VNEN in Nghe An: Why has it not met expectations?

(Baonghean) - As Nghe An Newspaper has reported, the implementation of the new VNEN school model in Nghe An has both advantages and disadvantages. To broaden public opinion, Nghe An Newspaper publishes multi-dimensional opinions and perspectives on this issue.

>>> How has Nghe An implemented VNEN?

>>> Do you really understand VNEN?

Insider:"Need heart and responsibility"

In the presentation "Some experiences in organizing classes according to the new VNEN model", at the conference summarizing 3 years of implementing VNEN in Nghe An, Ms. Phan Thi Huyen, Chau Khe Primary School 1, Con Cuong commented:

“Organizing classes according to the VNEN model has contributed significantly to the implementation of innovative teaching methods, bringing both teachers and students a new space with many interests in the lesson. Organizing students to establish a class self-management council has led and attracted students into a friendly learning environment of “learning while playing, playing while learning”.

VNEN class at Mon Son 2 Primary School, Con Cuong.

However, because the school is located in a border commune, most of the students are ethnic minorities, their skills are still limited, especially communication skills and cooperation skills. They have thoughts and opinions, but they are afraid to share, or because of limited expression skills, they are not confident in expressing their thoughts and wishes, which significantly affects the quality of activities of the board of directors and committees.

Applying the VNEN model to teaching and contributing to the innovation of teaching methods is a long-term task, requiring facilities, finance and capacity of the teaching staff. If we want to effectively replicate this model, we need to pay attention to investing in facilities, close guidance from the industry, and the participation of the whole community and society. For schools, we need to pay attention to innovating the content of professional activities, organizing well professional activities at the school and school cluster levels so that teachers have the opportunity to exchange expertise and learn from practical experience.

Parents shared with Nghe An Newspaper reporters their concerns about the VNEN model.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy (parent of a child in grade 4, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Primary School, Hung Nguyen):

"For several years now, I and many other parents have opposed the continued application of the VNEN model. In our opinion, there is no problem in the younger grades, but in higher grades, many shortcomings will be revealed. Specifically, if students are left to study on their own, the weaker students will be "drowned" because the group's representatives in the self-management council (good students) will speak for them.

Textbooks also have unreasonable points. For example, in a poem, the VNEN textbook does not print the whole poem, but in the workbook, students are required to copy the whole poem, parents have to borrow or buy traditional textbooks for their children to copy.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Bao Tuyet - Xuan Son Primary School (Do Luong): "I think that applying the VNEN model requires the heart and responsibility of each teacher in the classroom as well as the determination to boldly change the awareness and innovate the thinking of those in leadership positions."

A 7th grade student at Hung Dung Secondary School (Vinh City): “After several years of studying VNEN, I cannot define what this model is. I only know that, compared to my friends studying under the current program, I am much weaker in my studies.”

Nghe An online community: "VNEN is not at fault, the fault lies with the implementer"

Facebook Phan Le: “In my opinion, innovation is an urgent requirement of life, but we must carefully consider the conditions. We need to be cautious, take steps, and prepare thoroughly. And the issue of the team of teachers is always the decisive factor. And when we talk about teachers, we mean the whole, the majority, not just the "selected for the pilot"! We must think about living conditions, working conditions, capacity, qualifications...

I think it is not too hasty to praise or criticize. When introducing something new into life, we must be careful. Public opinion, society's opinion, public opinion... are objections, and should be listened to! Who knows, among them there may be many, many voices of educators, but for many reasons, not many of them dare to courageously speak the truth."

A heartfelt share about VNEN on social networks.

Facebook Hoang Tra: "For many years, teachers have been teaching according to the old model, lazy with change and improving thinking. This method requires creativity, dedication and real investment, with two-way communication. Meanwhile, most teachers still impose themselves as parents, saying whatever students must listen, not being allowed to object.

In EU countries, there is no such model, but the methods are quite similar. So we need to review the quality of teachers, materials and training methods. I think the quality of teachers is worth discussing, but changing them is not simple, so the materials and methods must be similar to the level."

Facebook Pham Huy Duc Pham: "I think VNEN is not at fault (of course there are still shortcomings that need to be supplemented to complete), the fault lies with the implementers. Where VNEN is implemented but does not bring about effectiveness for students, the teaching process of the teachers there needs to be reviewed. To implement VNEN well requires teachers to put in a lot of effort; if they do it half-heartedly and teach without the students in mind, they will only fail."

