VietNamNet Bridge – Summer holiday has begun. However, it is not the time for 9th class students to relax, because they have to gear up for the competition to get into 10th class in state-owned schools.

Loan, Thuy’s mother, related that previously, Thuy studied with tutors who were university students. However, she believes that at this moment, Thuy needs professional teachers who can help her review necessary knowledge.

Loan said she has to pay 170,000 for every 2.5 hours of studying.

Some other parents say that they have invited tutors for their children just because that is what everyone is doing.

“All other people have children studying with tutors, so I have to invite one for my son,” Mai, who lives on Chua Lang street, said.

Mai related that the main topic of the discussion in the latest parents’ meeting was who the best teachers are and who should be invited to teach children.

She complained that she just decided to invite teachers for her son recently so she could not get the best teachers as they all have full schedules.

As Mai’s son is now learning with a less expensive tutor; she only pays 130,000 for a 2.5 hour session.

High fee? Not a problem

This is now the hardest time for students who will take exams to enter high school in June, especially those who will take exams to get into gifted schools.

Nguyen Van Viet, who has finished Thanh Cong Secondary School, not only has to review mathematics and literature, but also chemistry, because he wants to major in chemistry at Hanoi-Amsterdam Gifted School.

Every day, Viet studies for five hours with a chemistry tutor. He goes to the teacher’s house every morning, then returns home for lunch, and then goes back to the teacher’s house in the afternoon.

Viet’s mother said that she has to pay 400,000 a day for the lessons. “I have to spend money, because my son needs to learn with a qualified teacher,” she said.

Viet is taking exams, but Viet’s mother is also reviewing for exams as well. Viet has two free evenings (he has no private lessons with any tutors), and he spends those evenings with his mother. Viet has to show how he has learned concepts and theorems.

“After office hours, I still have to work hard with my son,” Viet’s mother said.

Students overloaded

Experts have warned parents that a full timetable does not help, and can even harm their children.

Thuy said that she is spending all her time studying, from 6 am every morning until 12.00 at night.

She has told her mother that she is tired of learning.

Viet, though having gotten used to the intensive learning routine, has also become tired. “I have no free time for playing sports and football,” he complained.

Moreover, Viet does not believe that the intensive schedule will bring the desired effects.

Cam Quyen