An analysis of high school students perceptions of school culture under the new general education program with emphasis on academic achievement, extracurricular participation, and career guidance: A case in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

This study examines the viewpoints of public high school students in Ho Chi Minh City regarding the culture of their school under the implementation of the new General Education Program (the 2018 General Education Program) with a specific focus on several aspects of their educational surroundings. The participants consist of students from diverse backgrounds, including different schools and exhibiting varying degrees of academic and extracurricular engagement. The study revealed that 59.8% of pupils obtained remarkable academic outcomes, whereas 33.5% received exemplary achievements. Just 6.5% were considered to be qualified, while a slight 0.1% were considered to be unqualified. The training results revealed that 75.7% of pupils were categorized as distinguished, 20.4% as good, and 3.9% as qualified. With regards to extracurricular involvement, 13.7% of students assumed the role of class officials, 20.5% were club members, 8.3% held the post of youth union secretary, and 8.1% held numerous roles. Nevertheless, 49.4% of individuals were not involved in any official roles. The evaluation of students' learning culture indicated favourable perceptions, namely in regard to the esteem of educators and classmates, as well as the mindset towards independent study and continuous learning. Several aspects, such as the process of selecting a suitable profession and making decisions regarding elective topics, received a lower score of 2.23, suggesting that there is a need for enhancing career advising. The results emphasize both the positive and negative aspects of the school culture in public high schools in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. They stress the importance of constantly improving educational strategies, career guidance, and the fair allocation of resources in order to enhance the learning environment and promote student development, specifically in the 2018 General Education Program.