The rate of 'competition' in the suburbs has skyrocketed, are students worried about being unfairly failed in a 'game of chance'?

This reversal has left thousands of parents worried and confused because their children are at risk of being unfairly failed. The ban on changing their preferences forces students to play a "game of chance" with their future.

"Choosing the wrong bet", many students easily fail public schools

According to the latest data released by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, the competition ratio (number of first-choice applicants divided by enrollment quota) at many public schools in 2025 has increased abnormally, especially in schools in suburban areas.

Specifically, 5 high schools including Ngo Thi Nham, Quang Minh, Dong Da, Pham Hong Thai and Nguyen Quoc Trinh recorded an increase in the competition ratio from 0.44 to 0.63, a higher increase than the average of the whole city. This will certainly affect the benchmark scores of the schools this year.

Admission policy should benefit learners instead of mechanically maintaining regulations that are no longer appropriate. (Illustration photo)

Mr. Tuan Anh, living in Hoang Mai district, has a daughter who is preparing for the entrance exam to grade 10 of a public school. The family does not set a goal of a specialized school or a top school, just hoping that her child can get into a school that is within her ability.

After considering many options, Mr. Tuan decided to direct his child to register his first choice at Ngo Thi Nham High School (Thanh Tri, the same enrollment area as Hoang Mai district), instead of schools in Hoang Mai such as Hoang Van Thu or Truong Dinh - where the standard score is often sky-high, around 37 to 39 points.

Mr. Tuan Anh added that last year, the benchmark score for Ngo Thi Nham High School was only 34.25 points, and the competition ratio was 1.32. "I thought that schools in the suburbs, with fewer applicants, would give my child a better chance. However, according to the latest data, this year the competition ratio for Ngo Thi Nham High School has skyrocketed to 1.94 - the highest in the city. From a school within reach, it has now become the center of competition," the male parent said.

The family cannot change their wishes, and his son is a good student who is at risk of failing because he chose the wrong "bet".

Mr. Tuan Anh suggested: “If only Hanoi allowed adjustment of wishes after announcing the competition ratio like Ho Chi Minh City is doing, my child would have more opportunities to study at public schools. The family would also have less burden of tuition fees.”

Another parent whose child is in grade 9 at a secondary school in Cau Giay shared that her child’s first choice is a school with twice the number of applicants as the enrollment quota and her second choice is a school far from the center. The family accepts that their child will go a little further, as long as he gets into a public school to reduce the burden of tuition fees.

However, when the Department of Education and Training announced the competition ratio, the family was extremely shocked. Worryingly, the first choice for the child's ability was uncertain, but the second choice for a school in the suburbs had more than 5,000 candidates registered. The family was so confused, not knowing what to do. When choosing their choice, the children did not know the competition ratio of the schools, so most of their choices were based on "luck".

Faced with concerns about the competition ratio of the top middle and bottom schools increasing sharply this year, many teachers believe that the competition ratio can affect the psychology of parents and students, but it is important to understand that it is only a reference information channel. It does not fully reflect the quality of the application or the ability to pass or fail of each individual. Therefore, students and parents need to be alert and calm to avoid anxiety and worry that will affect the exam.

Prohibition of changing wishes - not for the benefit of students?

Explaining the phenomenon of students registering their second choice at schools in the suburbs in large numbers, a representative of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training said that parents may want to choose the safe option. For students with good academic performance, they have set their first choice at a priority school and their second choice at a more distant school, with a lower standard score to ensure safety and certainty of passing.

In the "half-dead, half-alive" situation above, many parents earnestly hope that Hanoi will follow Ho Chi Minh City's example and allow students to adjust their preferences after knowing the competition ratio so as not to be stuck in a decision without information.

The rate of 'competition' in the suburbs has skyrocketed. Are students worried about being unfairly failed in a 'game of chance'? (Illustration photo)

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai, living in Ha Dong district, expressed: "With the current situation, I and many students also hope that Hanoi can change its wishes like Ho Chi Minh City. If so, parents and students will be very happy. Children will have more opportunities to study in public schools."

It can be seen that, compared to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City has a big difference in the 10th grade admission policy. In Ho Chi Minh City, after the competition ratio is announced, students have 5 days (from 5pm on May 15 to 5pm on May 19) to change their wishes. The goal is to help candidates have more opportunities to enter public 10th grade, instead of being "stuck" with their initial choice in the absence of information.

According to an official from the HCM City Department of Education and Training, the regulation for students to adjust after knowing the competition ratio is to help candidates increase their chances of entering public grade 10. Because in the first time, students register their first choice but do not know the total number of choices for that school.

For example, a school has an enrollment quota of 200 students but statistics show that there are 600 first-choice students. If the quota remains the same, hundreds of students will definitely fail. However, if adjustments are made, students can change their first-choice to another school with fewer enrollment quotas and a higher chance of being admitted. This does not affect the quality of the city's annual 10th grade enrollment.

It can be seen that the skyrocketing competition rate in many schools in the suburbs, along with the regulation of "freezing wishes" after the data is announced, is pushing thousands of students and parents in Hanoi into a passive position, struggling in a race with many factors of luck. When the initial choice is made in conditions of lack of information, the refusal to adjust wishes causes many students to fall into the situation of "unfair failure", even though their academic ability is completely sufficient to enter public schools.

If the ultimate goal is to create the best learning conditions for students, it is time for Hanoi to seriously review its 10th grade admission policy, based on reality and the interests of learners, instead of mechanically maintaining regulations that are no longer appropriate.

Thu Hang (VOV)

Link: https://vov.vn/xa-hoi/ty-le-choi-o-vung-ven-tang-hoc-sinh-lo-truot-oan-trong-van-co-may-rui-post1200590.vov

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/ty-le-choi-vung-ven-tang-vot-hoc-sinh-lo-truot-oan-trong-van-co-may-rui-ar944132.html