Mr. Nguyen Tan, Director of the Department of Education and Training
This is the second year we implement the new national curriculum for general education. Therefore, effective instructional practice is a matter of great concern to parents. In the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Department of Education and Training has many different options and is ready to switch from online platforms to face-to-face instruction and vice versa or to combine different ways of teaching.
There are different scenarios suitable for each grade level, in which, there are priority solutions for different groups of students. Local schools need to implement the plans proactively, effectively and in accordance with the actual situation. They must take advantage of any golden opportunity for face-to-face instruction.
Schools also need to be flexible in the process of implementing the school year plan as well as covering the contents to meet required outcomes and the core content requirements of the curriculum.
What is the specific plan for students returning to school in the 2021-2022 school year, sir?
It is expected that on August 26, students of the beginning grade of each educational level will return to school. The remaining grades will go back to school on September 1. Along with this plan, the Department of Education and Training has planned various scenarios to ensure safety for students.
Option 1, students will go to school normally when the epidemic in the area is under control and school safety measures will be implemented to ensure epidemic prevention and control.
Option 2, students will go back to school but have to practice social distancing. Classes will be divided into two shifts to ensure the minimum distance between students as prescribed.
Option 3, if students cannot go to school because of social distancing, they will learn online according to regulations.
Many schools were selected as quarantine areas, which causes some parents to worry. Can you provide information on the process of examining the facilities after the quarantine period?
Currently, one of our biggest difficulties is that most schools have been requisitioned as concentrated quarantine areas, so a safe environment for epidemic prevention and control is a top priority.
Thuy Van Kindergarten (Hue City) in preparation to welcome back children for the new school year
At this time, the local authorities have plans to dismantle the quarantine points at schools to return the premises to educational institutions. Therefore, the Department has a specific plan to disinfect the schools, examine the condition of toilets and fix any damaged areas to ensure adequate facilities for the children when they return to school.
Educational institutions will focus on environmental sanitation at day-boarding schools and all-day schools to ensure the best school and boarding environment hygiene for children.
Since face-to-face instruction has become difficult, is online learning the only solution these days?
We are anticipating facing the worst case so as not to be passive in all situations. If students cannot go to school, online learning is applied to students of all levels. Particularly for students in grades 1, 2 and 6, it is still optimal to study on television broadcasting.
We will invite experienced teachers to teach. We target this audience because this year they are learning a new textbook series. If the teaching council participates in teaching and building effective lesson plans, this will be an opportunity to effectively implement the 1st grade program in the epidemic conditions.
If we can carry that out for the 1st grade, we will continue for both 2nd and 6th grades. All these 3 grades will be studying with the new textbooks. Another advantage is that through television, parents can accompany their children to help them learn.
Are online and televised courses compulsory, sir?
The program is compulsory as 100% of students in all grades have to participate. This is because when the children go back to school, the schools have to teach the general curriculum. There will not be any make up classes. Taught content will be reviewed so that the children can catch up with the program. Of course, there is a possibility that a number of children cannot attend lessons on television.
After going back to school, the schools will review the legitimate reasons to organize extra training and ensure that 100% of students study on schedule. For students in disadvantaged areas, the schools will have specific plans to support them to study online or learn on television in a reasonable way.
During the epidemic situation, many parents and students are worried about the curriculum. What is your opinion about this matter?
Parents should not be too worried. The education sector is fully active in the teaching and learning program. Specifically, we will be flexible and proactive in accordance with the guidance of the sector and the province to organize the preparation of the best schooling conditions.
Of course, in the districts such as A Luoi, Phong Dien, Phu Loc, and Nam Dong, there will be places where students cannot go to school because of quarantine situation. The education sector is preparing a plan to televise instruction in combination with online learning to ensure that the schools located in the quarantine area can still carry out the teaching and learning program.
For areas with safe conditions for teachers and students to go to school, the education sector will direct to both ensure teaching and good health for students.
The education sector has deployed televised instruction quite smoothly and this has proven beneficial in overcoming difficulties with the students' lack of online learning devices as well as technology infrastructure. Along with Hanoi and Hai Phong, Hue has contributed the largest number of lectures for the Ministry of Education and Training’s televised teaching sessions for the whole country on the national television channel.
Can you tell us the plan for the school opening of the 2021-2022 academic year in the current situation?
In the midst of the preparatory work and the fear of the epidemic, there is also the question of how to organize the back-to-school opening ceremony. However, no matter how complicated the epidemic is, the new school year must begin and the students deserve a meaningful school opening day.
Organizing the back-to-school opening ceremony online is considered the most optimal and what the education industry needs to do at this time is to strive to keep the beautiful impression and sacredness of the opening day.
Thank you, sir!
By Hue Thu