Stabilizing school routines at the start of new academic year

More than 1.2 million students across Dong Nai have officially entered the first week of the 2025–2026 academic year. The provincial Department of Education and Training, together with local authorities, is prioritising resources to help schools quickly stabilize its routines of teaching and learning.

Students of Phuoc Tan 3 Secondary School (Phuoc Tan Ward) in the new academic year. Photo: T. Nam

At Le Van Tam Primary School (Long Khanh Ward), headmistress Le Phuong Thuy expressed her delight that all pupils this year are enrolled in the semi-boarding program with two sessions per day. The school has invested in separate dining and sleeping facilities, replacing the previous arrangement where children ate and napped in classrooms.

Accelerating from the start of the new school year

To stabilize teaching and learning routines right from the very first week of the new school year, Le Van Tam Primary School made early preparations during the summer, which received strong support from parents. A new point this year is the school’s investment in bunk beds, bedding, and new desks and chairs to better serve the pupils. At the same time, classrooms and outdoor spaces have been refurbished, creating a clean and pleasant learning environment.

At the beginning of the academic year, schools often face high demands for investment, renovation, and procurement. However, stabilising teaching and learning routines remains the top priority for the schools. The collection of fees must strictly follow the guidelines of the Department of Education and Training, be transparent to parents, and pay special attention to students from disadvantaged families to avoid creating financial burdens.

DANG BAO LINH, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training

Many parents expressed their joy, excitement, and peace of mind after noticing the careful arrangements at Le Van Tam Primary School. Parent Dinh Thi Ngoc Thao shared: “When my child entered Grade 1, I was worried as I had little time to pick her up at noon. Fortunately, the school offers a clean, convenient semi-boarding model. Parents only need to drop children off in the morning and collect them after work, without the midday rush. The boarding fee is also affordable, which gives us further peace of mind.”

At Huynh Van Nghe Primary and Secondary School (Xuan Loc Commune), a public school built with social resources funded by enterprises, students continue to attend 2 sessions per day this year. The school's board of management stated that its facilities, classrooms, and teaching staff fully meet the requirements for comprehensive educational innovation, with adequate computer rooms, music rooms, and other functional rooms. In addition, teachers have been proactive in self-learning essential skills to apply in teaching, such as using artificial intelligence (AI) and implementing STEM education.

Meanwhile, at Vo Nguyen Giap Primary School (Trang Bom Commune), student Pham Ngoc Toan, now in Grade 9, has quickly accelerated his studies at the start of the new school year to achieve his goals. Toan shared: "This school year is significant to me, as I will graduate from secondary school and sit the entrance exam for Grade 10 at Luong The Vinh High School for the Gifted. This is an important goal, so I will make full use of the entire academic year to accomplish it.”

Principal of Nguyen Binh Khiem High School (Nhon Trach Commune) Nguyen Van Vien added: “This year, our school has more than 1,200 students. They entered the first week of the new school year with the care and encouragement of their families and teachers, which is a great source of motivation. We are working quickly to help them establish stable study routines. For disadvantaged students, the school mobilises support to cover their study expenses and health insurance, ensuring that no one has to drop out because of financial hardship.”

Strong support for schools

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training Pham Hong Thang, the 2025–2026 academic year marks the first year education is managed under the two-tier local government model. Many responsibilities have been decentralised to commune and ward authorities, placing heavier demands on them, particularly regarding investment in facilities and teachers. This requires schools to strengthen coordination and recommendations to local Party committees and authorities for timely support.

In addition, Party committees and local authorities must pay close attention to education, appoint officials with the appropriate expertise to manage the sector, and implement solutions to invest in facilities that meet the growing demands of teaching and learning. Phan Quang Tuan, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Trang Dai Ward, said: "Trang Dai faces significant pressure on classrooms due to its large population. Before the start of the new school year, ward leaders worked with schools to ensure sufficient classrooms and reviewed the demand for teaching equipment. Thanks to this proactive approach, at the beginning of the school year, no school in the ward has overcrowded classes or a repeat of students having to study in three shifts."

To prevent confusion for schools and localities in implementing new responsibilities, the Department of Education and Training has been closely monitoring activities at the grassroots level. It has also provided training for commune and ward officials tasked with educational management, supporting them in handling administrative and investment procedures.

Additionally, the department has issued specific instructions to communes, wards, and schools to promptly address any difficulties that may arise during the implementation of academic tasks. For example, at the beginning of the new school year, some schools in Dong Xoai and Binh Phuoc wards announced that they would continue two-session classes but did not offer boarding services at noon, which caused concern among parents. Upon receiving this information, the Department of Education and Training promptly released official guidance on the tuition and clearly disclosing semi-boarding service fees. This enabled local schools to continue offering the semi-boarding model, thereby creating convenience for parents.

By: Cong Nghia

Translated by: My Le - Thu Ha