Kindergartens in HCM City are hoping to teach “love for motherland” by introducing “flag saluting” lessons for pupils.

The children looked into the red flag and sung the national anthem. Stories about President Ho Chi Minh were then told with children asked to follow Uncle Ho’s example.

The idea of flag saluting hour has been applauded by many education management officers, who have called upon other schools to follow the example.

However, the initiative has also faced opposition from teachers.

Vu Thi Kim Chi, headmaster of Kindergarten No 15 in Binh Thanh district, said it is impossible to organise flag saluting for such young children.

Chi says small children do not go to school punctually. Though the school begins at 7 am, many children only turn up at 9 am. She also said soothing crying children alone takes much of teachers’ time.

Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh, head of the Pre-school Education Division under the HCM City Education and Training Department, agreed it is very difficult to organise flag saluting ceremonies for small children, because 5-year old pupils have limited concentration. They argue small children can only understand teachers in classrooms – not in large, noisy, school yards.

Elsewhere schools in the city not have school yards big enough to gather all pupils for flag saluting.

Thanh said that the Ministry of Education and Training does not have any regulations on compulsory flag saluting hour. She added that there are many ways of teaching students to love the motherland with flag saluting being just one of them.

She stresses that education methods need to fit the mindset and suitable activities of children.

VietNamNet/DT