Tran Quang Thu, deputy principal of Cua Tung High School, was quite surprised to see students eager to study in the school’s nursery garden.

Students work in the experimental nursery garden at Cửa Tùng High School. — Photo thanhnien.vn

“All of the students are interested,” he said.

Thu said a lack of practical learning was a common problem in Vietnamese education.

"Now, biology is fun for the students," said Thu.

Since the beginning of last year, the Quảng Trị Department of Education and Training has run experimental nursery gardens to help students gain practical knowledge. Under the model, students plant young trees and take care of them in the school’s garden.

The garden at Cửa Tùng High School in Vĩnh Linh District has become a favourite spot of students since it was set up at the start of the 2018-2019 academic year.

Lan Trinh, a student at the school, said few classes were as fun as those in the garden. They were relaxing, joyful and educational.

“Studying here is more interesting than learning theory in the classroom,” said Trinh. “The most useful thing is that we can apply knowledge right after we’ve learnt it and visit the trees regularly to see whether they are showing our expected results or not.”

Nguyễn Xuân Hiếu, an expert from the High School Education Division under the province’s education department, said the gardens had been used in six high schools in the province including Cam Lộ, Hải Lăng, Quảng Trị Town, Đakrông, Chu Văn An and Cửa Tùng.

Now the department is wrapping up the work and considering expanding the model.

Civics lessons

Classes in the experimental nursery are also civics lessons.

Students take care of young plants in the gardens and then transplant them into the Road 9 National Martyrs’ Cemetery, or sell them to buy presents for Vietnamese heroic mothers and poor students.

Lê Thị Hương, director of the province’s education department, said they had hoped the programme would impart various valuable lessons.

“Besides biological knowledge, students learn to be grateful to martyrs and Vietnamese heroic mothers who devoted their lives for the nation’s independence,” said Hương.

Thanks to the money from selling young trees, students can buy blankets as gifts for heroic mothers.

Hoàng Chí, director of the cemetery’s management board, said that he saw that the students planted the trees with all their heart.

“The students are small, but helpful,” he said. “We are so happy the cemetery is more beautiful thanks to the trees and the love from the students.” — VNS