Nguyen Huu Tho High School proposes four-day academic week

Nguyen Huu Tho High School in Ho Chi Minh City is planning to implement a new schedule where core academic classes are held only four days a week, from Monday to Thursday. Under this proposal, students would attend seven periods each day—four in the morning and three in the afternoon—to complete the required 28 weekly periods.

Friday mornings would be dedicated to supplementary educational activities, career orientation, and experiential learning. These sessions, which the school intends to provide free of charge, would cover diverse topics such as traditional culture, traffic safety, and adolescent psychological health. The school also plans to offer support for gifted students, remedial lessons for those struggling, and exam preparation for 12th graders.

Following this new arrangement, students would be free from school on Friday afternoons, Saturdays, and Sundays. The school principal, Do Dinh Dao, stated that this structure aims to allow students more time for rest, physical training, and personal development. The plan follows consultations with parents regarding the school's curriculum and follows guidelines from Circular 85 of the Ministry of Education and Training.