VietNamNet Bridge – On March 27, students in HCM City had the chance to become ‘the consultants for short term education development’ at a workshop where they could suggest the measures to develop education and training.

Ngoc Yen, a student of the Le Quy Don High School, said that new method of teaching has been applied which strengthens the students’ presentation requirements and has helped students take initiative in their lessons.

However, Yen said that while the teaching and learning methods have gradually changed, the way of building up exam questions remains unchanged. “Is it reasonable to learn under modern methods and keep traditional way of building up exam questions?” she questioned.

Trung Nhan, an 11^th class student of Nguyen Khuyen High School, also suggested that it is necessary to adjust the way of assessing students through tests and exams.

Thanh Nam, a student from the Thai Binh Duong High School, said that students are now under a lot of pressure from the school curriculum and extra classes.

Students all have asked students to adjust the curriculum so that they can receive new practical knowledge, while extracurricular activities should be strengthened.

Huynh Cong Minh, Director of the HCM City Education and Training Department, said that it will take a long process to renovate the methods of teaching and examining students.

Creating playing fields for themselves

Students, like education strategists, also suggested a lot of solutions to improve the situation.

Thao Ngan, a student of the Nguyen Huu Canh High School, suggested organizing practice lessons as games in order to create interest to students.

Yen Nhi, a 10^th class student of Marie Curie High School, suggested organizing history and geography clubs together with clubs of ‘soft skills’ and ‘sex education.’

Meanwhile, Tan, a 12^th class student of the Tran Hung Dao High School in Go Vap district, said that he wished for more culture exchanges to be held between Vietnamese and foreign students, so that Vietnamese students can improve their foreign language skills, as well as others.

At the workshop, students also expressed the worries about the brain-drain which is believed to become more serious when more and more students like going to study abroad.

“It is necessary to help improve the awareness of young people,” said Yen Nhi from the Quang Trung High School in Cu Chi district.

Meanwhile, Dieu My, a 10^th class student of the HCM City School for Gifted Students, said that there’s no need to be narrow minded in overseas studying and too worried about the students’ return after the training.

“When students go abroad studying, they will be able to access modern education methods and update modern technologies which will be applied in Vietnam. The former students of our school, who are now studying overseas, keep sending documents to Vietnam for the school’s students’ reference,” My said.

“Why don’t we encourage overseas study? It is not important where Vietnamese students learn, it is more important if the students contribute to the country’s development,” she added.

Huynh Cong Minh, Director of the HCM City Education and Training Department, said that workshops will be organized quarterly where education and training’s leaders can listen to the willing and thoughts of students, which can help them set suitable education and training development policies.

Minh Quyen