GDTX Center strives to overcome prejudice

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATE INCREASES

According to statistics from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, in the 2024 high school graduation exam, the rate of high school students passing the graduation exam was 99.8%, while the rate in the vocationaleducation - continuing education system (GDNN-GDTX, abbreviated as GDTX) was 97.39%. About 10 years ago, this rate in the GDTX system was only 70%. In addition, students from about 30 GDTX centers in Ho Chi Minh City when participating in the university and college entrance exam had an admission rate of 50 - 70%, depending on the center.

During a class at Chu Van An Continuing Education Center (District 5, Ho Chi Minh City). This is one of the centers with many activities to attract students.

PHOTO: BAO CHAU

Referring to the above transformation, the leader of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training said that in recent years, Ho Chi Minh City has invested in the continuing education system so that the centers are no longer much different from high schools. Teachers are also recruited together with the system of high schools under the Department of Education and Training.

In addition, according to the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, it is also necessary to mention the efforts of these educational institutions themselves in constantly improving quality through innovation and creativity in teaching activities to adapt and effectively implement the 2018 General Education Program.

In fact, the GDTX system is increasingly attractive to students and parents. This is most evident in the 2024 grade 10 admissions, when after only one week, many centers announced that they had stopped enrolling because they had reached their quota.

The leader of the Tan Phu District Continuing Education Center said that normally the enrollment period for the Continuing Education system lasts through July, even through August, but in 2024, just after the first week since students knew the benchmark scores for the 10th grade public exam, the center posted a notice to stop enrollment. After that, many more parents and students came to submit their applications, but the center could not accept any more because it had reached its quota.

Similarly, the Director of the Binh Tan District Continuing Education Center said that for the 2024 enrollment season, before the 10th grade exam scores were released, the center had enrolled more than 200 students. These were students who chose not to take the public 10th grade exam but instead enrolled directly in the Continuing Education Center to continue their studies. About a week after the city announced the 10th grade benchmark scores, the center had recruited enough students.

Parents and students submit applications at the Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center of Hoc Mon District, Ho Chi Minh City in 2024.

Photo: PHUC DUY

C STRATEGY TO "HOLD" STUDENTS

Sharing about the appeal of the Continuing Education system, Mr. Do Minh Hoang, Director of Chu Van An Continuing Education Center (District 5, Ho Chi Minh City), said that this educational environment is suitable for students with average academic performance. When studying, students study a lighter cultural curriculum but their high school diploma is equivalent to the high school system. In addition, depending on the educational strategy of each center, students are also exempted from vocational training fees so that after graduation they can directly participate in the labor market.

For example, at Chu Van An Continuing Education Center, in addition to implementing the 2018 General Education Program (3 compulsory subjects: literature, mathematics, history and 4 elective subjects: geography, economic and legal education, physics, chemistry, biology, information technology, technology), the center also organizes English classes to practice 4 skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing with foreign teachers, and learning information technology according to international standards. In particular, Mr. Do Minh Hoang informed that the center's students are trained in free vocational training in the fields of Chinese, traditional medicine, accounting, applied information technology, interior design, tour guide, nursing, beauty care, modeling, food processing, and hotel and restaurant services.

In addition to the curriculum, with the center's facilities, students can participate in volleyball, basketball, badminton, pickleball and participate in club activities such as music , science, literature, English, etc.

Also to "retain" students, the Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center of District 10 has continuously invested in facilities and teaching conditions in recent years. All classrooms have been invested in purchasing additional equipment to meet the 2018 General Education Program, all classrooms are equipped with air conditioners, projectors, sound systems, etc.

Mr. Truong Ba Hai, Director of the Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center in District 10, said that in addition to teaching cultural subjects, the center coordinates free vocational training for students according to their needs. The center continues to build a happy school model, organizes many activities, and "conquers" students with a safe and quality educational environment.

The Director of the Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center in District 10 commented: "Failing grade 10 and studying continuing education is not a dead end. Every year, the center records many students passing the entrance exam to major universities, and they are also successful. In recent years, the continuing education system has shortened the gap with high school, along with the advantage of students receiving free vocational training. However, the important thing is that parents' thinking must change to support their children, and help them choose a suitable learning environment."

Mr. Le Hoai Nam, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said that there are important factors for the continuing education system to increasingly attract parents of students after completing secondary school. These include spacious facilities, innovative teaching methods, effective career guidance, etc. The fact that continuing education centers have achieved impressive enrollment results in recent years is considered the effectiveness of career guidance and student streaming after secondary school. This work helps parents and students understand correctly and deeply about the continuing education system to choose for their children to study. Previously, many people thought that only weak and poor students could study continuing education, but now good and excellent students are still proactively registering for continuing education. "In the coming time, the Department will continue to carry out communication and promote early career guidance so that parents understand the superiority of the continuing education system," Mr. Nam affirmed.

Help students meet the high school graduation exam
according to the new program

The 2025 high school graduation exam will apply the 2018 vocational education program for the first time with major changes in requirements and exam orientation, so vocational education and continuing education centers said they will increase review and skill training to meet the exam requirements.

The leader of the Tan Binh District Continuing Education Center shared that students have studied the new program since grade 10, so they are familiar with the approach, structure and format of the exam. Right at the beginning of the second semester, the center has grasped the situation of graduation exam registration to start intensive review for students.

The leader of the District 12 Continuing Education and Vocational Training Center said that in order to enhance review for final year students, the center assigns 12th grade teachers who are all experienced in charge, regularly encouraging students to explore and research knowledge through project-based learning, case studies and flipped classrooms. Online learning tools are also used to create a more interactive and flexible learning environment. At the same time, the center arranges classes according to students' abilities and wishes to arrange review time and supplement knowledge appropriately.

Mr. Do Minh Hoang said that about 80% of the 450 students of Chu Van An Continuing Education Center chose social science subjects for the high school graduation exam. This year, students only take 4 subjects, so it will be easier than previous years. All plans have been prepared by teachers, students just need to attend school regularly, do all the exercises that teachers tell them to do, then they will definitely pass the exam.

For example, with literature, teacher Hoang Thi Lan, head of the literature group at Chu Van An Continuing Education Center, said that during the school year, the center often organizes many activities such as dramatization, presentations, introductions of favorite works, poster creation, situational response, etc. to help students love literature. During this time, the center builds tests on the Megaschool application - an online teaching platform - to grasp students' learning progress. If students have questions, outside of class, teachers are always ready to discuss and answer anytime, anywhere.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trung-tam-gdtx-no-luc-vuot-dinh-kien-185250525182259299.htm