enough rooms and facilities for organizations to operate. The system of functional rooms such as: foreign languages, information technology, library, traditional room... are equipped and purchased quite completely such as computers, Protin projectors for teaching, information technology application....

Not only focusing on improving cultural quality, the school also promotes cultural, artistic and sports activities and always achieves high rankings in traffic safety competitions, men's and women's football, and art performances at district, town and provincial levels. With the achieved results, the school has been highly appreciated by leaders at all levels and awarded many certificates of merit, achieving the title of "Cultural Unit". The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Central Youth Union, and the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee awarded the title of Excellent Labor Unit for the 2015-2016; 2016-2017 school years.

Practice time of students at Hoang Mai High School. Photo: Huong Ha

Assessing the school's performance, Mr. Nguyen Huu Tuy - Chairman of Hoang Mai Town People's Committee also affirmed: The success of the young school has contributed to creating resources to build Hoang Mai town to develop more and more comprehensively in all aspects, from culture - education to economy, politics... This is also a place to create resources, so that Hoang Mai town has a team of young, dynamic, creative, skilled and qualified intellectuals.

On the part of the school leadership, looking back at the journey, although there have been ups and downs, each step shows the maturity of the school. The biggest lesson is that in the process of operation, it is necessary to enhance the leadership and direction role of the Party Committee and Party cells in all school activities. Innovation in management work: Managers must be closely involved in their work, have a scientific and practical plan, assign the right people to the right job, regularly monitor and inspect to motivate or promptly adjust existing problems. Conduct a preliminary summary to draw specific lessons.

In addition, it is necessary to build internal solidarity, in which leaders and school managers must be dedicated, democratic, fair and objective in working, inspecting, evaluating, competing and rewarding. At the same time, it is necessary to propagate for staff and teachers to clearly understand their roles and tasks in the new period and thereby be proud and enthusiastic about their profession.

Teacher Nguyen Ba Vinh - Principal of the school shared: Twenty years of development, the past time is not long, for a high school, but the initial achievements have left a good impression, affirming the position of a school, the trust in the hearts of the people and colleagues near and far. We also believe that, with the solidarity, with the efforts and struggles of the school collective, Hoang Mai High School will continue to rise, excellently complete its political tasks in the following school years and meet the trust and expectations of the local government and of the majority of parents and students...

Huong Ha