LookAtVietnam – Many education specialists have, once again, asserted that the national university entrance is necessary and should not be removed

Many education specialists have, once again, asserted that the national university entrance is necessary and should not be removed, but others posit suggestions that would allow high school and uni exams to be combined.

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Just after high school final exams finished on June 4, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) stated that, in 2011, Vietnam will continue to organize two separate exams, the high school final and the university entrance exam, because Vietnam is not prepared to hold a 2-in-1 exam.

Over the last several years, MOET has tried to establish a single exam date instead of two separate days for high school exams and university admission tests. Their attempt has not been successful, mainly due to conflicting opinions.

MOET and universities believe that it is necessary to end the national university entrance exam system and allow universities to decide who to enroll.

Professor Pham Phu, a renowned educator, warned that if universities are given such a high level of autonomy, wrongdoings may occur. He noted that the number of students who want to continue studying at universities is much higher than the number of seats, so they must compete fiercely with each other. Therefore, the national university entrance exam is necessary to determine who will be chosen for admission.

Other education specialists believe that Vietnam should organize two separate exams, one for high schools, and the other for universities. Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Phuong Nga from Hanoi National University, remarked that students who have basic knowledge can pass the high school final, but only those students with very good knowledge can be admitted to universities. Therefore, high school final exam results do not show the real capabilities of students.

Phu and Nga both believe that Vietnam needs more time to prepare for the 2-in-1 exam, and that the national university entrance exam should not be removed immediately.

Phu explained that only when university education develops to a certain level and the number of potential students is not much higher than the number of available seats (i.e. the supply and demand is in balance) should MOET give universities the right to select students.

Some educators have proposed ending the high school final exam. They believe that only the university entrance exam is necessary.

Nguyen Ngoc, writer and Chair of the Scientific Council of the Phan Chau Trinh Fund, observed that even very excellent students cannot remember all the knowledge they have learned in school. To prepare for final exams, they must cram their heads with too much knowledge. “Students just learn by rote to prepare for the exam, especially for the social sciences. What knowledge will they retain after the exam?” he questioned

According to MOET, in 2009, 83.6 percent of students passed the high school exam. The percentage was very high in Nam Dinh, at 98.2 percent. According to Professor Pham Phu, this exam does not have much significance, if the passing percentage is so high.

Currently, high school diplomas just serve as a card for students to have the right to sit university entrance exams, while the diploma does not have real significance.

Source: Nguoi lao dong