Child stressed about racing to get into 10th grade, mother worried to the point of having to see a psychiatrist

With a son about to enter the public 10th grade entrance exam, instead of being excited or hopeful, Ms. Pham Lan Phuong (42 years old, Hoang Mai, Hanoi ) has been living in a state of heavy anxiety for many weeks now. For her, the 10th grade entrance exam has long ceased to be a normal exam, but has become a fierce competition.

"This year, there are about 30,000 ninth graders who cannot get into public schools - reading those forecast figures makes my heart sink, I wonder if my child is among them?" , the female parent sighed.

Her son is in the group of good students, his grades are not bad but he does not stand out in the increasingly competitive environment. Although he tried hard during his final year, with the large amount of knowledge and heavy psychological pressure, that progress is not enough to bring Ms. Phuong peace of mind.

This year, nearly 30,000 students in Hanoi have no place in public 10th grade. (Illustration photo)

“I understand that my child is under a lot of pressure and stress right before the exam. Although I want to encourage him to try harder, I don’t know where things will go. If he fails, my family will have to face a difficult problem,” she said.

There are many solutions for students who fail public schools, from private schools to continuing education centers or vocational schools, but according to Ms. Phuong, each solution comes with many worries.

“Good private schools have high tuition fees, up to tens of millions of dong per year, not to mention other expenses. With an income of nearly 30 million dong per month, my husband and I can barely cover the expenses, we can hardly afford it. As for continuing education centers or vocational training, I am really not confident about the environment, quality and future learning opportunities for my child,” the female parent expressed.

Ms. Phuong's story is just a small slice of the general picture of the worries of families with children preparing to take the entrance exam to grade 10 public schools in Hanoi. Ms. Tran Thi Hanh (45 years old, Dong Da district) also lived through days of "sleepless eating" with her child sprinting to grade 10.

“My child studies from morning to night. After class, he goes to extra classes, and then studies by himself until midnight. One day, I entered his room and saw him asleep on the table, still holding a pen tightly,” Ms. Hanh said sadly. Although she always encouraged her child that “failing is not the end”, deep down, she still had a nameless worry.

She has been "stressing" herself for her daughter's 10th grade entrance exam for nearly two years now. From the time her daughter studied for the exam, chose her preferences until the day of the exam, the fatigue and stress almost exploded.

During these peak days, her daughter had trouble sleeping, stopped eating, and was extremely anxious. If she wasn’t sullen and brooding, she would be irritable, angry, and even scream in the middle of the night.

Not only her children, but Ms. Hanh herself also fell into such a state of insecurity. She was always restless, fidgety, irritable, had trouble sleeping, had sudden mood swings, was ineffective at work and gained weight uncontrollably. Knowing that things were not going well, last weekend, she discussed with her husband going to a psychiatric clinic to ask the doctor for psychological counseling.

One of the things that worries female parents the most is: if their children fail the public school entrance exam, where will they study? Can alternative options ensure the quality of education and future for their children?

"No parent wants their child to fall into the failed admission group. No student wants to stop halfway just because they cannot get into a public school. No one wants their child to have to drop out of school just because their family's circumstances do not allow it," Ms. Hanh said.

The fierce competition to get into public grade 10 schools in Hanoi makes students and parents worried and stressed. (Illustration photo)

According to Mr. Nguyen Viet Dung, a Physics teacher in Hanoi, parents should look at the fierce competition of the 10th grade entrance exam realistically, instead of just worrying or hoping for luck.

"The public school system is always prioritized because of its low cost and stable quality, but in the context of high competition, sticking to only one path is too risky. Parents need to consider other options soon," said Mr. Dung.

Many parents still have the mentality that failing a public school means failure. This not only puts students under great pressure, but also puts the whole family in a state of stress if the results are not as expected. According to the male teacher, many parents are underestimating alternative education models, while in reality, many non-public schools are now systematically invested in, focusing on developing personal capacity, soft skills and integration ability for students.

In addition, the vocational education system following the model of parallel cooperation with businesses is also creating practical opportunities and a solid future for students. "The key is to choose a plan that suits each student's ability and personal orientation, instead of trying to impose a common standard called public school," Mr. Dung emphasized.

This year, out of 127,000 junior high school graduates, more than 103,456 students registered for the 10th grade public high school entrance exam. Meanwhile, the total enrollment target for 10th grade assigned by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training to 115 non-specialized public schools is 75,670, the remaining nearly 30,000 students can choose private schools, vocational education centers, continuing education centers or vocational colleges and junior colleges that offer the 9+ program.
Regarding this figure, Mr. Tran The Cuong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, said that the capital's education sector has tried very hard to increase the rate of students admitted to grade 10 of public high schools to 64%, higher than the 60-61% of previous school years.

Kim Anh

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/con-cang-thang-chay-dua-vao-lop-10-me-lo-toi-muc-phai-kham-tam-than-ar944268.html