The regulations on secondary and high school admissions announced by the Ministry of Education and Training on January 8 made many students, teachers, and parents breathe a sigh of relief because they could now know the subjects for this year's 10th grade exam. But then many people became worried.
Candidates taking the 10th grade entrance exam in 2024 at the exam site of Ngo Tat To Secondary School (Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City) - Photo: DUYEN PHAN
"My whole family has been nervous for the past few months because in 2025 my eldest daughter will take the 10th grade entrance exam. An exam that many people say is even more difficult than the university entrance exam, so we are worried about which subjects she will take. When the Ministry of Education and Training officially announced the admission regulations, my wife called me right away," said Mr. Phung Van Hung, a parent in District 11, Ho Chi Minh City.
Ms. HOANG THI PHUONG MAI (parent in Gia Lam district, Hanoi)
Happy because I don't have to draw lots to enter grade 10
According to the Ministry of Education and Training, there are three methods of admission to grade 10 high school: entrance exam, selection, or a combination of entrance exam and selection. The selection of the admission method is under the authority of the locality.
For the entrance exam method for grade 10, to ensure consistency and ensure the viewpoint of a light and inexpensive exam, the entrance exam will have 3 subjects/tests, including math, literature and a third subject or test. This subject (or test) is selected by the Department of Education and Training.
"We read the information about 10th grade admissions during recess. Many teachers cheered when they saw the part where the Department of Education and Training decided on the third exam subject. That means we can escape the situation of randomly choosing subjects for the exam every year.
And just a few minutes later, the media continued to publish information that the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training chose foreign language as the third subject, causing many people to applaud. Our teachers' room was very bustling at that time, all the teachers were happy" - said Mr. M., an English teacher in the inner city of Ho Chi Minh City.
Not only that, many teachers also said they predicted that if the departments were allowed to decide on the third exam subject, Ho Chi Minh City would definitely choose foreign languages.
"Because I know that Ho Chi Minh City is on the path of strong integration, the young generation cannot help but know how to use foreign languages. Ho Chi Minh City's choice of foreign languages is correct and in line with the development trend. The Ministry of Education and Training's decision to let the departments decide on the third exam subject is also reasonable because each locality has its own development strategy. We are happy that the Ministry of Education and Training has listened to the people's opinions" - Mr. Tran Manh Cuong, a high school math teacher whose child is taking the 10th grade entrance exam this year, commented.
What will happen in 3 years?
After the initial moments of joy, many parents were stunned by the regulation: "The third exam subject is chosen from among the subjects evaluated by scores in the general education program at the secondary level, ensuring that the same third exam subject is not chosen for more than 3 consecutive years."
Ms. Phan Thi Ngoc, a parent in Phu Nhuan district, shared: "My eldest child taking the 10th grade exam this year is a relief because he will take the math, literature, and foreign language exams. But what about my youngest child taking the 10th grade exam 3 years later? The Ministry does not allow choosing the same third exam subject for more than 3 consecutive years, so what subject will Ho Chi Minh City change to replace English? My heart is filled with anxiety."
Mr. TA, a teacher in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, analyzed: "In 3 years, no matter what other subject Ho Chi Minh City chooses to replace English, it will be inappropriate. The remaining subjects besides literature, math, and foreign languages are all special. If used for entrance exams, it will be unfair.
For example, students who are talented in natural sciences but have to take the third subject of history or geography will be at a disadvantage. Or if they choose information technology or technology as the third subject, most female students will have a hard time. Thus, this regulation will inadvertently force students to take more extra classes, creating more pressure for them."
Not to mention the regulation "The third exam or combined exam of some subjects will be announced after the end of the first semester but no later than March 31 every year" is causing much frustration for parents.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, a parent in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, said: "The third exam subject must be announced right at the beginning of the school year so that teachers and students can prepare. We cannot prolong the suspense, anxiety, and stress of having to guess which subject the third subject is. On what basis does the Ministry of Education and Training decide to announce the third exam subject at the end of the first semester?"
Speaking to Tuoi Tre, an official from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training explained: "We understand that the Ministry of Education and Training has made the above regulations because we are concerned that students will study in an unbalanced manner. If students know that they have taken 3 subjects, they will skip the other subjects. However, whether there is a situation of unbalanced study or not depends on the inspection, supervision, management, and direction of teaching and learning by the Department and the Department of Education and Training, not on the examination method.
If you want to study in a biased way, right at the end of the first semester, when the third exam subject is announced, schools can drop all the remaining subjects and focus on only three subjects. If the teaching and learning direction is strict, students who do not complete the program will not be able to graduate from junior high school and will not be eligible to take the 10th grade entrance exam.
Therefore, I think that the regulation of changing the third exam subject every 3 years; announcing the third exam subject after the end of the first semester is unnecessary. Especially in the context that the whole country is implementing the 2018 general education program.
We teach to develop students' abilities, not just teach knowledge like before. Students also do not learn by heart but must actively seek knowledge. The regulation of this third exam subject is actually just the tip of the iceberg and does not solve the root cause of the imbalanced learning situation."
Combined test: should or shouldn't?
According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the entrance exam for grade 10 will have 3 subjects, including: math, literature and a third subject or test. This subject (or test) is selected by the Department of Education and Training.
The third exam is a combination exam of a number of subjects selected from among the subjects assessed by scores in the general education program at the secondary level. Thus, the Departments of Education and Training can choose the third exam subject or the combination exam.
However, many opinions say that the combined test is a good solution. In the long run, it is necessary to use the combined test to comprehensively evaluate students, contributing to eliminating the situation of rote learning and lopsided learning in a part of schools.
But at the current stage, it needs to be seriously considered. Because the implementation of the 2018 general education program still has many shortcomings, the innovation of teaching methods is still not consistent, many teachers are still familiar with one-way transmission, many students are still not familiar with thinking and proactive learning.
Not to mention the testing and assessment work at secondary schools has not really been innovated in accordance with the spirit of the new program. Using the combined test too early will likely create more burden for teachers and more pressure for students to study and take exams.
Still organizing surveys to enroll in grade 6
Candidates taking the entrance exam for grade 6 at Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted in 2023 - Photo: NHU HUNG
That is the affirmation of the leader of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City in response to questions and concerns about whether some secondary schools in Ho Chi Minh City will organize surveys to enroll 6th grade students for the 2025-2026 school year while the secondary school enrollment regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training only have one method: selection.
"The Ministry of Education and Training allows the Department of Education and Training to decide on the criteria for admission to grade 6. Thus, admission can be based on: primary school test scores or survey scores.
In cases where the number of students applying for admission is many times higher than the enrollment quota such as Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School and some other secondary schools, it is expected that in the first enrollment season of the 2025-2026 school year, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training will propose to the City People's Committee to organize a survey and enroll students in grade 6" - Mr. Nguyen Bao Quoc, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, affirmed.
It is known that in the 2024-2025 school year, Ho Chi Minh City has 6 schools organizing surveys to enroll 6th grade students: Tran Dai Nghia Secondary and High School (District 1); Nguyen An Khuong Secondary School (Hoc Mon District); Hoa Lu Secondary School, Binh Tho Secondary School and Tran Quoc Toan 1 Secondary School (Thu Duc City); Nguyen Huu Tho Secondary School (District 7).
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tuyen-sinh-lop-10-chot-mon-thi-nam-nay-lo-3-nam-toi-chuyen-gi-se-xay-ra-20250108230053316.htm
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