Do we need awards or do we need to train talent?

Professor Do Duc Thai, Hanoi National University of Education, suggested reviewing the organization of specialized schools and the purpose of excellent student exams. It is necessary to answer the question, do we need awards or do we need to train talented people for the country?

At the conference summarizing the training and development of teams participating in the regional and international Olympics in the period of 2016 - 2025 organized by the Ministry of Education and Training, Professor Do Duc Thai, Hanoi National University of Education, said that it is necessary to identify the right subjects to build a team of talented people for the country. "If this is not looked at correctly, it will go in the wrong direction," he said.

Professor Do Duc Thai speaks at the conference

PHOTO: TRAN HIEP

Although affirming the policy of building specialized schools and organizing competitions for gifted students is correct, according to Mr. Thai: "We should not equate 'real talent' with specialized students, students who win national and international prizes." This will lead to bad consequences, such as wasting real talents. Because scientific research is different from solving math problems in a gifted student competition."

Professor Thai compared solving math problems in gifted student exams to training 100m short-distance runners, while training talented people and scientists is like training marathon runners for life.

The second bad consequence, according to Professor Thai: "Can distort the positive purpose of all good exams. Once distorted, negative phenomena can arise in exams."

Professor Thai talked about 4 steps: discovering, nurturing, training and using talents. In using talents, the core is treatment. Therefore, it is recommended that the Ministry of Education and Training should soon research and develop a national project on training, using and treating talents.

Professor Thai also made specific recommendations. Among them, he suggested re-examining the training objectives and the organization of specialized schools and specialized classes, especially in the context of digital transformation; closely linking specialized schools with universities and leading scientists of the country and internationally. The current system of specialized schools, even in large universities, is increasingly far from scientists and corresponding specialized departments.

According to Professor Thai, the number of specialized classes in STEM subjects needs to be increased immediately, from 1.5 to 2 times. Without a wide base, there can be no peak.

Do we need awards or do we need talented people for the country?

In particular, Professor Do Duc Thai suggested that the purpose of the excellent student exams should be reconsidered. Do we need awards or do we need to train talented people for the country? Professor Thai asked questions and suggested that those questions should be answered to determine how to organize and conduct excellent student exams.

There should be a national scholarship fund, providing full scholarships for young talents. There should be a recruitment mechanism, prioritizing job positions for them. Ensure a decent income for young scientists to avoid brain drain.

We need to face the truth: what percentage of students who have stood at the pinnacle of national and international exams study and contribute directly to the country?

Although he highly appreciates the contributions of Vietnamese scientists abroad, according to Professor Thai, direct contributions when working at research institutes and teaching at domestic training facilities are still of special importance.

Professor Do Duc Thai said that it is necessary to pilot a number of breakthrough mechanisms as proposed by the Ministry of Education and Training such as allowing students to skip grades, study for dual degrees, etc., but the most important thing is not to graduate 1-2 years early, but what opportunities they have after graduation and how they can contribute to the country.

At the conference, the representative of the Ministry of Education and Training also shared that he was "very concerned" that we had many forms of honor and reward for students who won prizes in exams, but when they entered the advanced training stage, the policies were "left open", while their learning and dedication path was still very long.

At the conference, the Ministry of Education and Training also said that in the near future, it will develop a project on selecting, nurturing, training, using, and rewarding talented, key, and gifted personnel (including excellent students and Olympic winners).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chung-ta-can-giai-thuong-hay-can-dao-tao-nhan-tai-185251107163953021.htm