Specialized junior high school system: Hesitating in training.

Middle school students of Amsterdam Specialized High School. Photo: NTCC.

A specific mechanism will be proposed.

In a document sent to the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, the Ministry of Education and Training stated that, based on Clause 1, Article 62 of the Education Law 43/2019/QH14, specialized schools are established at the high school level; therefore, there is no junior high school level within specialized schools. The enrollment into non-specialized classes of specialized high schools, as stipulated in Circular 06/2012 and Circular 12/2014, will continue until the end of the 2023-2024 school year.

Thus, compared to the old circular from 2012, the new regulation requires "no non-specialized classes in specialized schools" from 2024. Following this regulation, all specialized schools nationwide announced they would stop recruiting students for near-specialized programs or high-quality classes.

In recent years, both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have had specialized junior high school systems within specialized high schools. In Hanoi, this is Hanoi - Amsterdam Specialized High School; in Ho Chi Minh City, it is Tran Dai Nghia Specialized High School.

Regarding the Ministry's directive, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training leadership stated that the implementation of the junior high school program within Hanoi's specialized high schools has been maintained for nearly 30 years and has yielded good results in producing high-quality students. The Department will continue to propose to the Ministry of Education and Training the continuation of the high-quality junior high school program at these schools under a special mechanism.

The legal basis for organizing a high-quality lower secondary school system and training specialized students at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted is the Law on the Capital City. Specifically, Article 12 of the Law on the Capital City states: Establishing a number of high-quality preschool and general education institutions in the Capital City according to criteria regarding facilities, teaching staff, curriculum, teaching methods, and educational services. Enrollment in these high-quality educational institutions is voluntary.

In addition, another basis is Decision No. 5029 dated September 29, 2009, of the Hanoi People's Committee on piloting a high-level training system for junior high school students and training specialized students at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted...

The Hanoi Department of Education and Training announced that it is developing a plan and methods for enrollment at the beginning of each school year, including preschool, grade 1, grade 6, and grade 10 for the 2024-2025 school year, to report to the Hanoi People's Committee, in strict compliance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training. At the same time, the Department is also researching and advising the city on proposing a special mechanism with appropriate solutions for enrollment in specialized high schools, based on meeting the aspirations of parents and students and ensuring the quality of education in key areas of the capital city.

The law has clearly stipulated this.

News about the discontinuation of enrollment in the specialized junior high school program at Amsterdam High School for the Gifted is causing mixed reactions. Some express regret, but many others believe this demonstrates equality and fairness in access to education for all students.

Ms. Chu Thi An Trang, residing in the Linh Dam new urban area (Hoang Mai district, Hanoi), believes that parents should reduce the academic pressure on their children. After all, education is just a stepping stone and a preparation for life; therefore, parents should allow their children to have enjoyable, fun, and relaxed experiences throughout their learning journey. According to Ms. Trang's analysis, although the junior high school section within a specialized high school isn't officially called a specialized school, because Hanoi is the only leading specialized high school with such a junior high school section, parents themselves are often confused about the concept of a specialized junior high school. Many even go to great lengths to send their children to specialized schools just to follow the trend, like a fad.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Director of the Secondary Education Department (Ministry of Education and Training), stated that identifying and nurturing gifted students to create a pool of talent for specialized high schools is the responsibility of all junior high schools, not just a few prestigious and high-quality ones. Currently, junior high school is implementing universal education according to the Party and State's policy. Furthermore, the Education Law stipulates that specialized schools can only be established at the high school level.

Therefore, according to Mr. Thanh, whether or not to continue admitting students to the 6th grade at Amsterdam Specialized School in the junior high school category and the 6th grade at Tran Dai Nghia Specialized School in the junior high school category is not a matter of whether the Ministry of Education and Training allows it or not, but must be implemented in accordance with the law and regulations.

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