Every morning, Huynh Thanh Phu, Principal of Bui Thi Xuan High School in District 1, stands at the school gate to welcome his students with friendly gestures. His greetings develop confidence in the students that the school is their second home.
Principal Phu said “I want to send three messages. First, it is a greeting to begin a new day so we will form a habit of bowing our heads when greeting each other. The second message is a happy new day. And the third message is that students can arrive late and meet the principal, but don’t worry, you are going to school with ease of mind, not fear.”
He added “Greeting is a message of civility and culture that I want to build in my students and all adults in school. Teachers greeting their students is an act of culture that should be spread. It gives us great morale and is a good beginning for a new day.”
School as a second home
For a school with a history of nearly 70 years, how to build a happy school is quite simple, not by superficial slogans, but by concrete actions. Throughout the academic year, the actions, including curriculum renovation, are all oriented towards making students feel happy when going to school. In September last year, the school organised four activities to welcome the 10th graders and a new school year, celebrating National Day and Southern Resistance Day.
Hoang Huynh Duy Khoa, a 12th grader at Bui Thi Xuan High School shared: “It is good that the school looks directly at the actual needs of its students and introduces activities to meet those needs.”
Students nowadays face great pressure from having to learn so much, so the school is reforming its teaching programme and introducing many practical activities for students. It makes going to school more enjoyable and students are more united. The teachers understand the situation of each student and adopt appropriate teaching methods.
Bui Thi Xuan High School’s goal is to make students excited whenever going to school. Its activities have the ultimate goal of making the school a centre of gravity for students, so that they can feel the need to go to school and that the school is their second home.
This is an important foundation for the school to enhance the academic performance of its students. In recent years, the school’s students have accomplished high prizes at contests for excellent students and the rate of successful admission to universities is always 100%.
Lam Nhu Y, an 11th grader, shared: “We have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities, through which we have acquired more knowledge and become more connected with one another, as well as our teachers. It creates a balance between studying and entertainment. We feel more comfortable and enjoyable, without the pressure of excessive learning. Every day at school is a happy day.”
Parents visiting 19/5 Nursery School in District 1 can see a peaceful, clean and spacious space with a friendly simple design that still carries modernity and aesthetics, creating a strong connection between humans and nature.
Tran Ngoc Lieu, in Binh Thanh District, feels assured when sending her child to this nursery school. Her first child also went to this school, so she could notice the school’s positive changes in recent years.
Over the years, the school’s infrastructure has become older but the teachers still always create a joyful learning environment so that the kids can feel excited that going to school is to play. Lieu said: “My kid is happy, so I’m also happy and confident to leave my kid at school.”
In the journey to build a happy school, creating a safe and friendly learning environment and organising creative educational activities is an important factor in the success and sustainable development of this 50-year-old school.
Mai Yen Hang, Principal of 19/5 Nursery School said the friendly and creative educational model the school is implementing focuses on creating a friendly, familiar and engaging classroom environment to attract the children’s interest.
In this environment, the children have the opportunity to explore themselves and participate actively in school activities. At the same time, the method of learning by playing can help children discover their potential. With this model, the teachers can grasp the children’s needs and wishes, and the children can develop their language and communication skills when playing.
“Cells” of a happy society
Ho Chi Minh City currently has over 2,360 schools, including 1,275 nursery schools, 520 primary schools, 295 secondary schools and over 200 high schools, with a total student number of 1.7 million.
The southern economic hub is the first locality in Vietnam to issue a set of 18 criteria for building happy schools, including six on humans, eight on teaching and educational activities and four on the environment.
The development of the happy school model in Ho Chi Minh City is based on the principle of human happiness experience: connection with themselves, connection with others and connection with the natural world.
Happy schools aim to improve the conduct of teachers, students and school staff to develop capacity, perfect personality and enhance educational quality, thereby helping to build an image of kind, civilised, righteous, dynamic and creative Ho Chi Minh City residents.
Nguyen Van Hieu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, emphasised that happy schools are the cells of a happy society.
Ho Chi Minh City’s education sector recognises that successfully implementing this model will make a significant contribution to the city’s sustainable development. Therefore, the education sector pledges actions with the greatest responsibility to build happy schools in an innovative spirit.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, building happy schools is the dream and aspiration of all people, and is a long process requiring changes in teachers, students, parents and society.
For educational institutions to succeed in this process, the education sector needs to continue working with universities, research institutes and prestigious individuals and organisations to hold sessions to support and share experiences on conduct in the educational environment.
At the same time, it is necessary to introduce social, emotional and ethical (SEE) learning to schools, and organise activities such as practising gratitude and compassion to increase the feeling of happiness for teachers, staff and students.
Happy schools are a bright spot in Ho Chi Minh City’s education sector, recognised by the Ministry of Education and Training as the country’s leader in implementation, closely following the educational needs in a new era.
Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc said Ho Chi Minh City has asserted its pioneering role in implementing the happy school model, which has brought positive changes to not only the awareness of teachers but also students and their parents. Schools in Ho Chi Minh City are not only places to transmit knowledge and skills but have gradually become truly happy second homes.
