Innovation and creativity in teaching and learning

Recognizing the crucial role of teachers in educational innovation and adhering to the principle of student-centered learning, with schools as the foundation and teachers as the driving force, the Phu Tho Department of Education and Training has recently taken a leadership role in implementing various targeted measures. These efforts have fostered a significant transformation among educators, emphasizing professional ethics, continuous self-study, and enhanced qualifications and creativity in teaching. This initiative contributes meaningfully to the noble mission of nurturing future generations.

Leaders of the Department of Education and Training presented the title of Provincial Emulation Fighter and Certificates of Merit from the Provincial People’s Committee to individuals with outstanding achievements in the 2023-2024 school year.

The education sector consistently prioritizes training, professional development, and capacity-building for educational leaders, civil servants, public employees, teachers, and lecturers. Ensure the training of highly qualified civil servants and public employees while continuously providing professional development programs for preschool, general education, and continuing education teachers—particularly in the implementation of the 2018 General Education Program and new textbooks.

To address the shortage of teachers and ensure a balanced distribution, the Department of Education and Training has implemented measures such as contract hiring, staff mobilization, rotation, and resource sharing among educational institutions to maintain effective teaching and learning activities. The Department of Education and Training coordinates with the Department of Home Affairs and the People’s Committees of districts, towns, and cities to develop and complete the submission for approval of the project on job positions, number of employees, and staff structure according to professional titles of the units; direct and guide educational institutions to implement.

The quality of both specialized and general education continues to be maintained and enhanced. Notable educational achievements: Middle and high school students from Phu Tho continue to secure top rankings in national and international competitions, reaffirming the province’s position among the leading educational hubs in the country. The provincial-level excellent student selection exams for 9th and 12th graders were conducted safely and in strict compliance with regulations. In the national competition for 12th-grade students, Phu Tho secured an impressive 71 awards, including 2 first prizes, 12 second prizes, 24 third prizes, and 33 consolation prizes—marking an increase of 15 awards compared to the 2022-2023 school year.

At Hung Vuong High School for the Gifted, two students represented the province in regional and international Olympiads, bringing home remarkable achievements: one silver medal at the Mendeleev International Chemistry Olympiad and two medals (one gold, one bronze) at the prestigious United States High School Biology Competition (USABO). Notably, this marks the sixth consecutive year that Phu Tho students have competed and won awards in regional and international Olympiads.

Phu Tho students also excelled in various academic and extracurricular competitions. In provincial and national science, technology, and robotics contests, as well as provincial English club exchanges, students achieved outstanding results. Particularly noteworthy was the 2023 competition on studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, morality, and style, where Phu Tho secured an impressive 2nd place among 63 provinces and cities nationwide.

In the 2024 high school graduation exam, Phu Tho maintained its strong academic standing. With an average score of 7.10 across all subjects—an increase of 0.36 points from 2023—the province ranked 8th nationwide for the fourth consecutive year. Additionally, 472 exams received perfect scores of 10 (ranking 6th nationwide), while 127 literature exams achieved an impressive 9.75. The graduation rate reached 99.93%. Notably, Phu Tho ranked among the top 10 provinces with the smallest gap between final exam scores and annual academic performance, reflecting the consistency and quality of education in the province.

In 2024, more than 2,200 students from Phu Tho took part in the Hanoi National University Competency Assessment Test for admission to over 100 universities. Impressively, the province’s average score ranked 7th among 53 participating provinces and cities—an 8-place improvement from 2023.

Teachers and students at Viet Tri Technical High School strive for excellence in both teaching and learning.

In the coming period, the education and training sector will focus on enhancing teachers' awareness and sense of responsibility regarding the Party’s guidelines, state policies and laws, and sectoral and local regulations on political ideology and professional ethics. This effort aims to foster consensus and unity across the sector. Strengthen the training and development of the teaching staff to enhance their competencies and professional ethics. Organize specialized training courses to equip educators with the necessary skills to implement the new curriculum, including innovations in assessment and evaluation, participation in professional workshops and conferences, digital transformation training, and the integration of information technology in teaching. Additionally, foster professional growth through competitions such as the Excellent Teacher Contest and video lecture design challenges. Encourage staff and teachers to continuously enhance their expertise, update their knowledge and skills, and refine their teaching methods to effectively implement new curricula and textbooks.

Create a supportive environment that fosters motivation and professional growth, ensuring that both teachers and students can reach their full potential. Promote innovation in teaching methods, assessment, and evaluation, with a strong emphasis on encouraging teachers to conduct research in applied pedagogy. Organize excellent teacher competitions at school, district, and provincial levels, while also developing a core team of subject-specialist teachers. The school conducts assessments in accordance with its set plan to evaluate teachers' performance effectively.

Enhance assessment methods, establish clear criteria and standards, and improve the overall quality of the teaching staff. Set specific benchmarks for teacher evaluation and classification, encouraging educators to continuously refine their professional expertise, pedagogical knowledge, and skills while striving for excellence. Review and refine the regulations on the assessment and classification of administrators, teachers, and staff in accordance with established procedures, ensuring rigor, transparency, objectivity, fairness, and accuracy.

Nguyen Van Manh

Director of the Department of Education and Training