Song Lieu Secondary School forced students not to take the 10th grade entrance exam and collected 5 million VND in exam preparation fees?

Regarding the information that the school forced some 9th grade students with poor academic performance not to take the entrance exam to 10th grade. The principal of Song Lieu Secondary School denied and said that this information is not true.

In recent days, on some forums, public opinion has been buzzing about a person claiming to be a parent of a 9th grade student at Song Lieu Secondary School, Song Lieu Commune (Thuan Thanh Town, Bac Ninh Province) accusing the school principal of forcing some students (with poor academic performance) not to take the 10th grade entrance exam; organizing review sessions for 9th grade students in the evening and collecting 5 million VND from each student. In addition, this person also accused the school principal of being as happy as a "little king" because he did not have to teach but still got a lot of money.

To verify the above information, on June 13, speaking with PV of PNVN Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Van Thuong, Principal of Song Lieu Secondary School, affirmed that the above information is completely untrue.

According to Mr. Thuong, the above information appeared on the morning of May 17, 2024. In the afternoon of the same day, Song Lieu Secondary School held a meeting with parents of 9th grade students along with the Board of Directors and teachers who taught the 10th grade entrance exam (with the presence of 100% of parents). During the meeting, the opinions of parents unanimously affirmed that the information reflected on the forum was not true.

In this meeting, Mr. Thuong also affirmed to parents that the school only organizes propaganda, counseling, career guidance, streaming, and orientation for students to make appropriate choices, not forcing and mobilizing students in the enrollment work for the first grades. Management staff and teachers do not direct, mobilize, or force students not to take the 10th grade entrance exam. The choice of whether or not to register for the exam is the decision of parents and students.

The school organizes review sessions for grade 9 students in the afternoons from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (in addition, there are sessions where teachers have not finished teaching or want to enhance knowledge for students, they can extend to 5:00 p.m.). The school has developed a review plan for the grade 10 entrance exam to improve knowledge for students taking the exam, with agreement with parents at a fee of 20,000/session (3 periods).

In the 2023-2024 school year, Song Lieu Secondary School has more than 300 students. Of which, grade 9 has 80 students, divided into 2 classes: 9A and 9B.

In the public high school entrance exam held in early June, 65 students registered to take the exam (over 80%).

"All 9th graders in the school have the right to register for the high school entrance exam. Some students do not want to take the exam and some students do not register for the exam due to family circumstances and choose to study a trade. The school has also encouraged the families and these students to try to take the 10th grade entrance exam, but they do not register," said Mr. Thuong.

Ms. LTQ (a parent of a 9th grader at Song Lieu Secondary School) said that her son was one of 15 students who did not register for the 10th grade entrance exam. However, Ms. Q. affirmed that the school did not force the students to register for the exam, but rather that the students did not want to take the exam because their academic performance was too poor.

"At first, I thought my son was showing off and not registering for the exam, so I was very sad. But then he explained that he didn't understand anything and that if he continued to study, it would only be a waste of his parents' money. My son is about to go to Bac Ninh City to learn motorbike repair, but my husband and I have not agreed yet. He is currently still at home helping me with housework," said Ms. Q.

Through contact, it can be seen that Ms. LTQ's son (NVT's nephew) is a quick-witted and polite boy. The reason T. gave for not taking the high school entrance exam was because he felt that his academic ability was not enough to enter grade 10 at public high schools in the area.

"I don't understand anything so I didn't register for review. My parents also talked to me but I didn't agree because if I go to review classes, it will just waste my parents' time and money. I'm asking my parents to let me go to Bac Ninh city to earn a living," T. said.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hoa, Deputy Head of the Department of Education and Training of Thuan Thanh town (Bac Ninh province) said that immediately after the above information appeared, the Department of Education and Training of Bac Ninh province directed the Department to inspect and verify. Based on the report of Song Lieu Secondary School, the Department of Education and Training of Thuan Thanh town sent a report to the Department of Education and Training of Bac Ninh province.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/bac-ninh-truong-thcs-song-lieu-ep-hoc-sinh-khong-thi-vao-lop-10-va-thu-5-trieu-dong-phi-on-thi-20240614160140483.htm