Ha Tinh: Seizing the opportunity to 'pass the exam'

GD&TĐ - These days, at vocational education and continuing education centers and vocational schools in Ha Tinh, the atmosphere of preparing for the high school graduation exam is at its peak.

Behind these extra tutoring sessions lies the persistent effort of teachers to help students pass important exams and secure their educational and career opportunities.

"Keep the fire burning" in the final stretch.

At the Continuing Education Center of Ha Tinh province (Thanh Sen ward), teachers are entering the most intense phase of their teaching career. In the final-year classrooms, teachers are constantly reviewing exam questions, systematizing knowledge, and guiding students on test-taking skills, focusing on "solid foundations and minimizing failing grades." For many students here, this is an opportunity to overcome feelings of inferiority and setbacks in their previous academic journey.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Dong, Deputy Director of the center, said that the unit has a unique nature as it simultaneously undertakes many tasks. In recent years, the center has maintained enrollment in two classes each year; the 2023 class alone has 34 students.

The biggest challenge is the uneven quality of incoming students, with many having limited academic abilities, difficult circumstances, some having a history of violating the law, or facing the risk of dropping out. "This is a unique environment, so teachers must be patient, responsible, and compassionate. Some students need their confidence restored before their knowledge is regained," Ms. Dong said.

From the beginning of the year, the center developed a review plan closely following the guidelines of the Department of Education and Training and Circular 29. The initial phase focused on consolidating the foundation in Mathematics and Literature, then expanded to include History and Geography.

In addition to in-person teaching, the center promotes the application of information technology, organizes online learning, assigns homework through group classes, and conducts mock exams. Due to the wide range of student abilities, teachers divide students into groups according to their level to provide support. Weaker groups are prioritized to avoid failing grades, while stronger groups receive intensive practice with exam questions.

“The closer it gets to the exam, the more closely the teachers monitor the students. Many nights, teachers still call to remind them to study, assign homework, and correct assignments through online groups. Students who are athletes and frequently absent receive individual guidance and make up missed lessons,” Ms. Dong said. Currently, the center has 8 students who are athletes from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism's teams, and their demanding training schedule makes studying very difficult.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, a math teacher, shared: "Many students are studying and practicing at the same time, which puts a lot of pressure on them. Teachers have to make the most of every moment to support them. Sometimes, even late at night, they are still preparing assignments, sending out homework, and giving extra lectures over the phone."

Mai Quoc Phong, a member of the football team, said that in addition to training from 7 to 9 hours every day, he still tries to study diligently and asks his friends for support. “Even when I come home late from practice, the teacher still sends me assignments and calls to give me individual guidance. The teachers don't abandon weaker students, so we have more motivation,” Phong said.

For many years, the graduation exam results of the Continuing Education Center of Ha Tinh province have been the best in the entire province's continuing education system. According to the teachers, this result comes from a "slow but steady" teaching method, persistently keeping students in the class.

In 2026, Ha Tinh Vocational College will have 346 12th-grade students taking the high school graduation exam.

No student is left behind.

At the Thach Ha Vocational Training and Continuing Education Center (Thach Ha commune), 268 12th-grade students are entering the final stage of their exams with a sense of urgency. Teachers are focusing on systematizing core knowledge, correcting mistakes, and guiding students on how to familiarize themselves with the exam structure.

Ms. Nguyen Hai Vinh, a geography teacher and homeroom teacher of class 12B, said that this year's geography exam structure consists of three distinct parts: multiple-choice questions at the recognition level, true-false questions focusing on application, and short-answer questions with simple calculations. "Students have basically completed the curriculum. Teachers are now focusing on consolidating knowledge and selecting appropriate exam questions for review," she said.

The academic level of students in the continuing education system is mostly average, with some even weak, so teachers prioritize the fundamentals. "First, we need to help them build a solid foundation to achieve around 3 points, then gradually improve. Teaching too quickly or with too much information will cause many students to run out of breath and lose confidence."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Luong, Head of the Continuing Education Department, said that students have varying learning abilities but most are conscientious. "Teachers make the most of class time, and in addition to in-person classes, they also create assignments, teach online, provide tips and tricks for answering questions, and focus on the easy parts to score points on."

Since December, teachers have been teaching by topic and then moving on to exam preparation. Each lesson consists of three periods, including a separate tutoring session for weaker students. Outside of class time, teachers continue to provide support through online groups.

Currently, the center has 8 classes, with facility 1 alone having 97 students in 3 classes. The unit has been reinforced with 3 seconded teachers to serve in exam preparation. Following the mock exam organized by the Department, the center is reviewing and classifying students to adjust the plan. Last academic year, the graduation rate reached 97.9%.

According to teachers, the biggest pressure on students in continuing education programs is low self-esteem and the risk of giving up; therefore, teachers must also be there to encourage them. Vo Phuong Thuy, a student in class 12B, shared: "After each mock exam, the teachers carefully analyze our mistakes so that we can learn from them, which makes me more confident."

After the competition days, Mai Quoc Phong (sitting in the middle – a student from the Continuing Education Center of Ha Tinh province) and his friends gathered to review and prepare for the exam.

Open up more career opportunities.

At vocational schools, efforts are also being focused on supporting 12th-grade students. Ly Tu Trong Vocational School (Can Loc) is implementing review sessions tailored to the abilities of each group. Principal Tran Dinh Long stated that last year's graduation rate was nearly 100%, which is both a source of joy and a challenge to maintain.

"The school groups students into appropriate courses at the beginning of the year, and also strengthens coordination with high schools to receive professional support, training, and additional teachers," Mr. Long said.

At Ha Tinh Vocational College (Thanh Sen Ward), right after the first semester, the school developed a streamlined exam preparation plan that closely followed the exam structure. Mr. Nguyen Viet Duan, the Vice Principal, emphasized that the most difficult thing is keeping students on track with the curriculum until the exam day.

"Teachers not only teach in the classroom but also regularly contact parents to understand their children's psychology. Students showing signs of neglect are promptly encouraged and reminded." Many teachers take advantage of the evenings to assign homework, correct assignments online, and monitor learning progress through group chats.

For many students in continuing education and vocational schools, a high school diploma doesn't necessarily open up a vast future, but without it, the doors to employment and further education will narrow considerably. Therefore, behind the hours of exam preparation lies the perseverance of teachers in cherishing every opportunity and instilling confidence in their students to overcome this important exam.

Currently, Ha Tinh province has 44 high schools, 1 provincial continuing education center, and 8 vocational training centers that organize review sessions for 12th-grade students. This year, the province has 18,661 registered candidates, including 15,329 from regular high schools, 3,332 from continuing education programs , and 921 independent candidates who have already graduated. Prior to this, the Ha Tinh Department of Education and Training organized a mock exam at 38 testing locations with 17,734 out of 17,755 students and trainees participating, aiming to familiarize candidates with the official exam and assess the quality of their review.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/ha-tinh-chat-chiu-co-hoi-vuot-vu-mon-post778635.html