VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City schoolchildren are complaining that their heavy academic work loads mean they do not have enough leisure time.

Students were given a chance to air their grievances at a conference in the city titled Listening to the Voice of Children that was attended by 75 student representatives and officials from HCM City People's Council. It was the first time the conference has been held.

Too much theory

"Studying programmes are overloaded. We have to take private lessons in order to keep up with the work. We have no time to relax and take part in other activities," said Tran Han Nhat Minh, a 6th grade student at Lam Son Junior Secondary School in District 6. "We hope the academic programmes are changed so that we can escape from studying too much."

Due to the heavy emphasis on theory, students are not getting enough time for practical lessons - even when studying biology, physics and chemistry, according to Le Thi My Duyen, a student at Ly Thuong Kiet Junior Secondary School.

"My classmates are very tired of studying a large volume of theory in a day. We can not absorb all of this. Not to mention that we have to learn everything by heart," said Duyen.

Teachers say they are forced to concentrate almost exclusively on theory in order to get through heavy syllabuses.

Moreover, students are encouraged not to ask questions and to meekly accept what they are told. "This prevents students from showing initiative in the class and makes them bored," said Nguyen Thi Thu Cuc, headmaster of Gia Dinh High School.

Education and Training Department deputy director Le Thi Hong Lien said the Education Ministry was trying to reduce students' learning load, but that it would take time to amend teaching curricula.

First aid

Students also asked to take part in extra-curricular activities that could prove useful, such as first-aid training.

"The Education and Training Ministry should have included subjects such as swimming and reacting to daily life situations," said Trinh Thi Huyen Tran, a student at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Junior Secondary School.

Others said they would like to learn about civil rights and disciplines such as self-defence.

"We were given the chance to learn a little about children's rights but it was not enough. We need to know more so that when confronted by violence we know what to do and whom to inform," said Hoang Thuy Van from Pedagogy Experimental School.

Ta Xuan Minh Chau, from Colette School, said sex education should be better taught in schools.

(Source: Viet Nam News)