'My child is about to take the 10th grade exam, my whole family is speechless'

With the 10th grade entrance exam for public high schools in nearly 3 weeks, the atmosphere in the family of Ms. Doan Diep Anh (43 years old, Dong Da district, Hanoi) has become more tense than ever. Her daughter studies diligently, from school to center, from early morning until 1-2 am, while the couple is always in a state of anxiety and restlessness.

“This whole week, my family has been almost mute, always in a state of silence, no one dares to talk much for fear of distracting the child. Many times I want to encourage them, but I don't know what to say," Ms. Diep Anh sighed.

Living in an apartment building, she often has to deal with noise at night when children are playing around. Wanting her children to have a quiet space to study, she proactively talked to the neighbors and reminded the children to keep order.

" Luckily, everyone understood and cooperated enthusiastically, creating the best conditions for my child to focus on studying," the female parent said. During the peak exam preparation period, she and her husband temporarily sent their youngest daughter, who was only 5 years old, to her grandparents' house to take care of her. Many nights, she stayed up all night to closely monitor her child's studies, looking at the clock every few hours, intending to remind her because she was worried that her child was studying too hard, but then hesitated, afraid that her child was not prepared enough.

Pressure and stress "surround" students preparing for the 10th grade entrance exam. (Illustration photo)

After the Hanoi Department of Education and Training announced the competition rate for grade 10, Ms. Diep Anh's family's worries multiplied.

This year, her daughter registered her first choice at Kim Lien High School, one of the most competitive schools with a competition ratio of up to 2.15, meaning that on average, only one out of two students will pass. Her second choice, Dong Da High School, is no less stressful, with a competition ratio of 2.10. Both schools are on the list of hottest spots in this year's exam.

"I know my child's academic performance is not bad, but looking at the competition ratio, my heart almost jumped out of my chest. No one in the family said anything, but everyone was as tense as a guitar string," said Ms. Diep Anh. The family's finances are not good enough to send her daughter to a private school, so the female parent hopes that her daughter will be admitted to a public school, which will both reduce the tuition burden and provide a stable learning environment.

Also having a child preparing to enter the 10th grade public school exam this year, Ms. Nguyen Hoang Anh (40 years old, Hoang Mai, Hanoi) often falls into a state of insomnia and constant headaches due to anxiety. Deep down, she cannot help but panic with the thought, if her child unfortunately fails, how will the family manage?

"Recently, my house has been absolutely quiet. My husband likes to listen to music, but he has to turn the volume down as much as possible, and some days he doesn't even dare to turn it on. From adults to children, everyone has to be considerate, walk gently, don't speak loudly, don't make noise, regardless of whether the child is studying or resting, as long as it doesn't affect the child's psychology," Ms. Hoang Anh shared.

The female parent also pays special attention to the meals at home. She chooses to cook dishes that are both nutritious and easy to digest, hoping that her child will have enough energy without feeling full or tired.

"There was a day when I spent the whole weekend cooking, carefully preparing each dish, but when I brought it up, my child didn't touch the chopsticks. I was very angry, but I still had to endure it, not daring to blame him," she recounted. Knowing that her child was stressed about studying for the exam, the parents' mood was no better.

Accompanying their children in the 10th grade entrance exam for public schools, many parents in Hanoi admitted that they felt more pressure than the candidates. (Illustration photo)

According to Ms. Vu Thi Thuy Hang, a Literature teacher in Hanoi, the reason why the competition for admission to grade 10 at public high schools in big cities like Hanoi is becoming increasingly tense is because of the common mentality of many parents, who always want their children to pass the entrance exam to a good public school at all costs.

The female teacher believes that parents should be a strong spiritual support, instead of a source of pressure. "Don't let excessive expectations become a burden on children's shoulders. Show your concern through simple but meaningful actions such as timely encouragement, a favorite meal, or simply listening to your child after a tiring day of studying," the female teacher said.

Ms. Hang noted that parents themselves need to learn how to stay calm. Stress from adults is easily transmitted and creates pressure on children. A calm, optimistic attitude from parents will help create a stable environment, helping children feel more secure and confident during the exam preparation period.

Many parents, because they are so anxious, unintentionally turn their home into a "second exam room", where their children always feel watched, supervised and have to strain to meet expectations. Losing their temper or constantly reminding children to "try your best" or "don't disappoint your parents" although well-intentioned, puts children in a state of prolonged stress.

"Parents' calm and optimistic attitude is a valuable spiritual medicine. When parents stay calm and trust instead of pressuring, children will feel secure and empowered," the female teacher emphasized.

Compared to other provinces and cities, in Hanoi, the high school exam is considered extremely fierce.

This year, of the 127,000 junior high school graduates, more than 103,456 students registered for the 10th grade public high school entrance exam. Of which, the total enrollment target for grade 10 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.

Mr. Tran The Cuong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, said that the capital's education sector is trying very hard to increase the rate of students admitted to grade 10 of public high schools to 64%, higher than the rate of 60-61% of previous school years.

Kim Nhung

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/con-sap-thi-lop-10-ca-nha-toi-nhu-bi-cam-ar943080.html