"Bringing schools to candidates" usually starts in March and ends in September every year, organized by the Lao Dong Newspaper in many forms in localities, with thousands of people directly participating in each program. Therefore, many months in advance, the Steering Committee, Organizing Committee and the implementation team must plan and meet regularly to agree on the plan, location, content, etc., ensuring the program is as effective as possible.
Live TV pressure
Up to this point, "Bringing schools to candidates" is the only career counseling and enrollment program organized by a press agency that is broadcast live in all selected localities.
Because it is broadcast live, unlike the consulting sessions for students and teachers that are simply held in the school yard, "Bringing school to candidates" often takes place like a festival. Also because it is broadcast live on television, the program receives special attention from local leaders, universities, colleges, and high schools.
For months, the head of the regional representative office of the newspaper and reporters from the area chosen to host the program had to work with the leaders of the Department of Education and Training and the local radio and television station. The two sides had to agree on a venue that could accommodate more than 2,000 students; ensure transmission lines for live broadcasting; ensure seating, parasols, and sound that met the station's standards... Very important factors such as the script and MC were carefully prepared. With the location chosen to host the program being far away, online meetings took place continuously for the Organizing Committee to "finalize" the steps with local reporters, because the production team could only arrive one day in advance.
In 2025, "Bringing School to Candidates" was first held at Bao Loc High School, Lam Dong Province on March 16. This place is nearly 110 km away from Da Lat, a challenge for the live broadcast mission. After many surveys, the seemingly insurmountable difficulties were finally agreed upon by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper and Lam Dong Radio and Television Station to broadcast the program live.
The program's MC talked with students to find out their questions and wishes... Photo: HUE XUAN
Accordingly, the Lam Dong Radio and Television Station crew of nearly 20 people had to arrive a day in advance, bringing a color car and a large amount of equipment. Meanwhile, the working group of the Lao Dong Newspaper also traveled by car to Bao Loc on the afternoon of March 15. When the group arrived at the consulting point to prepare, it was raining heavily and the wind was strong. The tarpaulins stretched in the school yard were in tatters, the plastic chairs were wet, the electric wires mixed with speakers covered the tarpaulins lying in the rain...
We looked at each other anxiously. It wasn’t until dark that the rain stopped, and the crew hurriedly set up the canvas, dried the tables and chairs, and tested the program… Luckily, the program the next morning went smoothly, without any problems, with the eager teachers and students in Bao Loc and hundreds of thousands of students and parents watching on the small screen.
The head of the representative office of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper in the South Central - Central Highlands region also worked hard to move tables, clean chairs... to prepare for the program. Photo: HUE XUAN
Unfortunately, some programs that were being broadcast live encountered unavoidable problems such as power outages, such as at Sao Nam High School (Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam Province in 2017), Bui Thi Xuan High School (Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province in 2018)... Fortunately, the electricity sector quickly resolved the problem and the radio and television station continued to broadcast. Learning from experience, the Organizing Committee worked more closely with local electricity companies, asking them to commit to providing electricity throughout the program to reduce some of the pressure and anxiety.
Sweat, smiles and tears
To reach the students, the Advisory Board, the Organizing Board and the "Bringing schools to candidates" team had to travel to the program's location using many different means and routes. Trains swaying at night, long car trips where people had to lean on each other to take a nap; hasty meals to prepare the program in time...
A familiar image behind the "stage" is reporters, editors, and members of the organizing committee "braving the rain and sun" to line up thousands of chairs on the school yard, carry tables, arrange the stage, hang banners... before the program takes place. Although exhausted, everyone is happy to be able to go to the localities to organize meaningful counseling programs for students. This is also a channel to promote the brand of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper. The more carefully and professionally organized, the more prestigious and attractive the newspaper will be.
Before the program aired, the entire crew worked hard to find a complete list of students to receive scholarships; arrange seats for the advisory board, guests, students, parents, and teachers. When the program took place, everyone was busy distributing and collecting questionnaires; approaching students to find out what they wanted to ask, then taking them to a position where the sound and camera could "capture" the image, "capture" the sound...
The 120-minute duration of each program may pass quickly for students, teachers, counselors and viewers, but for us, the producers, it sometimes feels very long. On many hot days, from photographers, cameramen, MCs to script editors, and online reporters, everyone is drenched in sweat…
During those 120 minutes, many questions could not be answered. Many times, the whole team felt down when seeing the sad eyes of the students. Some students even burst into tears because their questions could not reach the teachers. After each consultation session in the localities, the Organizing Committee "packed up" hundreds of questions to bring back with many worries.
Over the past 24 years, "Bringing schools to candidates" has organized hundreds of on-site consultation sessions - broadcast live, with millions of students - teachers of many generations participating, hundreds of universities and colleges sending representatives to provide consultation. The program is increasingly organized professionally with the support of the Ministry of Education and Training, experienced consultants, businesses...
From consulting for students, the newspaper also organizes additional training programs on knowledge and career guidance skills for teachers in dozens of localities. From live and online programs to talk shows regularly organized by the newspaper, career guidance and enrollment are becoming more comprehensive, effective and attractive. That is the effort and dedication of the consulting team and those who implement "Bringing schools to candidates", so that the program becomes one of the "specialties" of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, trusted and awaited by students and teachers in many localities.
Dr. TRAN DINH LY , Vice Principal of Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry:
Professional, dedicated
As someone working in the education sector, I have had the opportunity to accompany the Lao Dong Newspaper for the past 24 years in many meaningful programs, especially "Bringing schools to candidates". This is an initiative that not only has communication value but also spreads knowledge, inspires, opens up learning opportunities and changes the lives of millions of students nationwide.
We - educators - always consider "Bringing schools to candidates" as a bridge connecting the classrooms and remote areas; between policy and practice; between dreams and reality. The professionalism, dedication and spirit of serving the community of Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper have helped the program become a reliable "companion" of many generations of students, parents and career guidance teachers.
Not only does the program provide information on enrollment, it also provides practical training sessions for thousands of local career guidance teachers, helping them update career trends, grasp the spirit of educational innovation, and thereby effectively convey knowledge to students. I always cherish those passionate trips - where local teachers often tell me: "Without this program, we would be very backward!"
Source: https://nld.com.vn/nguoc-xuoi-dua-truong-hoc-den-thi-sinh-196250724204310318.htm
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