THE CURRENT STATE OF MANAGING ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES FOR ORGANIZING PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES IN NATURAL SCIENCE EDUCATION IN PRIVATE MIDDLE SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN HO CHI MINH CITY

Abstract

The 2018 General Education Curriculum in Vietnam mandates a critical reform in management to enhance the quality of practical teaching in Natural Science. However, the managerial mechanisms for two crucial factors - the assessment system and supporting conditions - have not received adequate attention in current scientific research. This paper focuses on an in-depth analysis of the management of these two factors in private middle schools in Ho Chi Minh City. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study conducted quantitative surveys and in-depth interviews with 48 educational managers and teachers in Ho Chi Minh City. The research findings reveal a persistent contradiction: (1) the management of assessment activities, while well-implemented in terms of regulations, is weak in the area of professional development, leaving teachers ill-equipped to develop authentic competency-based assessment tools and (2) the management of supportive conditions, despite prioritised investment, lacks incentive mechanisms; furthermore, asset regulations create psychological barriers that make teachers reluctant to use equipment. Consequently, the paper affirms the necessity of a paradigm shift in management from administrative control to the cultivation of a supportive culture for professional development.