HCM City (VNA) - Amodel of advanced schools in which students learn soft skills, English andcomputer skills in a modern facility has been expanded to nine more publicschools after approval by the HCM City People’s Committee.

The schools include four primary schools: Bau Sen, Vo Thi Sau, Le Duc Tho and TanSon Nhi; two kindergartens: Hoa Dao and Anh Dao; and three secondary schools: LyThanh Tong, Nguyen Chi Thanh and Phan Van Tri. They are located in districts 5,8, 12, Go Vap and Tan Phu.

The advanced model was implemented in 24 public schools in the last academicyear.

Students at Nguyen Hien, Nguyen Du and Le Quy Don high schools have benefitedfrom the model for the last 10 years.

These schools closely follow the Ministry of Education and Training’s trainingprogramme which focuses on reducing academic theory and increasing the numberof classes to develop students’ aptitudes, soft skills and English.

At the kindergarten level, for instance, there are two additional classesdevelop 10 motor skills, two English classes with native English-speakingteachers, and outdoor activities during the school year.

Primary students in the advanced model study subjects in the curriculum fromthe Ministry of Education and Training in the morning, and soft skills andaptitude in the afternoon.

Chung Minh Bao, principal of Chau Van Liem Primary School in District 6, toldthe Giao Duc Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh (HCM City Education) newspaperthat the school must meet national standards of education accreditation andhave modern facilities for teaching and learning.

The school’s teachers also must be placed above the Ministry of Education andTraining’s standards, while the number of students in each classroom is no morethan 30.

Ha Huu Thach, principal of Le Quy Don High School in District 3, which hascarried out the model for 10 years, said the school’s students were good atEnglish and had good skills which would help them if they studied abroad.

The school is one of the country’s top schools with students who have highscores on the national high school graduation exam.

Students at the school benefit from advanced methodologies, he said, addingthat the school has cooperated with others in the UK, the US, Australia and NewZealand.

Its teachers have been sent to other countries to update their knowledge andmethodologies, while the students have experience in studying in othercountries in spring and summer.

Many parents have visited the schools with the advanced model, such as Vang AnhKindergarten in District 5 and Chau Van Liem Primary School, to register forthe new school year, although the enrollment period has not begun.-VNA