VietNamNet Bridge – Building international-standard schools is a chief priority of the education system in HCM City, which leads the country in training and pedagogical innovation.

Eighth-graders take part in a chemistry experiment at Nguyen Du Junior High School in HCM City's Go Vap District. The city is looking to raise educational standards to international levels. (Photo: VNS)

Building high-quality schools is the core component of the strategy.

The other two tasks include sending students and teachers to study or train abroad, and cooperating with international partners in adopting advanced education methods and attracting more foreign investment.

For the past two decades, the nation's education system has been in a transitional period.

The radical changes introduced by the Doi Moi (renewal) period in 1986 have deeply affected all aspects of socio-economic development, including education.

The current adjustment is the fourth educational reform since 1945 and the second after the country's reunification in 1975.

Although HCM City has been leading the country in education reform, it still faces challenges adapting to rapid urbanisation and other social and economic changes that have put pressure on its education system to meet the needs of a growing population, according to Le Hong Son, deputy head of HCM City's Education and Training Department.

The population increase, driven mostly by migrants from other provinces, has led to a higher classroom size of between 40 and 50 students.

The city is now home to more than 7 million people, an increase of more than 2 million over the last decade.

The curriculum, overwhelmed by theory and lacking in practical application, has also held back the progress of educational quality, according to Son.

Teachers play a pivotal role in the improvement of educational quality, but since they are still struggling to earn a living, especially in poor areas, they do not put much effort in improving their skills and quality of teaching, he added.

To build international-standard schools, the city expects to provide two shifts of classes each day so that it would have no more than 30 students in each class.

The city also would provide libraries, equipment and playing fields for students, give teachers good working conditions, and become independent in attracting investment and human resources.

Recently, the education and training department conducted a survey with students' parents on how to build high-standard, quality schools.

Based on their ideas and international standards, the new schools will provide an education that offers students comprehensive development, with less theory and more practice, and better living skills, according to the department.

Although more than 1,000 rooms are built yearly in HCM City, a shortage still exists.

The city was speeding up construction of new schools to meet the demand and to be on track to have an international-standard education system by 2020, said Son, adding that the country was on its way to become an industrialised nation in 10 years.

To fulfil the goal, other key tasks include the improvement in quantity and quality of teachers, and the reform of teaching methodologies and the curriculum.

Son said that it would also be critical for the entire society, including communities, social organisations and other sectors, to be involved in the effort to reform the education system.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News