Priority for the development of preschool education
(Baonghean.vn) In recent years, the preschool education sector in Nghe An province has had encouraging movements, however, in order for this sector to develop to its full potential, there are many issues that need to be resolved. Regarding this issue, the reporter interviewed comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on this issue.
(Baonghean.vn) In recent years, the preschool education sector in Nghe An province has had encouraging movements, however, in order for this sector to develop to its full potential, there are many issues that need to be resolved. Regarding this issue, the reporter interviewed comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong, member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province on this issue.
Reporter: Sir, it is known that in recent years, Nghe An has done very well in converting the type of kindergarten according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training. Could you please clarify this issue?
GrandfatherNguyen Xuan Duong:Implementing the State's policy and the guiding Circular of the Ministry of Education and Training, realizing that preschool education is an important field of study, on December 10, 2010, the People's Council of Nghe An province issued Resolution No. 350/2010/NQ-HDND and immediately after that, on January 7, 2011, the People's Committee of the province issued Decision No. 64/QD-UBND.VX on converting the type of preschool.
Drawing class for children at Hoa Sen Kindergarten (Vinh City). Photo: Dang Dinh Nhat
According to this Decision, 37 semi-public kindergartens in the two mountainous areas of the province will be converted into public schools; 296 semi-public kindergartens and 2 public kindergartens (in Vinh and Nam Dan) will be converted into public schools with partial autonomy in operating costs; 16 key public kindergartens and 20 other semi-public kindergartens with conditions will be converted into public schools implementing high-quality programs with partial autonomy in operating costs.
Thus, at this time, Nghe An has 509 kindergartens, including 6 private schools and 7 non-public schools, the rest are public schools (including 334 public schools with partial autonomy in operating costs). Immediately after completing the conversion of kindergarten types, nearly 6,000 contract teachers in this field were recruited into the state payroll. It can be said that Nghe An has taken the lead in implementing the conversion of semi-public kindergartens to public kindergartens - this is a great effort of the province for the cause of preschool education.
PV: Currently, the whole country is focusing on universalizing preschool education for 5-year-old children. How has Nghe An implemented this issue, sir?
GrandfatherNguyen Xuan Duong:On February 9, 2010, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 239/QD-TTg approving the Project on Universal Preschool Education for 5-year-old Children in the 2010-2015 period. After nearly a year of preparation, on December 10, 2010, the People's Council of Nghe An province issued Resolution No. 348/2010/NQ-HDND on the implementation of the Project on Universal Preschool Education for 5-year-old Children in the 2010-2015 period in the province; on January 7, 2011, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 63/QD-UBND.VX approving the Project on Universal Preschool Education for 5-year-old Children in Nghe An province in the 2010-2015 period.
The goal of the Project is to ensure that by 2015, over 96% of 5-year-old children in the province will attend school 2 sessions/day; 85% of children from 3 to 4 years old and 25% of children of nursery age will attend school; 100% of children in preschools will study the new preschool education program, preparing children well for grade 1; 100% of districts, cities and towns will achieve universal preschool education for 5-year-old children by 2015. According to the Project's roadmap, Nghe An will strive to achieve universal preschool education for 5-year-old children by the end of 2014. The roadmap is like that, but we are determined to mobilize all resources for preschool education to complete the roadmap sooner.
The project has been approved for less than a year, but in fact, the work of universalizing preschool education for 5-year-old children has been launched in Nghe An for nearly two years now. Recently reviewed, Nghe An has basically met two requirements on child care and education and requirements on the teaching staff. The most difficult thing for Nghe An is the two requirements on facilities and teaching equipment. Currently, some preschools still have temporary classrooms, borrowed classrooms, and lack functional rooms and teaching equipment. To solve the problem of facilities and teaching equipment, a large amount of funding is required. Nghe An is trying to create high consensus among all levels, sectors, and social forces on the policy of universalizing preschool education for 5-year-old children; the province will allocate a reasonable and appropriate portion of funding from related programs and projects, from regular expenditures, and even foreign loans for this requirement.
Reporter: Sir, on August 16, 2011, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 40/2011/QD.UBND regulating the tuition fees for public preschools implementing high-quality programs with partial autonomy in operating costs. However, when some schools in Vinh City implemented the program, many parents expressed disagreement. Could you please tell us what solutions the province has come up with?
GrandfatherNguyen Xuan Duong:We have information about this issue, so on the afternoon of September 20, I myself chaired a meeting with relevant departments, with the participation of the press, to agree on a solution. The fundamental reason for the disagreement is the implementation method of the facility. Currently, the Provincial People's Committee is directing the Department of Education and Training to preside over and coordinate with relevant departments to complete the guidance document in the direction that when preschools implement high-quality programs, they will develop their own plans to submit to the People's Committees of cities, districts, and towns for approval of tuition fees, but must not exceed the maximum ceiling (VND 540,000/month/child) issued by Decision No. 40/2011/QD.UBND.
PV: Thank you. With such a solution, we believe that parents and students will feel secure and that the decision of the Provincial People's Committee is very correct!
Minh Duc (performed)
