LookAtVietnam – HCM City’s Department of Education and Training is considering increasing first-grade class size to 50 students, on a case-by-case basis, for the upcoming school year because of rising enrolments.

The department said first-grade enrolments in some districts had increased between 15 per cent and 25 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The department said first-grade enrolments in some districts had increased between 15 per cent and 25 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The department said it would make a final decision on the maximum first-grade class size at the beginning of next week.

Hoang Thi Hong Hai, head of the education office in Tan Phu District, said the bigger enrolment was caused by the number of children born in 2003, which was considered a lucky year to give birth.

Education Department officials said they were concerned the increase would lower the quality of education.

Many schools, including three primary schools in Thu Duc District, have already considered increasing first-grade class sizes to up to 45 students.

To handle the higher number of students, some schools in Tan Phu District, as well as other districts, have proposed organising half-day classes for first-grade students.

Primary school students typically attend a full day with classes in the morning and afternoon.

In Tan Phu District, more than 6,900 students have applied for first grade as of May 1, an increase of 1,000 against last year.

Tan Phu District has proposed raising the maximum number of students to 45 for each first-grade class.

Binh Tan District has seen an increase in enrolments of 1,500 first-grade students against the 2008-09 school year, with a total of 6,500 children enrolling as of May 1.

The number of first-grade students enrolled in Phu Nhuan District schools has risen to 2,500 from 1,900 in the previous academic year.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News