Debate on the number of compulsory subjects

This year's 11th-grade students will be the first group of candidates to take the new high school graduation exam .

Should history be a compulsory or optional subject in the exams?

The government has just requested the Ministry of Education and Training to promptly research and announce a plan for the high school graduation exam starting in 2025, ensuring it is streamlined, effective, practical, reduces pressure and costs, and creates social consensus. The Ministry of Education and Training had previously proposed two options for public consultation:

• Option 1: Six subjects in the exam, including four compulsory subjects (mathematics, literature, history, and foreign language) and two elective subjects (from among the subjects students choose to study in grade 12).
• Option 2: 5 subjects, including 3 compulsory subjects (mathematics, literature, and foreign language) and 2 elective subjects from those already studied (including history). Students in the continuing education program do not take the foreign language exam.

High school administrators, teachers, and students have expressed differing opinions on these two options.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Dang Du, Head of the History Department at Le Quy Don High School (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City), expressed: "I support Option 1 because history is a compulsory subject like mathematics, literature, and foreign languages." Mr. Dang Du also suggested that the Ministry of Education and Training should publicly disclose the results of the opinion survey in a transparent manner so that when the official high school graduation exam plan is announced, "everyone will be convinced."

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Meanwhile, Master Huynh Thanh Phu, Principal of Bui Thi Xuan High School (District 1), maintained his stance on choosing option 2 (5 subjects, with history as an elective). Master Phu noted that having more subjects in the exam would increase the cost of organizing the exam. According to him, it is not necessary for students to take the high school graduation exam in history just because it is a compulsory subject.

In addition, Mr. Phu believes that students will feel more comfortable with option 2 because they can be proactive and flexible in choosing exam subjects according to their career orientation, developing their abilities and individual thinking.

These are 10th-grade students from Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School (District 3, Ho Chi Minh City). This is the second group of candidates taking the high school graduation exam under the 2018 general education program.

Which option did the students choose?

A vice principal of a high school in Can Gio district said: "The school's management board conducted a survey of students and teachers throughout the school regarding the graduation exam plan from 2025. Naturally, it is understandable that students chose option 2 (5 subjects and history as an elective)."

"Almost 100% of the teachers also chose option 2. Although history is a compulsory subject, students should be allowed to choose it because it depends on their aspirations and future career goals," the vice principal said.

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Nguyen Le Song Thuong (11th grade, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) believes that, except for students who are truly passionate about history and have career aspirations related to the subject, most students study history just to pass exams.

"If history were a compulsory subject, I think most students would just memorize it to pass the high school graduation exam. This would only add more pressure on students. Therefore, option 2 is the more suitable choice," Song Thuong shared.

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