VietNamNet Bridge – The school system should be revamped to avoid overlap in curricula at various levels and meet children's changing needs, educationists told a workshop in HCM City on Tuesday.
Assoc Prof Dr Vu Trong Ry, formerly of the Viet Nam Institute of Educational Sciences, said that current training regime was based on the needs of children in the last two decades and was, thus, no longer suitable.

Moreover, it focused on knowledge of natural sciences and not on developing the capacity for self-learning and application, he said.


It needed to be restructured by at least 2015, he said, explaining a task like that would take several years.


While inculcating basic knowledge of languages, natural sciences, social and human sciences, technology, and physical education, the revamped system should teach children how to think, create, calculate, read, write, solve problems, and self-assess, he said.


The Ministry of Education and Training is working with the Institute to restructure the school system and is soliciting opinions from scientists and experienced teachers for the purpose.


Nguyen Quang Kinh, a former Ministry official, said new subjects like those relating to soft skills, should be taught.


Nguyen Thi Binh, a former vice president of the country, called for reducing the period for which children study: If they were in class for the whole day, for instance, they should be able to graduate in 11 years instead of 12 unlike now.


At the high-school level, the curriculum should provide career orientation, she added.


Pham Do Nhat Tien, a former assistant to the education minister, said the education system should foster personal development though this required skilled teachers.


It's important that the Government allocated enough funds to restructure the system by 2015, he added.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News