Principal - the leader, spreading the spirit of happiness in schools
The whole country is in the peak period of arranging and streamlining the school network and must complete it before August 30th. This is also the stage for the entire sector to prepare for the new school year 2026 - 2027.
Along with streamlining focal points, the education sector will restructure the management staff and teachers. After arrangement, more than 20,000 management staff are expected to be transferred and rearranged; of which, about 11,000 people will directly participate in teaching.
The problem posed to the education sector at this time is not only in the organizational stage, but how to make changes in the apparatus a driving force to improve quality, so that more and more schools are truly places where teachers can contribute, students can develop and all members feel respected.
Mr. Nguyen Van Luc - former teacher of Trinh Phong Secondary School (Khanh Hoa) - said that a school after arrangement not only needs a new apparatus, but also a head capable of connecting people, building consensus and leading change.
According to Mr. Luc, the principal is the decisive factor to turn organizational changes into quality development. To do that, the head of the school needs to have sufficient capacity, qualities, strategic vision and the ability to make appropriate decisions. The principal in the current period is not only a manager, but must be a good leader, good manager and have the ability to manage the school.
If the principal has heart, talent, and vision, teachers and students will benefit from a positive educational environment. Conversely, if the head is irresponsible and lacks management capacity, it can become a barrier to the development of the school. Principals play an important role in building a happy school" - Mr. Luc said.
Use fairness to create trust
Prof. Dr. Huynh Van Son - Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Education analyzed that in each school, regulations are an indispensable foundation. Regulations help establish principles, define responsibilities, maintain discipline and ensure unified organization and operation. However, a school that is only governed by regulations is not necessarily an effectively led school.
Mr. Son affirmed that school governance towards happiness does not mean eliminating regulations or making everyone always satisfied, but creating an environment in which each member is respected, trusted and has the opportunity to develop their abilities.
Regulations create a corridor for organizations, while belief creates motivation for people to voluntarily walk in that corridor with their own capacity and responsibility" - Prof. Dr. Huynh Van Son acknowledged.
According to him, a school can operate by regulations, but for sustainable development, there needs to be trust, fairness and shared responsibility. Leaders should not see regulations as the only tool to control people, but need to place regulations in a culture of trust, responsibility and respect.
He pointed out the reality that in some educational institutions, when all activities are regulated too detailedly, all tasks are linked to processes and forms, management may become stricter but also easily create a psychology of hesitation and reluctance to innovate. Teachers may meet the requirements, but it is not certain that they have the motivation to be more creative and contribute more.
Education needs people who dare to think, dare to experiment, dare to take responsibility and dare to learn from things that have not been successful. To do so, schools must create a sense of psychological safety so that each person is proposed, differentiated and supported to improve" - Prof. Dr. Huynh Van Son shared.
According to Prof. Dr. Huynh Van Son, a school may have full regulations but still lack trust. Conversely, trust, if not placed in clear principles, can also become lenient. Therefore, a happy leader needs a harmonious combination of discipline and trust: Using regulations to maintain order, using fairness to create trust, and using kindness to arouse responsibility.
In the process of educational innovation, a happy school is not created from slogans, but starts from the way leaders treat people every day. When teachers are trusted, respected and facilitated to develop, it is also the foundation for students to study in a truly happy environment.
AI application, spreading the model of a happy school
In Hung Yen, Le Hong Phong Primary School (Thai Binh ward) has become one of the bright spots of the local education sector in the movement to build a happy school. The school aims for a safe and loving learning environment, where each member can live, study and work in joy, respect and sharing spirit.
In the context of strong digital transformation, the school identifies the application of information technology and artificial intelligence (AI) as an important solution to innovate teaching methods. Bringing AI into teaching support helps students actively access knowledge, develop learning skills, and at the same time meet the requirements of educational innovation in the digital age, contributing to building a modern and happy learning environment.
In addition, the lessons also incorporate content to overcome pronunciation and spelling errors that confuse the first two consonants L - N, a common error in elementary school students. Through language games, quizzes and illustrative videos, students are both trained in standard Vietnamese language skills and more interested in learning.
Sharing about the journey of building a happy school, Master Ha Thi Xuan - Principal of the school, said that the Board of Directors always wants to create an environment where teachers, students and parents feel happy every time they come to school.
According to Ms. Xuan, a happy school must first of all be a safe place, without school violence, without unethical behavior; teachers not only impart knowledge but also nurture the soul, evoke positive emotions and the desire to live beautifully, so that each student is respected, listened to and encouraged to develop according to their abilities. Mai Huong
