When the hat is too big for your head

Nowadays, a grade of 8 is considered a failure for students, especially in elementary school. For middle and high school students, that number is a 7. Because of this, it's very rare to see a student in the press, media, social networks, or anywhere else who isn't considered a top student.

In the years before 2000, or in more advanced education systems, finding students with excellent or outstanding academic results was very difficult; very few classes or schools had a rate above 10%. The majority were average or below-average students. Even achieving an average grade was considered an honor. Now, the numbers and percentages are the same, only the majority are excellent or outstanding students, and average or below-average students are very rare.

Some parents are delighted with their children's grades, and some teachers are pleased with their students' achievements. However, this is only a part of the picture, not all. Anyone truly dedicated to education feels uneasy about this.

Looking back at the education system throughout different periods, most reforms have been considered "steps backward," with each innovation leading to complaints about the curriculum being too burdensome. The previous curriculum was considered relatively simple and manageable, yet it was very difficult for students to achieve scores of 9 or 10. An average grade above 8 in any subject was considered exceptional, leading to selection into gifted student teams… An overall average grade above 8 for an entire school year was extremely rare, mostly falling into the 6s or 7s… And the more prestigious the school's educational quality, the more selective or high-quality the classes, the harder it was to achieve high grades.

The current education program is causing a stir among experts, teachers, and parents alike, who are complaining about its excessive workload and high demands on students, with increasingly comprehensive requirements that everyone wants to reduce. However, grades are the opposite of before, mostly 10s and 9s, with very few 6s, 7s, or 8s.

With such flawless grades, does this mean students are better at academics now? Many teachers have shared their feelings of pressure, not because of the work in the classroom or the students' misbehavior, but because the school administration doesn't accept students who are underperforming or repeating a grade. If students perform poorly, they believe the fault lies with the teachers, not the students… This pressure is especially intense now that academic transcripts have become a method of university admissions. Therefore, in many schools and institutions, 100% of high school students in their 12th grade are considered excellent or outstanding.

This is an anomaly in the current education system. This anomaly has been creating immense, invisible insecurity. First, there is insecurity in society, as trust in schools and the education system has been severely shaken. There is also insecurity for those who grade these scores, if they are truly dedicated and conscientious educators. For parents, these excellent scores do not bring satisfaction; instead, they worry about their children's true abilities. And, as in other aspects of life, for many students, these outstanding scores do not bring pride; for some, they even bring shame, like wearing a hat that is too big for them.

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