Facebook Ho Viet Hung: "I think VNEN is good, but to promote that good thing, what is the most solid foundation for it to stand firm? The minimum is that there are not enough textbooks, the whole class gets 5-7 sets, photocopied textbooks, after studying they leave them in class and do not let students take them home (for fear of losing them). Teachers go to receive the knowledge for 3 days and then come back to implement it, the teachers themselves only have a vague understanding of what to teach and what to learn from. Another thing, is the salary regime really enough to make teachers feel secure and devoted to their profession? Just think, don't be quick to blame teachers for not investing, teachers are always dedicated to their profession, but has the profession given them a stable life?"

Manager: “There needs to be a roadmap”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Chau Loan - Principal of Mon Son Primary School 2 (Con Cuong): "We highly appreciate the VNEN model and find it suitable for mountainous areas. At first, we encountered difficulties due to facilities, and teachers did not really grasp some teaching skills according to the new program. However, up to now, after 4 years of implementing the model, there have been clear results. Especially communication skills and self-study skills of Thai ethnic minority students.

In my opinion, to achieve good results for this program, teachers must be truly dedicated. In addition, the classroom space is also considered a factor leading to success. For example, Mon Son Primary School 2, with an average annual class size of about 23 students, is completely suitable."

Mr. Thai Khac Tan - Head of the Department of Education and Training of Vinh City: "There is a situation where many parents do not fully understand VNEN. This may be due to errors in propaganda work, poor coordination between parents and schools, and failure to convey this information to parents.

Mr. Thai Khac Tan - Head of Vinh City Department of Education and Training.

I affirm that VNEN and traditional models are only different in the way of organizing teaching and managing the classroom. With the traditional model, students lose their independence and creativity. Faced with that reality, the Ministry of Education and Training wants to change. Of course, when there are changes, there are always difficulties. I think that the opinions expressed by parents are all concerned about quality."

A PhD at Vinh University commented: "The disadvantages of VNEN when implemented in Nghe An are: Due to the large number of students, teachers are not able to manage, guide, and supervise well; the capacity of the teaching staff is still limited, stemming from teachers' awareness (many people are afraid to go to school and learn).

In addition, poor organizational capacity, inertia, and lack of enthusiasm affect educational effectiveness; the learning environment and facilities are not good and are still lacking; the teaching environment is not diverse (teaching according to the VNEN model encourages increased experiential activities); these things have not been achieved in Nghe An.

There is no interaction (especially parents have not accompanied and coordinated with students). The main reason is that parents do not understand, are not confident, and are focused on exams. From not understanding to reacting, it is a chain effect."

Mr. Tran The Son - Head of Primary Education Department, Department of Education and Training: The replication of the VNEN model needs to be carefully calculated for three main reasons: first, the conditions of the majority of people are currently difficult, second, the program's materials are in the process of being completed and the price is too high. Moreover, the physical facilities of schools in Nghe An are not guaranteed.

From practice, surveys and from multi-dimensional perspectives of all classes, it is thought that in order to effectively implement the new VNEN school model in Nghe An, there needs to be a suitable roadmap. First of all, there needs to be changes and adjustments in facilities and capacity of the teaching staff; there must be a serious survey to see where there are suitable similarities to apply the VNEN model; it is impossible to implement a model that has not met the minimum necessary and sufficient preparation and conditions.

The summary after each school year also needs to clarify the advantages and limitations of this model for timely editing, supplementing and overcoming. In addition to professional work, propaganda work to raise awareness and change thinking needs to be focused on so that first of all the education sector and society clearly understand the goal of applying the new school model.

Education sector managers need to thoroughly understand that VNEN is a stimulus and pilot project (within 5 years). Therefore, the assessment of the practical situation, conditions, resources of the locality, the sector, and even the thinking and habits of Vietnamese and Nghe An people must be carried out seriously, accurately and scientifically. Only then can we determine and build a suitable roadmap, methods and strategies to effectively implement the new school model.

For example, how will the model be implemented within the framework of the project support? And when the project ends, how will it be implemented? Where will the investment resources come from? (which part will be supported by the budget, which part will have to be mobilized from society...); what are the responsibilities and requirements for managers; teachers, parents, society... for each stage? If it is possible to predict both the results and achievements from the new school model, it will be even more convincing.

Only then can we gather consensus and create trust and peace of mind among teachers, school leaders, parents and the whole society. By doing so, we will not only achieve the model's goals but also avoid wasting money, time and effort of the project, the State, families and the whole society.

NPV