As Thanh Nien newspaper reported, on forums for Hanoi students, the results of the first semester exams have been a hot topic of discussion in recent days. A shared report card caused a stir when a high school student with an average score of 9.5, despite being classified as an excellent student, ranked only 38th in the class… While many expressed surprise at the number of “super students” in the class, many students commented understandingly, saying that this is not uncommon and that students can get whatever grades they want.
Meanwhile, according to the admission guidelines for the 6th grade at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for Gifted Students, students must achieve 167 points out of a total of 17 end-of-year tests, meaning they can only have a maximum of 3 scores of 9 in elementary school, and all other scores must be 10 to be eligible to register for the entrance exam. Furthermore, parents even had to submit a collective petition to the Hanoi Department of Education and Training because their children, despite having "all 10s," were not assessed as having "excellently completed" the program and therefore were not allowed to take the entrance exam for the 6th grade at this school.
The emphasis on grades remains significant in college admissions, which still require consideration of "impressive" academic transcripts.
In Hanoi, there are several other high-quality secondary schools such as Cau Giay, Le Loi (Ha Dong), Thanh Xuan, and Nam Tu Liem, which also apply a similar rigorous admissions process. Many parents admit that to register their children for the entrance exam at these schools, they must have a "strategy" from the moment their children enter first grade, focusing on how to create a "good" report card and avoiding grades of 9 in the end-of-semester and end-of-year tests. Therefore, although the Ministry of Education and Training has long issued circulars and guidelines to change the assessment of primary school students towards minimizing grading, schools and parents still place great emphasis on grades.
Students bear the brunt of it.
Responding to the above information, many readers believe that this is due to adults, including parents, chasing after academic achievements. "I don't understand why so many parents want their children to be first or second place when equipping them with soft skills is also very necessary. Seeing students struggling to attend extra classes shows that while the pressure of grades is gone, the pressure of competition still exists. If this isn't addressed thoroughly, the children will suffer the most," commented reader Minh Khoi.
Similarly, commenter Thanh Nhàn stated: "Grades only reflect one aspect; they cannot fully capture the current state of education . Often, even without grades, teachers and schools compete with each other, putting considerable pressure on students. Children learn to acquire knowledge, not to compete with one another."
Besides pointing out the "achievement-oriented disease" among schools, between lower and higher levels, and among parents that students suffer from, many opinions also suggest that it is necessary to consider whether the reform of assessment is being implemented seriously, and to immediately address any remaining obstacles to ensure effective implementation. "It's not enough to just say 'reform' and be done with it. We need to seriously consider whether this issue has been thoroughly implemented and what remaining problems need to be addressed. Because if, even after reform, schools, teachers, and parents still chase after achievements, students will continue to suffer," commented Phuc Nguyen.
Sharing the same viewpoint, commenter Tran Minh wrote: "We strive to train and study to become wiser, not to compete with each other. For me, reforming assessment is necessary, but it must be done comprehensively. If the pressure of grades is gone but competition between schools and students remains, then pressure is unavoidable. And the more pressure there is, the harder it is to achieve high effectiveness."
"The purpose of grades is evaluation; they must maintain their proper function. The first priority is to avoid the obsession with achievement in schools. Social awareness needs to change, to eliminate discrimination based on low grades. A child who excels in math or literature should simply maintain and develop those abilities. For related subjects, an above-average grade is sufficient for them to be considered excellent. Therefore, if a child is identified as strong in math and needs more time to study, the school should offer separate enrichment classes and reduce the time spent on other supplementary subjects like art, music , and physical education. Only then can we have a flexible, educational, and talent-nurturing education system," analyzed Mr. Xoi Bap.
The issue here isn't about grades, but about the obsession with achievement among schools, and between lower and higher levels.
Qingming Festival
Abolishing admissions based on academic transcripts is the right decision; it is precisely this system that results in students having grades of only 9s and 10s.
Zhongshan
Even without grades, as long as the competitive mindset remains, students will still feel pressure. Why not consider combining academics with extracurricular activities, which would both reduce pressure on young people and help them develop soft skills?
Duy Sang
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