From limiting the use of phones during recess, reducing the pressure of revenue and expenditure for parents, to focusing on the mental and emotional health of students, many schools have been and are transforming in a more humane and closer direction, placing students at the center of all educational activities.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training (GDĐT), building a "Happy School" is one of the consistent orientations of the city's education sector in recent years, associated with the goal of creating a safe - healthy - friendly learning environment, where students are respected, loved and comprehensively developed both intellectually, physically and mentally.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training - said, "Happy School" is not a title or achievement for emulation, and certainly not a form of evaluating teachers or managers. "The criteria of Happy School show positivity, towards improving teaching and learning conditions. In particular, relationships in schools, especially with students, must be valued. All activities are aimed at serving students - a humane and long-term goal," Mr. Hieu emphasized.
Playtime is no longer... the time to hold a phone
One of the most noticeable changes when building the "Happy School" model in Ho Chi Minh City in the 2025-2026 school year is the restriction of using mobile phones during recess, which is being implemented simultaneously in general schools from January 2026 after the pilot period.
In many schools, instead of the image of students bowing their heads to the phone screen, recess now becomes more exciting with light sports activities, folk games, reading books, club activities or simply direct conversations between friends.
Mr. Luong Van Dinh - Principal of Thanh Loc High School, one of the leading units implementing "phoneless recess" - said that initially the school was also worried that students would react when restricted from using personal devices. However, after a period of implementation, positive changes have been clearly shown.
Students exercise more, communicate more, actively participate in collective activities instead of confining themselves in the private world of the screen. The most noticeable thing is that students smile more, talk to each other more. Playtime is truly a time for rest and energy regeneration," Mr. Dinh shared.
For students, "Happy School" is not something too big. It can just be a school that does not create heavy pressure, where they are listened to, respected and have the opportunity to participate in activities suitable for their age.
Nguyen Hoang Hieu, a student at Binh Chieu High School, believes that limiting the use of phones during recess is necessary in the context that students are increasingly dependent on technology devices.
When we don't have phones, we talk to each other more, it's easier to make new friends and participate in common activities. In addition to playing sports, many friends also play chess, participate in folk games. The atmosphere during recess is also happier and more exciting," Hieu shared. These changes help students feel comfortable, closer and more connected with friends.
Many other students also believe that when schools organize diverse experiential activities and skills activities, going to school is not only limited to learning but also an opportunity to play, explore yourself and practice necessary soft skills.
Reducing the burden of revenue and expenditure, scores - more joy to class
Another important factor contributing to creating a "Happy School" is reducing financial pressure for parents and students.
At Nguyen Van Luong Secondary School, in the 2025-2026 school year, if students do not participate in semi-boarding meals, each month parents only have to pay an additional 10,000 VND for drinking water. This is a very low collection compared to the general level, helping many families, especially those in difficult circumstances, reduce the burden.
Mr. Dinh Phu Cuong - Principal of Nguyen Van Luong Secondary School - said that at the beginning of the school year, the school implemented a number of liên kết programs such as international informatics, English with foreign teachers... organized at the end of the class, but the number of registered students was not large, so it stopped completely.
Therefore, the monthly tuition fee for students is not high. Students who do not participate in semi-boarding or related subjects only pay 10,000 VND for drinking water. For semi-boarding students, the contribution level is about 1.2 million VND per month," Mr. Cuong said.
Notably, the 2025-2026 school year is also the first year Ho Chi Minh City implements a policy of free health insurance for students. This policy helps more than 2.5 million students in the city significantly reduce financial pressure, especially for low-income families, contributing to ensuring the right to health care for students.
At the high school level, Ten Lo Man High School also has many innovations when implementing the "Happy School" model. Mr. Nguyen Hung Khuong - Principal of the school, said that changes begin from educational philosophy to teaching methods.
Teachers are encouraged to listen to students more, reduce score pressure, and enhance experience. Many lessons become spaces for students to freely create with posters, videos, handicrafts, models, expanded experiments... Assessment is also innovated, focusing on the progress process instead of just focusing on the final result.
In addition, students participate in sports, physical training, and real-world experiences at universities, research institutes, and businesses. These activities help students reduce the vague feeling about the future, increase learning motivation, and have a clearer orientation after graduating from high school.
Connecting - listening - accompanying students
Sharing about building a "Happy School", Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh - Principal of Binh Chieu High School - said that "Happy School" must first of all be an environment that does not create pressure for students, where they are respected, listened to and have a space for comprehensive development.
According to Ms. Thanh, the school focuses on building cohesion between teachers and students through homeroom teachers accompanying the class for many school years, creating a feeling of closeness and trust like in a family. "When students consider teachers and friends as relatives, they will be assured in their studies, willing to share and grow up," Ms. Thanh said.
In addition, Binh Chieu High School creates conditions for students to participate in many activities after school such as physical education, sports, arts, and mass competitions. Many students do not rush home after school but stay at school to practice and participate in collective activities, contributing to creating a lively and friendly school atmosphere.
Not only focusing on spiritual life, the school also cares about supporting students in difficult circumstances through scholarships, health insurance, Tet gifts, as well as timely sharing when students or families encounter upheavals. "As long as students have a sense of effort in studying and training, the school is always ready to accompany them," Ms. Thanh emphasized.
