In the times of the ‘price storm’, when the extra classes’ fees and subsistence expenses are escalating, a lot of students have decided to revise for exams themselves, instead of going to extra classes.

Manh has decided to revise for exams himself, instead of going to extra classes

Manh failed the entrance exams to the Tay Bac University last year, and he has decided to take exams once again this year to another university which he thinks is more fitting for him. Manh’s parents are forestation workers, who earn VND2 million a month.

“If I insist on following extra classes in Hanoi, my parents will attend to my desire. But I have decided to stay at home, because I well know that this will put a burden on my parents,” Manh said.

Manh’s parents know that the extra classes in Hanoi which applies more professional teaching methods proven to be better for their son. However, they cannot afford that kind of costly studying.

Currently, Manh is going to the extra classes provided by Tam Nong High School, for which he is paying VND8,000 for each shift of learning. “The tuition is much lower than in Hanoi or Viet Tri City, while I don’t have to pay a lot for meals and accommodations,” Manh said.

Vuong Thi Thao in Hoang Dieu commune in Chuong My district in Hanoi also said that the family’s financial difficulties have made her revise for her exams at home instead of going to extra classes.

“My mother grows and sells vegetables, but she earns less money than previous years. My family has fallen into the difficulties bigger than ever before,” Thao said

Thao’s parents, both 40, have three children. They are both rice growers. Sometimes, Thao’s mother goes to the city to sell vegetables, while her father breeds pigs and poultry.

“Vegetables are selling for dirt cheap this year. My wife just can earn only VND40,000 a day after paying for meals and leased accommodation in the city,” Thao’s father said.

Thao previously intended to go to Hanoi to attend extra classes. However, she has changed her mind after the mother complained about the slow vegetable sales. “I failed the exams last year. And I’m not sure if I can pass the exams this year. Therefore, I dare not spend a lot of money on learning,” Thao said.

The evening is the main time for Thao to revise for her exams. In the daytime, Thao has to prepare for meals, chop-up water-fern, and breed pigs and fowls.

Extra classes more deserted

Ngoan, a staff at the Da Minh university entrance exam preparation centre on Ta Quang Buu street in Hanoi related that a new extra class for physics was opened last week, which has 300 students. Ngoan said that in previous years, every class had 400 students on average.

She also said that only 20 students have registered for the chemistry class which will begin on March 4.

Tinh, an office assistant at the university entrance exam preparation centre at the Cau Giay Continuing Education Centre, said on February 27 that the classes at the centre this year are not as full as they were in previous years.

Ngoan from Da Minh Centre said that students have to pay VND14,000 for every learning shift (2 hours), or VND2,000 higher than 2008. Meanwhile, Tinh said that the tuition remains the same as the last year’s level, at VND10,000/shift, but the centre near here collects VND15,000.

“The higher tuition may be one of the reasons that makes the number of students registering for classes decrease,” Ngoan said.

Meanwhile, it is now easier to look for accommodation at boarding houses, which were always overloaded in previous years. Nguyen Thi Hien, the owner of the boarding house at No 19 Dich Vong Hau street, related that in previous years, students began flocking to cities after Tet. Meanwhile, fewer students are seeking rooms these days. However, boarding houses are always full of students, because the demand is always higher than the supply.

Cam Quyen