Next week, students in Ho Chi Minh City will enter the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday with 16 days. During this time, in almost all previous years, teachers assigned homework and learning tasks for students to complete with the aim of "having fun without forgetting their duties". But this year, many schools and teachers have changed their "habits".

GIVE STUDENTS THEIR OWN AUTOMATED LEARNING

Thousands of students at Tay Thanh High School (Tan Phu District) are excited and delighted that during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, they will not have to worry about completing homework like in previous years. It is known that on January 18, this school announced that it would not assign homework to students during the holiday to "create conditions for students to have a meaningful Lunar New Year holiday, students have the opportunity to experience and learn about the nation's good traditional customs on the day of reunion, play, and relax comfortably with their families". The school requested teachers to strictly implement the above announcement so that students can fully enjoy the traditional New Year holidays with their families. After this time, teachers have a plan to supplement students' knowledge fully.

"Let's "throw away" thick stacks of outlines, dozens, hundreds of stressful exercises and instead have a relaxed and happy mindset to enter the traditional Tet holiday of the country" is the policy of Bui Thi Xuan High School (District 1) to create a happy Tet holiday for students. However, besides that, the school's leaders said that teachers of all subjects update all lectures and study instructions on the school's online teaching system, students can proactively study on their own at the right time, when they are interested or for them to start writing at the beginning of spring, creating motivation and setting study goals for the new year.

Similarly, Dao Son Tay High School (Thu Duc City) also proactively did not assign homework to students during this holiday. Ms. Hoang Thi Hao, Principal of the school, said that the new General Education Program gives students the initiative in learning, so they are proactive in grasping knowledge and practicing. In each lesson, teachers let students solve homework in class, while encouraging and training them in self-study skills. In that spirit, the school and teachers will aim to educate students on the ability to be proactive and aware of learning, not forcing or pressuring them during the Tet holiday.

The Board of Directors of Huynh Khuong Ninh Secondary School (District 1) also thoroughly conveyed the spirit of "a happy, healthy Tet holiday, creating motivation for the new year" to teachers, students, and parents. Mr. Cao Duc Khoa, Principal of the school, said that he reminded teachers not to put pressure on students with homework but to give them a happy time. This is even more important for final year students because right after Tet, they will enter the preparation stage for the 10th grade entrance exam. However, according to Mr. Khoa, the school also called on parents to understand their children's psychology so that together with teachers and the school, they can create the most joyful and comfortable atmosphere for their children.

MAKE TIME FOR STUDENTS TO REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILIES

Teacher Le Minh Huy, math group at Nguyen Hien High School (District 11), also said that he did not force, assign homework, or require students to complete it during Tet.

Why do we have to assign homework during Tet and stop thinking that we have to assign homework every time there is a long break so that students do not forget what they have learned? This is the opinion of many school leaders and teachers shared with Thanh Nien reporters.

Mr. Huynh Thanh Phu, Principal of Bui Thi Xuan High School (District 1), frankly said: "If every subject has an outline and homework is assigned, then what is the point of students having a holiday? Those who are conscious of studying are always worried about having to complete it; on the contrary, those who are not conscious of studying are "letting go". So is there any meaning in assigning homework? It's all useless."

"Not to mention, being stressed and tired from doing homework during the Tet holiday will make students feel discouraged when the holiday ends and they return to school," Mr. Phu emphasized.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Dat, Principal of Tay Thanh High School (Tan Phu District), said that this is the first year the school has issued a notice requesting teachers not to assign homework to students during Tet in any form.

Mr. Dat said that the school's view is that the long Tet holiday is a time for children to reunite with their families. Therefore, teachers not assigning homework will create a comfortable and happy mindset for children so that they can experience a complete, loving and warm Tet holiday with their families. Family affection will be the luggage and material to nurture children to know how to live with love, responsibility and ambition...

According to Mr. Dat, in previous years, although the school always instructed teachers not to assign homework during Tet to avoid creating pressure for students, especially 12th graders. However, some teachers and parents, out of pity and worry that their children would neglect their studies during the long Tet holiday and their knowledge would not be guaranteed, still assigned some homework to students during Tet. Mr. Dat said that although this came from love and concern, somehow it still made the students not fully happy during Tet because of worrying about their studies.

That is why this year, Tay Thanh High School sent a notice to all teachers as well as to all parents to unify their views. "Let the children enjoy and experience a true Tet holiday of reunion, gathering with family, grandparents, parents with love, family traditions... This is also the way the school aims to build a happy school", the Principal of Tay Thanh School shared.