The 10th grade exam has three subjects: math, literature, and English, causing students to focus on studying hard and ignore important subjects.

Prof. Dr. Do Duc Thai - Faculty of Mathematics and Information Technology, Hanoi National University of Education spoke at the program - Photo: NGUYEN BAO

The above content was shared by Prof. Dr. Do Duc Thai - Faculty of Mathematics and Information Technology, Hanoi National University of Education at the training program to improve capacity to implement the general education program in 2018.

The number of candidates taking the high school graduation exam in natural sciences has decreased.

According to Mr. Thai, the "core" problems that still exist in the implementation of the 2018 general education program can only be solved by "correctly diagnosing the disease".

Four main existing problems were raised, including standardizing the program; innovating teaching methods; career orientation for students; and examinations and educational assessment.

According to him, statistics from the Department of Quality Management (Ministry of Education and Training) show that in recent years the number of 12th graders registering for graduation exams (and university admissions) in majors related to natural sciences and technology has been decreasing.

The above situation will be more serious when the 2018 general education program is fully implemented in all 12 grades, combined with the high school graduation exam plan that has changed since 2025.

Explaining the decline, according to him, in the 2018 general education program, students entering grade 10 must choose 4 elective subjects in addition to the compulsory subjects. When taking the high school graduation exam, most students only take the high school graduation exam in 2 of those 4 elective subjects.

If physics is not included in the 4 elective subjects, students cannot take the high school graduation exam in physics, and therefore cannot apply for university admission to majors that include physics in the admission combination.

"Career orientation for students is not in grades 11 and 12, but must start from junior high school, so that students can choose the right combination of elective subjects when entering high school," Mr. Thai emphasized.

Grade 10 exam is a "national matter"

According to Mr. Thai, exams are the final step but have a big impact on the implementation of the 2018 general education program.

He believes that the 10th grade entrance exam also needs drastic changes, because currently most localities are choosing the 10th grade entrance exam to revolve around three subjects: math, literature, and English.

To compete for a place in public grade 10, right from the beginning of junior high school, the whole family, school and teachers and students all focus on studying these 3 subjects and ignore other subjects, including natural sciences such as physics, chemistry, biology...

"When students do not study natural sciences, they do not understand the subject and it is difficult to choose a natural science combination when entering high school," said Mr. Thai, adding that this is the beginning of a vicious cycle, causing imbalance in the vocational training structure, human resource structure, and shortage of human resources to serve the policy of promoting science and technology and digital transformation.

For the 10th grade entrance exam, Mr. Thai suggested that in addition to the math and literature exams, there should be a comprehensive exam with the content of all subjects evaluated by scores in middle school.

"The 10th grade entrance exam is no longer a matter of the education sector, but a matter of national importance! That risk must be taken seriously right now to avoid the problem becoming more serious and more difficult to solve," said Mr. Thai.

Going back to teaching physics, chemistry, and biology separately is "talking back, not doing"

There is currently a stream of opinion that secondary schools must abandon natural science and return to teaching three separate subjects, physics, chemistry, and biology. He thinks this is a harmful stream of opinion, "talking back, not doing".

The development and early promulgation of a set of standards for the natural science program in secondary schools, as well as a set of standards for teachers teaching this subject, will contribute to solving the root question: "Is natural science taught by one or three teachers? How is the teaching schedule arranged? How is testing and evaluation conducted?".

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thi-lop-10-ba-mon-toan-van-tieng-anh-khien-hoc-sinh-don-suc-hoc-gao-bo-qua-mon-quan-trong-20250410142343016.htm