Don't put pressure on your child when choosing a school.

This was the statement made by Mr. Lam Trieu Nghi, Principal of Nguyen Thuong Hien High School (Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City), at the online exchange "Choosing your preferences for 10th grade" organized by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper in coordination with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training on the afternoon of May 8th.

The online Q&A session "Choosing your preferences for 10th grade" featured the participation of many experts and teachers in Ho Chi Minh City.

During the exchange, Mr. Nghi shared that 15 and 16 are the most beautiful ages for students, as they are still very innocent. While academics are important, school psychology is equally crucial. When parents have overly high expectations and set unrealistically high standards for high schools, it unintentionally puts pressure on students during this period.

"I'm also a parent, and I have children going through the transition from middle school to high school. I understand the common concerns of parents. Choosing the right school means that when children come home from school, they are still happy, not exhausted from a pile of homework," Mr. Nghi shared.

Citing the example of many university graduates from top-tier institutions, even those with excellent grades, who still have to work in unrelated fields to make a living, Professor Nghi believes the main reason is that students haven't found a field of study they enjoy, one that suits their abilities and strengths.

Teacher Nghi stated that after the COVID-19 pandemic, the school had many students suffering from depression for various reasons, and the school had to seek psychological counseling experts and coordinate with parents to intervene. This demonstrates the importance of school psychology for students.

The principal of Nguyen Thuong Hien High School said that this year the school will still recruit 5 specialized classes: Mathematics, Literature, English, Physics, and Chemistry (35 students per class).

Sharing advice on how to register for 10th grade, Mr. Nguyen Phu Tan, Deputy Principal of Binh Phu High School (District 6), suggested that parents should first carefully review the average scores of the three subjects: Vietnamese Literature, Mathematics, and English, and also ask the subject teachers about their child's abilities.

"Based on that, we can calculate your child's provisional cutoff score. The first choice is one with a cutoff score slightly higher than your child's academic ability, the second choice is one that matches their current ability, and the third choice is a safe option with a cutoff score 3-4 points lower than their ability," Mr. Tan instructed.

Experts advise parents not to choose schools with admission scores that are too far above their child's academic ability, as failing to get into high school can cause immense psychological pressure. Instead, parents should listen to their children's thoughts and aspirations; create a sense of security for them; avoid chasing after achievements and choose schools that are within their child's reach; and prioritize schools near home for convenience and to ensure their child's health.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tuyen-sinh-lop-10-khong-gay-suc-ep-cho-con-khi-chon-truong-196240509123055493.htm