The Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City has decided to issue a set of criteria for Happy Schools in educational establishments in the city. This is the first locality in Vietnam to have a systematic set of criteria for this school model.

The set of criteria includes 18 standards, with 3 main groups of standards. Specifically, the human standard group includes 6 criteria; the group of standards for teaching and educational activities includes 8 criteria; and the environmental standards group includes 4 criteria.

Each criterion includes 3 levels of evaluation: Needs improvement, Fair, Good. On that basis, the criteria that have been performed well need to be maintained and those that are not good yet must be improved.

Respecting diversity and differences in culture, religion, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation

In the human standards group, Ho Chi Minh City's education sector offers 6 criteria: friendship and positive relationships in school are based on trust, respect, tolerance, and fairness;

Teachers, and school staff listen actively, give constructive feedback, share, and support their colleagues and students; Continue to study and follow Ho Chi Minh's ideology, ethics, and style and promote teacher ethics;

The spirit of democracy is guaranteed; respecting diversity and differences in culture, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or physical and learning difficulties and disabilities;

Positive values and attitudes such as: integrity, dedication, gratitude, cooperation, empathy, creativity, confidence and positive behaviors are encouraged;

The physical and mental health of teachers, school staff and students are guaranteed through ensuring working conditions, honoring and recognizing the role of teachers, school staff and students; teachers' abilities and skills are demonstrated and promoted through the application of new and creative teaching methods;

Students have a sense of achievement and accomplishment, not just focusing on high scores

The group of standards for teaching and educational activities includes 8 criteria.

These are: assigning reasonable and fair learning tasks; focusing on teaching and promoting learners' qualities and abilities; innovating testing and assessment activities, respecting student progress, avoiding excessive pressure and ensuring fairness and equality between students;

Educational subjects and activities apply positive methods, promoting the spirit of teamwork and cooperation; Learners can show their creativity and engage with each other, considering mistakes as part of the learning process; teaching and encouraging students to ask questions and think critically.

Students gain a sense of achievement and accomplishment, not just focusing on high scores but more in recognition, encouragement from teachers, parents, and schools; honoring exemplary students.

The teaching content is useful, attractive, highly applicable, and linked to practice.

Experiential activities, extracurricular activities and school events are organized effectively. Building clubs, playgrounds, movements and scientific research activities;

Implementing school health programs, ensuring proper nutrition and increasing physical fitness for students.

Paying attention to mental health and stress management through school psychology consultation and school social work; Introducing the content of social, emotional, ethical education (SEE), social, emotional and learning ability (SEL) and mindfulness and gratitude into teaching.

Effectively applying information technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in management and teaching.

Applying positive discipline in schools

For the environmental standard group, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City sets 4 criteria.

Specifically: A friendly, safe learning environment, free of violence, bullying, including online bullying; Positive discipline is applied in schools; The school meets standards for green school; The school's vision and leadership work towards the priorities of building a happy school.

At the conference to launch the set of criteria and plan to implement the "Happy School" model held on October 20, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training - Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu - said that the process of developing the "Happy School" criteria was carried out carefully, with contributions from experts and schools.

Mr. Hieu suggested that when implementing the set of criteria, schools need to do it synchronously, in accordance with actual conditions, without formality. At the same time, schools must pay attention to students' parents, considering them as one of the important subjects that influence the process of building happy schools.

After promulgating the set of criteria and implementing the Happy Schools model, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training will continue to research and evaluate to build a Happy School model in accordance with HCM City's orientation of being a "civilized, modern and sentimental".

From the 2024-2025 school year, the department will replicate the Happy School model at many more educational facilities in the city in a synchronous, substantive and effective manner. At the same time, the department will continue to research and adjust the content of building “Happy Schools”.

Ngan Anh