Happiness from everyday life
In the morning at many schools in Hanoi, the image of students going to school in a relaxed and happy mood is becoming increasingly familiar. This is one of the clear manifestations that the model of "happy schools" is gradually becoming a reality, not just on paper or emulation movements.
At Thai Thinh Secondary School, instead of enhancing the propaganda slogan, the school chose a simpler approach: renovating green space, building a friendly learning environment and nurturing positive relationships between teachers and students. The two rows of "happy" trees planted in the schoolyard not only create a landscape but also have a symbolic meaning for the spirit of companionship and sharing in education.
According to Mr. Nguyen Cao Cuong - Principal of Thai Thinh Secondary School, the happiness of the school is measured by very everyday things, which is that students go to school safely, study in a positive spirit and return home with the peace of mind of their family.
"Two rows of happy trees are cared for by teachers and students every day. Irrigating and fertilizing those happy trees to be green and create a beautiful campus is also a way for us to create motivation: teachers and students join hands to build an environment with many good things and many values for learners, said Mr. Nguyen Cao Cuong.
A similar approach is also being implemented at Vinh Tuy Primary School, but with specific features suitable for age. According to Ms. Hoa, the school's philosophy is to consider students as the center, respect differences and create conditions for them to express themselves in a safe environment.
For Vinh Tuy Primary School, we simply believe that happiness is when students are listened to, shared and express themselves. The school's staff and teachers always respect the unique things of each student, thereby helping them to promote their abilities and positive emotions," said Ms. Hoa.
Happiness in schools associated with teachers and educational policies
Not only students, but also teachers are an important factor in building happy schools. At Thai Thinh Secondary School, many teachers believe that this model helps them find their professional motivation again, when the teacher-student relationship is built on trust and companionship.
Ms. Loc Thi Lien - General Head of Thai Thinh Secondary School said that the most obvious change is that students proactively share and participate in collective activities with a voluntary spirit instead of being forced: "For teachers, a truly happy school is where every day they go to school feels filled with positive energy and motivated to work. Each teacher is accompanied by students, loved by them, expressed their gratitude, and thereby sent them meaningful lessons.
At Vinh Tuy Primary School, many teachers have proactively adjusted teaching methods in the direction of paying more attention to students' emotions. Small actions such as welcoming students from the classroom door, calling each student's name, or organizing sharing groups have contributed to creating a positive classroom atmosphere.
Many people still consider happy schools as a distant concept, just a slogan. Therefore, the school tries to turn it into a concrete action in all activities, from the behavior of security guards, workers, teachers to the coordination with parents, so that students can see, feel and form motivation to live beautifully and think positively, emphasized Mr. Nguyen Cao Cuong.
At the macro level, building a happy school in Hanoi is closely linked to the city's educational policy orientation. From 2024, Hanoi will implement the "Happy School" program based on UNESCO's framework, adjusted to suit practical conditions, focusing on the following criteria: students are central, safe and friendly environment, positive relationships and comprehensive development.
"Happy School" is a journey of love and creativity. I hope that every student when going to school will feel joy, safety and feel appreciated; every teacher will be supported to carry out the educational mission with all their heart and each parent will feel secure when their children study in an environment with love, said Mr. Tran The Cuong - Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council.
Along with this orientation, from the 2025-2026 school year, Hanoi will exempt 100% of tuition fees for public preschool and primary school students, and at the same time direct the tightening of service fees in schools. These policies are expected to reduce pressure on parents, creating conditions for families and schools to accompany each other in education.
When happiness is set as a goal in education, the quality of schools is not only measured by scores or titles, but also by the feelings of students, teachers and parents. The models being implemented in schools in Hanoi show that "Happy Schools" are gradually becoming a sustainable foundation for human development in the context of modern education.
