VietNamNet Bridge - Boards with the words ‘Tien hoc le, hau hoc van’ (study manners first and then learn to read and write) are hung at every school in Vietnam. 

However, schools do not attach much importance to teaching politeness to students, parents and students have said.

Many school violence cases have occurred recently, raising concerns among the public. 

Several days ago, one secondary school student in Do Luong district of Nghe An province killed another student after a fight. 

Boards with the words ‘Tien hoc le, hau hoc van’ (study manners first and then learn to read and write) are hung at every school in Vietnam.

Parents believe that educators must take responsibility for the increased school violence. Deputy Minister of Education and Training (MOET) Nguyen Thi Nghia, noting that school violence is getting more serious, admitted that students are not well educated in morality and manners.

A report of the MOET and UNICEF released in late 2016 showed that 84 percent of students said they felt insecure at school. 

In late 2016, an eighth grader committed suicide after being beaten and humiliated by his friend’s father. A student commented on her Facebook that it is normal to be beaten at school.

The students attending the meeting with the leaders from the HCMC Education and Training Department on March 28 also complained that teachers focus on giving subject knowledge to students, not manners. 

Tran Dang Mai Anh, a student from Lam Son High School, said degradation in morality have increased violations by students.

However, students have morality lessons during the flag saluting ceremony organized every Monday morning and the dialogue with teachers at the end of every week. 

Citizenship education is a compulsory learning subject for all students.

MOET, in an effort to strengthen the teaching of morality, has decided that citizenship education will be part of the national high-school finals. 

However, according to Anh, this doesn’t help because the lessons are given in a boring way.

Vo Phi Thanh Dat, a student from Nguyen Du High School, agreed that the problem lies in the unreasonable teaching method.

“It is boring to sit in class and listen to teachers to give theoretical academic knowledge,” he said. 

“It would be wonderful if teachers inspire us with interesting stories, practice hours and extracurricular activities,” he said.

Bui Minh Tam, headmaster of Luong The Vinh High School, said she plans to open dialogue with students once a month to collect students’ opinions, so that the school can adjust the curricula to satisfy students’ requirements. 

Tran Phuoc Duc, a teacher at the Nguyen Trai High School, said he has begun thinking of organizing workshops to listen to students’ suggestions.

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