Request the Ministry of Education to absorb opinions and stipulate that History is a compulsory subject

According to Vice Chairwoman of the Culture and Education Committee Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa, the National Assembly’s Committee on Culture and Education has reported on the implementation of the general education curriculum for high school history.

Specifically, after a period of consultation, the majority disagreed with making High School History an elective subject for a number of reasons.

The first, History is a particularly important subject, playing a key role in political and ideological education for the young generation; educating patriotism, national self-respect, cultural and historical traditions; foster the capacity to think, act, and behave properly in social life; thereby forming the qualities of Vietnamese citizens and global citizens in the development trend of the times.

Second, In terms of age, high school students (from 15 to 17 years old) have matured in awareness, better receptive ability about the history of the country and the history of Vietnam’s revolution. This is also the age that determines the formation of worldview, system of views about nature, society, principles and codes of conduct, and human value orientation.

In terms of educational science, fostering historical knowledge for high school students is necessary for comprehensive human development, arousing patriotic traditions, national pride, beliefs and aspirations. develop a prosperous and happy country of Vietnamese people.

However, if students do not choose history at the high school level (the number can be up to 50% of students), they will not have access to very important and educationally meaningful knowledge for students. this age.

Tuesday, In many countries around the world, History subject in the high school curriculum is always a compulsory subject (USA, France, Australia, Japan, China…).

From the above arguments, the Committee for Culture and Education believes that History has a special position, has a very important meaning in the general education program, students need to be equipped with this amount of knowledge. .

Therefore, delegates unanimously proposed that the Ministry of Education and Training absorb the opinions of the people, history experts, and National Assembly deputies in the direction of stipulating that History is a compulsory subject for high school students. in the 2018 General Education Program with an appropriate amount of knowledge; The design includes historical knowledge (required) and career-oriented knowledge (optional).

When High School History is an optional subject, the Culture and Education Committee offers three possibilities.

If students choose History as one of the 5 elective subjects, they will study for a total of 210 periods/3 school years (an increase of 70 hours compared to the 2006 General Education Program).

If a student chooses History as one of the 5 elective subjects, and at the same time chooses the subject of study as History, the student will study for a total of 315 periods/3 academic years (an increase of 175 hours compared to the previous chapter). general education program 2006).

If students do not choose History, they will not take any more classes. General knowledge stops at elementary and middle school curriculum knowledge and integrates in some other subjects. About 140 hours less than the 2006 General Education Program.

Just like at the basic education stage, at the upper secondary level, history education content is also included in the local educational content, in which there are topics about local history that take up about approx. 10 periods/school year for each class, and at the same time, high school national defense and security education is a compulsory subject with a duration of 35 hours/school year, in which educating students on anti-war traditions foreign invasion of the nation, the people’s armed forces and military art of Vietnam.

After listening to the discussion, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do said that he would accept comments and report to competent authorities for consideration and decision.

‘Still clumsiness and boring presentation’

Ms. Nguyen Thi Viet Nga (Deputy of the National Assembly of Hai Duong province) said she agreed with the recommendation in the committee’s report on making History a compulsory subject.

According to Ms. Nga, the research shows that currently students are not interested in this subject, as shown by having very poor scores in many exams and interviewing some students who said they did not like History subject.

Ms. Nga believes that the reason is not because this subject is not attractive but because the program is heavy on academic knowledge, complicated and the presentation is quite boring.

At the same time, the teaching and examination of History subjects still follow the old method. In some schools, although the teachers have changed in methods, research and application of information technology… the purpose is still just to provide and ask students to memorize facts about numbers.

“For example, if you use a projector, you are also projecting facts and numbers instead of the teacher on the podium. Even if you show illustrations, the final goal is still to ask students to remember facts, children number … then it is difficult for them to remember,” – Mrs. Nga said.

Must consider carefully if it becomes a compulsory subject

Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Thuy, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly’s Social Affairs Committee, gave a remarkable opinion, that now all basic and core knowledge about Vietnamese and world history has been acquired. Compulsory teaching at the secondary school level. If History becomes a compulsory subject at the high school level, the whole curriculum of this subject must be revised.

“The program was consulted twice in 2015 and 2017. The program of subjects was consulted twice, consulted the Departments of Education and Training, consulted teachers, and educational institutions. The National Council appraised the new program with professor of history Phan Huy Le after many reviews and approved it. The program has consulted the councils, committees, propaganda boards … After receiving high consensus, this program was approved “- Ms. Thuy said.

At the same time, Ms. Thuy raised the question, “Besides listening to public opinion, we must see if the Ministry of Education and Training issued the program is right or wrong. submit to the competent authorities for consideration and amendment. And if wrong, which agency must be held responsible”.

“If corrected, is it appropriate in this context, when there are only 3 months left for the new school year to start, or is it “digging in the middle of the road”. Those are issues we must consider carefully,” Thuy noted.

Phuong Chi – Tran Thuong