Over six years serving as the Principal of Nguyen Tri Phuong Junior High School, located in Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang, teacher Pham Minh Vu has implemented various solutions to enhance the quality of education at this national standard school in a mountainous area.

Teacher Pham Minh Vu (right, sixth) and the school’s teachers visit pupils' homes under the “Weekend with pupils’ Families” model. Photo: AN NHIEN

Graduating from university in 2002, teacher Pham Minh Vu engaged in teaching and pupil counseling at several schools across Hoa Vang District. In every position, he consistently demonstrated the spirit and responsibility of an educator, fostering the development of school activities. In August 2018, he was assigned as Principal of Nguyen Tri Phuong Junior High School, the school with the highest number of Co Tu ethnic pupils in the city.

Aware of the need to lead by example, confront challenges, and create positive changes in the school’s educational activities, teacher Vu worked tirelessly at the school with his teaching staff to fulfill their professional duties. He frequently encouraged teachers to self-study, improve their professional skills, and adopt innovative teaching methods. For Co Tu pupils, he employed appropriate, practical, and easy-to-understand teaching methods to help them grasp knowledge and keep pace with their peers.

Particularly for 9^th-grade pupils, from the beginning of the school year, he instructed subject groups and teachers to plan review sessions to ensure pupils were well-prepared for the 10^th-grade entrance exams. Besides focusing on teaching, he guided teachers to regularly connect with families, supporting pupils in their studies, reminding them to complete homework, and study at home. During the city’s COVID-19 outbreak, when pupils were studying at home, teacher Pham Minh Vu and his staff maintained regular contact to assist pupils with their learning.

Teacher Vu shared that, to better understand pupils’ circumstances, for over two years, the school has implemented the “Weekend with pupils’ Families” model. Under this programme, school staff, teachers, and employees visit pupils’ families over the weekend to assess their academic progress and living conditions. They help pupils establish study schedules at home and arrange proper, well-lit study corners to protect their eyesight. For disadvantaged cases, the school mobilized support from teachers, parents, and sponsors to provide practical aid, thereby motivating families to continue encouraging their children’s education.

“With the dedication of the principal and the teachers, my child has been studying better. Particularly, teacher Vu and the staff visited our home, encouraged my child, and created a study corner for him. This close approach has inspired my child to study hard,” said Dinh Thi Le, a parent of a 9^th-grade pupil. Dinh Thi Hong, a parent of an 8^th-grade pupil at Nguyen Tri Phuong Junior High School, expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the teachers' first-time home visits, during which they helped set up a proper study corner for her child.

Teacher Vu also regularly organi^zes extracurricular activities and invites education sector leaders to speak on various topics, such as local and city history and career orientation. These activities help pupils understand and appreciate their hometown and city better while assisting 9th graders in choosing suitable career paths. “Seeing pupils change their attitudes toward learning, teachers being loving and united, and educational quality improving day by day makes me feel very happy,” teacher Vu shared.

Not only devoted to education and training, but teacher Pham Minh Vu also advocated better teaching and learning facilities. He proposed to higher authorities for investments and the construction of a new administrative block, multi-functional building, artificial turf football field, fences, parking lot, security guardroom, IT room, and multifunctional room. The modern facilities have given teachers more confidence and motivation to teach, while pupils have become more enthusiastic about learning. From a school with low educational quality, Nguyen Tri Phuong Junior High School now boasts many pupils who have won awards at various levels and teachers who have achieved the title of excellent teachers. Notably, in 2023, Nguyen Tri Phuong Junior High School achieved the status of a national standard school.

Reporting by NGOC PHU - Translating by TRUC VY, THANH HUYỀN