Don't let yourself get "burned out" when you start school.

According to the 2018 General Education Program, which has been applied at the high school level for the past two years, starting from grade 10, students have been able to choose elective subjects linked to their future career orientation. Therefore, to prepare students with a foundation of knowledge and opportunities to choose suitable professions, high schools are building subject combinations in a scientific and appropriate manner.

INCREASE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO CHOOSE THEIR FAVORITE SUBJECTS.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training is expected to announce the enrollment quotas for 10th grade in the 2024-2025 school year in mid-April.

Bui Thi Xuan High School (District 1) plans to enroll 17 Grade 10 classes (including 2 integrated English classes) with a total of 745 students. The school has also developed 5 elective subject combinations for parents to consider before choosing their children's preferences. These combinations include physics, chemistry, computer science, biology or geography; physics, chemistry, computer science, economics and law education; or technology… Mr. Huynh Thanh Phu, the school's principal, stated that the school developed these combinations based on traditional university entrance exam criteria and the competency assessment framework of universities.

Ninth-grade students in Ho Chi Minh City will take the 10th-grade entrance exam in early June this year.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Huu Huan High School (Thu Duc City) plans to enroll 17 classes of 10th graders with 695 students, including 10 regular classes, 2 integrated English classes, and 5 specialized classes in mathematics, physics, chemistry, literature, and English. Compared to the 2023-2024 school year, the enrollment quota for specialized and integrated 10th grade classes remains stable for the next school year, while the quota for regular 10th grade classes is expected to decrease by 2 classes.

Mr. Phung Nhat Anh, Vice Principal of Nguyen Huu Huan High School, said that the school has adjusted the organization of elective subjects for the upcoming school year compared to the 2023-2024 school year, aiming to increase students' opportunities to choose their favorite subjects. Accordingly, in addition to the seven groups of elective subjects, including: physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science; physics, chemistry, biology, and technology; physics, chemistry, biology, and economics… this year the school plans to create two subject combinations that include art ( music ).

Similarly, for the 2024-2025 school year, Nguyen Thuong Hien High School (Tan Binh District) plans to enroll 16 10th-grade classes, including 5 specialized classes in mathematics, physics, chemistry, literature, and English, a reduction of 3 regular 10th-grade classes compared to the previous school year.

Mr. Lam Trieu Nghi, Principal of Nguyen Thuong Hien High School, said that the school does not pre-structure subject groups; students and parents choose their own subjects, except for art and music, due to the lack of teachers. Based on the choices, the school organizes classes to fulfill students' learning aspirations in each chosen subject.

The way people choose their 10th-grade school preferences is changing.

Ms. Bui Minh Tam, Principal of Le Quy Don High School (District 3), shared that previously, parents' choices for public high schools were often based solely on the admission scores matching their children's academic abilities and the quality of education offered by the schools. Consequently, parents tended to favor high schools with high-quality education. However, with high schools implementing the 2018 General Education Program, this selection trend is no longer appropriate.

According to the Principal of Le Quy Don High School, currently, due to the specific characteristics of each high school's facilities, teaching staff resources, and educational goals, the organization of elective subjects varies; no two schools are alike. Therefore, when choosing 10th-grade options, in addition to factors such as academic ability and the educational performance of the desired high school, parents need to further research the school's approach to elective subjects and its educational environment to see if it aligns with the career aspirations of the student and their family.

Factors influencing college application choices

According to the assessment of the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, based on the reality of the 2023-2024 school year, many parents and 9th-grade students still do not thoroughly understand the 2018 General Education Program at the high school level when registering their children for 10th grade. Therefore, this leads to situations where, upon entering school, students do not have the elective subjects their families desire; or during their studies, students want to change subjects because they are not suitable for their abilities and strengths.

Parents submit applications for their children's admission to 10th grade for the 2023-2024 school year. Choosing subject combinations is a crucial step when entering 10th grade according to the 2018 General Education Program.

To register for the right high school, according to Ms. Nguyen Xuan Mai, Deputy Head of the Examination Department of the Department of Education and Training, parents need to choose a high school near their home that matches their child's academic ability. To find a school that matches their child's academic ability, they need to refer to the admission scores of schools for the past three years and compare them with each student's academic results.

Ms. Mai said that every year, when registering for school, many parents do not pay attention to the distance from home to school. After being admitted, the long daily commute to school will also affect the students' academic results.

In addition, each high school will have a teaching plan that suits the abilities of its incoming students. If students choose a school that doesn't match their academic abilities, even if they are admitted, they may face difficulties keeping up with their peers because their academic level is insufficient, thus affecting their academic results.

Specifically, Ms. Nguyen Xuan Mai noted that since the 2018 General Education Program is now being implemented at the high school level, students must choose a combination of four elective subjects from nine subjects at the beginning of the 10th grade, based on their abilities and interests, and aligned with their career orientation. Therefore, from the time of choosing their preferences, parents and students need to carefully research how the school organizes the elective subject groups. This will prevent situations where, upon admission, students discover that the school does not offer the elective subjects they desired, which could negatively impact their academic results.

"Parents need to accompany and closely monitor their children to understand their abilities and strengths in which subjects, and what career paths they have in the field, thereby guiding them to make appropriate and accurate choices. In addition, parents need to listen to what their children want, avoiding imposing their own desires on them, which will create pressure. Students should also seek advice from their homeroom teacher and subject teachers because they understand their abilities best," advised Ms. Nguyen Xuan Mai.

Meanwhile, Mr. Pham Quang Cuong, Vice Principal of Tay Thanh High School (Tan Phu District), believes that the 2018 General Education Program provides an opportunity for each high school to create its own unique characteristics through the organization of elective subjects and educational activities. The quality of education is not only reflected in educational results but also in the training environment, playgrounds, and educational activities that allow students to develop comprehensively. Therefore, before registering their preferences, parents and students should take the time to research the school, avoiding choices based on emotion.

The Department of Education and Training is building a database for parents and students to refer to.

To address the limitations in the application process for high school admissions this year, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has developed a website to centralize admissions data for high schools, supporting parents and students in the application process and aiming to help students choose the most suitable options based on their abilities and career aspirations.

Mr. Nguyen Vo Dang Khoa, Deputy Head of the Examination Department of the Department of Education and Training, provided specific information: the website offers details on enrollment quotas and the organization of elective subjects for 10th grade in the 2024-2025 school year for each high school; it also provides the 10th grade entrance exam scores for each school over the past three school years, along with images of the educational environment of each school, for parents' reference. In addition, the website will also provide contact phone numbers for the admissions counseling department of each high school so that parents can proactively contact them when they need advice or answers.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/chon-nguyen-vong-vao-lop-10-dung-de-duoi-suc-khi-vao-hoc-185240401200050912.htm