On October 25th and 26th, at Olympia Inter-level School in Hanoi , representatives from nearly 80 schools nationwide participated in the second season of the Olympia International Championship.
This English-language debate and public speaking competition aims to find the best contestants to represent Vietnam in prestigious global tournaments, including the Tournament of Champions (TOC) - the prestigious high school debate and public speaking competition of the University of Kentucky (USA), which is approximately 55 years old.
The most anticipated part of the competition was the debate for middle school students, focusing on a topical issue: Should we adopt a self-directed education model – empowering students to proactively choose their learning content, methods, pace, and goals instead of being completely constrained by the curriculum and teachers?
Three contestants, Nguyen Quang Vinh (Vinschool Grand Park, Ho Chi Minh City), Nguyen Ha Bao Nghi (Australian International School, Ho Chi Minh City), and Hu Suri Trinh (Vinschool Ocean Park, Hanoi), are among the supporters.
The three contestants are Nguyen Quang Vinh (Vinschool Grand Park, Ho Chi Minh City), Nguyen Ha Bao Nghi (Australian International School, Ho Chi Minh City), and Hu Suri Trinh (Vinschool Ocean Park, Hanoi) (Photo: Organizing Committee).
The group argues that the current education system places too much emphasis on grades while neglecting creative thinking, in-depth understanding, and personal development. Schools often focus on average students to boost their performance, while weaker or slower learners are left behind.
In addition, the dry, uninteractive lessons lead students to memorize information only for exams, rather than truly understanding the subject matter.
Conversely, a self-directed education model encourages students to question, explore , and understand the nature of knowledge. Teachers in this model are no longer simply dictating information to students, but rather become guides. As a result, education no longer creates "exam-taking machines," but instead nurtures individuals who can think critically, creatively, and adapt to modern life.
“We believe that education cannot be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Each student is a unique individual, and the school must respect that.”
Therefore, we assert that schools need to boldly adopt a self-directed education model – the only way for education to become fairer, more humane, and more substantive, preparing the younger generation not only for exams, but also for living, learning, and creating,” the group of supporting students emphasized.
In the group opposing the proposal, five students from Hanoi, including Khong Tien Lap (Chu Van An Secondary School), Mai Nhat Tung (Hanoi Star Secondary School), Do Dao Lan Vy and Vu Tuan Kiet (Archimedes Secondary School), and Nguyen Son Tung (Foreign Language Secondary School), presented compelling arguments to refute it.
The group of students who objected argued that the self-directed education model was impractical for the majority of students.
The group of students who won the junior high school debate category at the Olympia International Championship 2025 (Photo: Organizing Committee).
Children and teenagers often lack the experience, motivation, and discipline necessary to plan their studies long-term. If schools leave students entirely to decide, learning will become chaotic, disjointed, and ineffective.
Discipline is not something children are born with; it needs to be cultivated through systematic learning. When students follow schedules, complete assignments, and receive feedback from teachers, they learn how to manage their time and take responsibility for themselves.
The group of students also pointed out a reality: "Most children don't know exactly who they want to become in 10 years." Even some students are very bright, they still need discipline, a foundation, and guidance before they can make the right choices.
Furthermore, when education is individualized, students from affluent families with highly educated parents tend to progress more easily, while those from disadvantaged backgrounds are left behind. This inadvertently widens the educational gap between social classes.
Instead of creating equity, the self-directed education model easily makes learning a privilege reserved only for those with pre-existing advantages.
Another point sharply raised by the protesting students was that, in the future, employers won't be looking for people who "study what they like," but rather for individuals with the skills to learn, collaborate, and work with others.
In the end, this group of students won first place, earning the opportunity to go to the United States to participate in a debate competition at the University of Kentucky.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/hoc-sinh-tu-quyet-hoc-gi-hoc-the-nao-co-phai-la-mo-hinh-giao-duc-ly-tuong-20251026225735923.htm
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