Nghe An teachers' opinions on the second semester load reduction program

Regarding the reduction of workload, Nghe An Newspaper also recorded the opinions of the Department of Education and Training and teachers during the implementation of the program.

Teacher Phan Hoang Thach - Math Teacher - Bac Yen Thanh High School (Yen Thanh):

After reading about the reduced load program, I found that with the 12th grade Math program, the basic knowledge is not reduced much. However, the Ministry has reduced some difficult parts such as calculating integrals with multiple changes of variables, calculating the volume of a solid of revolution due to a plane figure with two or more graphs. In addition, the program has reduced the proof of theorems and in this part, students only need to grasp the content of the theorems. In the simple theoretical parts, students are required to study on their own with guidance.

Teacher Phan Hoang Thach's lesson. Photo: My Ha

Thus, with this content, because knowledge does not decrease, students still have to study and research the entire program. In the context of students being on a long break from school, we hope that the Ministry will soon have a national high school exam review outline as well as sample questions for students, which will help them orient and review better.

As for grade 12 knowledge, it should only be at the low level of recognition, understanding or application. Students who want to study well must develop self-study skills. When there is an outline or sample questions from the Ministry, they must follow the outline closely to review better.

Teacher Pham Thi Hang - Literature Teacher - Kim Lien High School (Nam Dan):

I am currently teaching Literature for grades 11 and 12, so after the Ministry announced the reduced curriculum, I read it carefully. I found that for Literature alone, the lessons that the Ministry proposed to reduce are quite reasonable, which are extra lessons and review lessons. These lessons do not greatly affect the process of forming students' abilities and learning outcomes.

Online lesson by teacher Pham Thi Hang. Photo: My Ha

In addition, the program has also reduced many review and self-study periods. With this part, teachers can assign homework for students to study on their own, suitable for the current long school break schedule of schools.

As teachers, after reading the reduced curriculum, we feel quite secure because we don't have to worry about having to teach extra lessons or review too much. Students are still guaranteed important knowledge. With this program, if we go back to school smoothly in the next 1-2 weeks, it is expected that we will complete the teaching program around June 15.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thu - English Teacher, Principal of Le Mao Secondary School - Vinh City:

Up to this point, in my opinion, the recently issued reduction program of the Ministry of Education and Training has really reduced the load and is in line with the set goal of shortening the study time from 5 to 7 weeks. In particular, it has reduced the content related to experience, experimental practice, projects... related to students' self-study, with self-study guidance from teachers. In addition, the Ministry has retained the concise core and not included much knowledge in later exams and tests.

Teacher Nguyen Thi Thanh Thu participates in online teaching on television. Photo: PV

Regarding English, the city's secondary school has studied the pilot English program, but the Ministry has not yet had any specific content to reduce the load for this subject. However, the Ministry has provided guidance on the number of weeks reduced by 5-7 and specific reductions for each part, so I believe that English teachers at schools will be able to develop a specific program after receiving further guidance from the Department.

The reduction program will reduce pressure on students after returning to school. Photo: My Ha

With this reduction program, when the epidemic is over, returning to school will no longer be stressful for both students and teachers. As for final year students, the 10th grade entrance exam will no longer be too difficult because the Department has planned to remove the 4th subject and in recent years, the English subject has also changed a lot in terms of test duration and test format, leaning towards multiple choice, so students will not be under too much pressure.

Mr. Vo Van Mai - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Education and Training

The current reduction program is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Training on the principle: Do not implement mechanical streamlining but ensure to provide enough foundational, basic, core knowledge so that students have enough capacity to continue studying in the following classes and levels. Ensure the "ladder" principle of the learning process. Do not let system errors occur that affect the learning and development process of students later.

Teacher Vo Van Mai (middle) learns about the project participating in the Science and Technology competition of students in Ky Son district. Photo: My Ha

Also with this program, the assessment and evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the Ministry's guidance. That is: No testing or assessment of knowledge content that has been instructed to "not teach", "not implement"; "not require", "not do", "not mandatory"; "encourage students to self-study/read/do".

For regular assessment, during the process of organizing teaching via the internet and on television, teachers in charge of subjects directly assign learning tasks to students; organize tests and assess the results of students' learning tasks through many forms such as: Learning products, experimental practice results, etc.

Periodic and final exams will be conducted at schools when students return to school. Before that, when students first return to school, educational institutions will organize review sessions, consolidate and supplement the knowledge they have learned via the internet and on television.

Regarding the 10th grade entrance exam in Nghe An for the 2020-2021 school year, the Department's leaders are considering a proposal to the Provincial People's Committee to adjust the 10th grade entrance exam plan (approved under Decision 5427/QD-UBND dated December 27, 2019) in the direction of organizing 3 exams (Math, Literature, Foreign Language). Accordingly, the exam content will also be within the scope of the Ministry's program, ensuring the standards of knowledge, skills, and input quality of high schools./.