The Happy School project, funded by The Vietnam General Education Innovation Support Fund (VIGEF), was launched on June 19, 2022, at the Vietnam National Education Channel (VTV7) studio. VIGEF collaborates with the Vietnam Education Union to create an innovative educational environment that focuses on student happiness.

The Happy School project will train 10,000 high school principals between 2022 and 2023. According to the phase 1 roadmap, the project will be implemented in seven provinces: Hanoi, Lao Cai, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Nghe An, and Kon Tum.

Focusing on each student's "personalization"

Dr. Robert Plomin, a world-renowned pioneer in the field of behavioral genetics, identified DNA as an important factor in the formation of humans in his book "Blueprint: How DNA Makes Us Who We Are." "A difference of nearly 1% on a piece of DNA separates us in terms of personality, abilities, and mental health conditions. The difference in DNA structure determines how DNA individualizes ".

He believes that rather than trying to mold children, teachers and parents should accept them for who they are and help them develop their strengths. Gene decoding, like the DNA revolution, can predict a person's behavioral and genetic predispositions.

Plomin believes that these cutting-edge developments will have far-reaching implications for how we care for, raise, and educate our children.

Based on this, the "Happy School" project of the VIETNAM INNOVATION OF GENERAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION (VIGEF) places a premium on the individualization of each student. Instead of teaching all students the same curriculum, the project aims to respect their differences in intelligence and personality tendencies, which are determined by innate genes. Teachers will then create the appropriate environment and encourage students to reach their full potential.

The ''Happy Schools'' initiative is not new in Vietnam, according to Dr. Dang Tu An, Director of VIGEF, but what distinguishes this project is the emphasis on the role of genetics in education.

"We will raise principals' awareness of the impact of genetic factors on learning styles and the overall development of each student's qualities and abilities. Teachers will then respect their differences and assist them in maximizing their potential and instinctive forte." - Dr. An said.

Happy School helps to innovate general education thinking.

Many developed countries around the world, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Singapore, the United States, Australia, and Japan, have implemented the Happy School model. Vietnam's education sector is not immune to this trend, especially given our country's strong commitment to fundamental and comprehensive education and training reform.

Education not only prepares students for exams, but it also teaches them how to feel, adapt, and live a happy, sustainable life. That is why the Happy School model is gaining popularity.

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc An, President of the Vietnam Education Union delivered the project kick-off speech.

According to Dr. Nguyen Ngoc An, President of the Vietnam Education Union, Happy School is a solution to help teachers improve their pedagogical behavior capacity and professional ethics in order to reduce negative behaviors in the school's teacher-student relationship.

"Because the principal is the most important person in determining the success of all activities in the school, I hope that VIGEF's participation in the project of training 10,000 principals to build Happy Schools will be effectively implemented," said Dr. An.

The significance of the Happy School project

UNESCO first recommended the Happy Schools model in early 2017.

Dr. Kim Gwang Jo, Director of UNESCO, researched and developed this school model to advocate for the renewal of the global education system in the direction of: Happy learning to achieve dreams. Instead of measuring instruction quality based on student achievement and grades, this school model measures student happiness.

More specifically, Happy School is defined as a safe, friendly, and loving learning environment in which students can express themselves and develop to their fullest potential.

Happy School is a school in which every student, teacher, staff, and school staff feel Happy, which is reflected in the fact that every member of the school can: Ensure essential needs school, safety, understanding, love, respect, trust, self-expression, and in which Student Happiness is considered the highest goal (excerpt from the book "Principal - The Sower of Happiness" , which is used as the main training document for the principal in the project).

Sharing from program participants who are principals of schools

According to Mr. Bui Vinh Toan, principal of Le Quy Don primary school (Dak Ha district, Kon Tum province), in order to build a Happy School successfully, it is necessary to focus on building a team of teachers with good professional competence and skills. standard student behavior, culture, and comprehension.

The school will continue to research and learn more about the happy school program, as well as gain a better understanding of more teachers and students. Since then, the school has organized training and education for teachers in order to better understand how to create a happy school.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang, Principal of Secondary School No. 2 Xuan Quang (Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province), agreed that in order to build a Happy School model, the principal and teachers must first feel happy.

"I am attempting to become a happy school principal by training myself every day to see the good and positive qualities in others, particularly teachers and students. The teacher will feel valued, happy, and capable of transmitting love and positive energy to the students. That, I believe, is the essence of a happy school "Ms. Hang explained.

Discover your genes, optimize parenting

Many parents in Vietnam are now turning to gene decoding services to discover their children's potential and strengths, as well as to optimize their children's nutrition. 

Genetica, an Asian-specific genetic decoding company has created more than 30 adult and pediatric genetic decoding packages that reveal a wide range of nutritional, exercise, behavioral, and personality traits, as well as language potential, music, and math.

Genetic experts at Genetica make "personalized" recommendations for customers based on the results of gene sequencing, assisting in the adjustment of lifestyle in accordance with genotype, promoting strengths, limiting weaknesses, and preventing diseases. Knowing a child's genetic proclivity allows parents and schools to better support them.

About the Vietnam General Education Innovation Support Fund (VIGEF)

VIGEF is a leading social and not-for-profit foundation, which helps carry out educational renovation programs/activities in Vietnam. 

It was established on 23 August 2017 in accordance with the Decision No. 2455/QD-BNV by the Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs. As stipulated in the Decision 483/QĐ-BNV dated 9 April 2018 by the Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs, VIGEF fulfilled all operational eligibility conditions and has its national coverage.

Additionally reported by:

1. https://baotintuc.vn/doanh-nghiep-san-pham-dich-vu/10000-hieu-truong-tham-gia-du-an-truong-hoc-hanh-phuc-20220622184921348.htm
2. https://www.24h.com.vn/giao-duc-du-hoc/lam-the-nao-de-hoc-sinh-cam-thay-hanh-phuc-khi-den-truong-c216a1371264.html
3. https://congthuong.vn/10000-hieu-truong-tren-toan-quoc-tham-gia-du-an-truong-hoc-hanh-phuc-180968.html
4. https://nhipcaudautu.vn/kinh-te-xanh/trach-nhiem-voi-cong-dong/phat-dong-du-an-truong-hoc-hanh-phuc-voi-su-tham-gia-cua-10000-hieu-truong-tren-toan-quoc-3346255/