Ngan, whose child attends Lu Gia Secondary School in Phu Tho ward, said that in previous years, her child had 8 classes per day, from Monday to Friday. But during a parent-teacher meeting last weekend, the principal announced the addition of Saturday morning classes. The reason given was new guidance from the Ministry of Education and Training, stipulating that schools should not teach more than 7 classes per day.

"The Ministry's aim is to reduce the workload, but the school's approach only seems to make things harder for students," Ngan said.

She explained that because her child is enrolled in the integrated English program, they now have five extra classes on Saturday mornings, while other classes only have two.

"Even adults want to rest on weekends, let alone students who are still growing. Weekends are also a time for families to go out, play sports, or attend to other activities," she expressed her frustration.

The 7th-grade schedule at Hoa Lu Secondary School with 4 classes on Saturday morning. Photo: *Provided by a parent*

Similarly, Hoang Phuong’s 7th-grade child at Hoa Lu Secondary School in Tang Nhon Phu ward also has 4 extra classes on Saturday mornings, according to a recent announcement from the homeroom teacher. Phuong and other parents in the class are petitioning the school to change the schedule.

Several principals explained that the number of classes and the curriculum for secondary school remain unchanged, but the schedule now extends to Saturdays to comply with the Ministry's regulation of two sessions per day.

Previously, schools taught a maximum of 8 classes per day. Now, they must cut one class to comply with the 7-class limit and move that class to Saturday morning. This is still within regulations, as the Ministry allows secondary and high schools to teach a maximum of 11 sessions per week.

However, both Phuong and Ngan disagree with this arrangement.

"Adding Saturday morning classes disrupts the plans of many families. The children have to attend an extra session at school while the content remains the same. Why doesn't the school cut out unnecessary classes?" Phuong asked.

According to the two parents, STEM classes, life skills classes, and enhanced English classes with native speakers are supplementary programs with separate fees. Therefore, they hope the school will reduce these classes so their children don't have to attend school on Saturday mornings.

Students at Tran Huy Lieu Secondary School, Duc Nhuan ward, Ho Chi Minh City on the opening day, 5/9. Photo: *Le Nguyen*

Cao Duc Khoa, principal of Nguyen Du Secondary School, agrees. He said the Ministry's standard curriculum for grades 6 and 7 is 29 classes per week, and for grades 8 and 9, it's 29.5 classes. In addition, schools can offer STEM, life skills, international computer science, digital citizenship, and native English classes, collectively known as the school's program.

"If schools choose to teach these subjects for about 5-6 classes per week, there's no need to extend to Saturday mornings. Teaching 7 classes per day from Monday to Friday gives schools a maximum of 35 classes," Khoa said.

This is why some schools still manage to fit their curriculum within 10 sessions, without extending to Saturday mornings. For example, the schedules of Nguyen Van Luong Secondary School (Binh Phu ward) and Nguyen Du Secondary School (Ben Thanh ward) have around 34-35 classes per week (4 classes in the morning, 3 in the afternoon).

"The issue is that schools participate in STEM, life skills, and English programs with external providers. If they reduce these classes, they can still fit the schedule within Monday to Friday," said Dinh Phu Cuong, principal of Nguyen Van Luong Secondary School.

Another reason, according to Khoa, is that some schools may not have arranged their schedules efficiently. For instance, having only two classes on weekday afternoons necessitates extending to Saturday mornings.

On the evening of 9/9, a leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training told VnExpress that they would organize training and guidance for schools to develop curriculums and schedules that fit within five days a week.

"Theoretically, it's not wrong for schools to hold classes on Saturday mornings. But for a long time, students have only attended school from Monday to Friday, so this change is causing concern for parents," the Department leader said.

Le Nguyen

*Parents' names have been changed.