Encouraging results in preschool education system development

Located in the Southern Key Economic Region, Binh Duong is a province with rapid socio-economic development. Along with that development, the demand for schools is also increasing, especially preschool education. To meet this need, Binh Duong has been making efforts to develop the early childhood education system to create the best learning environment for children, especially children of workers.

The non-public preschool system is developing, contributing to reducing the load on public preschool education. In photo: A class at Phuc Loi Kindergarten, Tan Uyen City

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The rapid industrialization process has attracted more and more workers from other provinces and cities coming to and working in Binh Duong. Rapid population growth has raised many issues that need to be resolved, especially the issue of early childhood education. In order to meet people’s demands, Binh Duong has developed many different types of preschools, such as: public, private, non-public.

In recent years, Binh Duong has invested in new construction and solidification of preschools. As a result, the number of preschools in the province is increasing, better meeting the learning needs of children. According to Provincial Department of Education and Training, in the 2023-2024 school year, the whole province has 438 preschools and kindergartens (including 118 public schools, 320 private schools), 657 private and independent early childhood education facilities with a total of over 115,700 children. Besides expanding scale, Binh Duong also focuses on improving the quality of early childhood education. All preschools in the province are equipped with modern teaching facilities and equipment; teaching staff receives regular professional training to meet the innovation requirements of education sector.

Located in My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park (Ben Cat Town), Little Star Kindergarten under the Provincial Youth Workers and Young Labor Support Center is a school exclusively for children of workers. Do Van Phung, Director of the Provincial Youth Workers and Young Labor Support Center and Principal of the school, said that in this school year the school has 9 classes with 250 children. Currently, over 95% of children studying at school are children of workers in My Phuoc Industrial Park. This is a school exclusively for children of workers, so overtime teaching can last as long as the parents' working hours. This has met the demand of many workers.

“The school has a policy of tuition exemption and reduction for children having difficult circumstances. Children from poor and near-poor households will receive 100% and 50% tuition reductions; 2 children who are siblings studying in the school will receive a 50% tuition discount. In addition, disadvantaged cases receive support from businesses and benefactors inside and outside the province through the center's advocacy," Phung added.

Promote socialization

Tan Uyen City is one of the localities that faces a lot of pressure from mechanical population growth every year. Therefore, educational socialization work is always focused on in this locality. In 2018-2023 period, Tan Uyen City attracted social investment in 118 child groups, kindergarten classes and 26 non-public kindergartens with a budget of about 222.7 billion VND, contributing to reducing overcrowding in public preschool facilities.

Little Star Kindergarten (Ben Cat Town) organizes regular health checks for children

As a large non-public kindergarten in Tan Uyen city, Phuc Loi Kindergarten (Uyen Hung ward) has become a reliable address chosen by many parents. The school currently manages and takes care of 240 children, the children are divided into 7 class groups according to age. Nguyen Thi Huyen Chau, Principal of the school, said that the school regularly reinvests in material facilities with a system of classroom, teaching materials, and a large playground to help children develop comprehensively in all aspects. The school's teaching staff is regularly given favorable conditions to improve their professional qualifications and skills...

To implement the policy of educational socialization, the non-public early childhood education system in the province has been developing strongly, meeting the needs of the people. Currently, the proportion of non-public and private preschools in the province accounts for over 73%. Non-public early childhood education establishments are increasing their role and position in the local education system, contributing to reducing the burden on public preschools.

Tran Thi Huong, worker at Thuong Hong Wood Company (Tan Binh ward, Di An city), shared: “Most non-public preschools have opening hours consistent with our working hours, such as: overtime childcare or Saturday classes... That is the reason why I chose a non-public school even though the tuition is more expensive than a public school."

Truong Hai Thanh, Deputy Director of Provincial Department of Education & Training, said that developing early childhood education in industrial zones and clusters is identified as an important task of the province to create conditions for workers to work and stay with their companies. The province also issued many mechanisms and policies to encourage and support workers to ensure favorable conditions for sending their children to school. However, early childhood education in the province has some difficulties, such as: there is a shortage of teachers, educational socialization is developing strongly but there are still many shortcomings...

To continue developing the early childhood education system, Binh Duong needs to continue investing in new and solidifying schools and classrooms, improving the quality of education; At the same time, there are appropriate support policies to attract good and dedicated teachers. With the efforts of all levels of government and education sector, certainly in the coming time the province's early childhood education system will increasingly develop, better meet the needs of the people, contributing to the overall development of the province.

 Reported by Hong Phuong - Translated by Ngoc Huynh