Exam Score Season: Scores Are Important, But Are They Everything?

Grades are important, from the perspective of major exams. But are grades everything in a child's journey to adulthood and in each person's life?

On July 6, educator Nguyen Thuy Uyen Phuong, Chairwoman of the ICS School Council, had a talk and discussion with Ms. Kiran Bir Sethi, founder of Riverside School (India), recognized as the World's Most Innovative School 2023 and the initiator of the Design for Change movement that has spread to more than 70 countries, on the topic "Beyond Grades".

Educator Nguyen Thuy Uyen Phuong raised a concern: Asian parents, such as those in Vietnam and India, all share the same desire for their children to get high scores in exams. As a mother, Ms. Uyen Phuong is no exception. But, are scores enough for a future with many changes ahead?

PHOTO: PHUONG HA

Is high score enough?

Ms. Kiran Bir Sethi recounted an unforgettable memory, when her child was 5 years old, the school was handing out report cards to parents, everyone lined up to receive them. Suddenly, a parent looked over another parent's shoulder, saw "other people's child's" report card, looked down at her child's report card, immediately, she turned around and slapped her child and shouted "Study like that". The slap startled Ms. Kiran Bir Sethi and from then on always urged the idea of opening a separate school for her child and other children.

According to Ms. Kiran Bir Sethi, knowledge is important but not everything. In the age of AI, ChatGPT is popular, students can easily gain knowledge from online learning. There are more important skills that every student needs. These are critical thinking, creative thinking, flexibility, adaptability, willingness to change... These are taught through project-based learning, through educational activities so that children can apply skills to solve problems... There is an undeniable fact that we have trained many students with high scores, good test takers but lack communication skills, lack work skills, and when they go to work, they cannot meet the needs of employers.

Educators in India believe that grades are not the ultimate goal of education. The higher purpose of education is to connect with reality in life, because eventually children will step out into the world and apply what they have learned in life, so it is very important to sow the initial small seeds of love for learning, initiative in learning, and finding meaning in learning.

Illustration: NHAT THINH

When we give our children enough power, they will not be afraid.

At this point, many parents will wonder: "It is necessary to give students practical skills, but will it lose their professional foundation? Because when entering university or studying abroad, many good, top schools require students to have a high grade point average (GPA)?"

Ms. Kiran Bir Sethi said that grades and academic knowledge are important, but it is necessary to build a balance between knowledge and qualities of the learner. Knowledge is software. Qualities, empathy, courage, and responsibility need to be built during the learning process. Because if we only teach knowledge, creating people lacking the necessary qualities, it is not enough for children to feel that they have a safe and happy life.

"My daughter is not in college, she is working for an NGO and is confident in her choice. I always believe that when we give our children enough capacity, they will not be afraid," said the Indian educator.

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

According to educator Nguyen Thuy Uyen Phuong, the journey of students and young people learning to gain knowledge, balancing knowledge - qualities - abilities cannot be left entirely to the school. Each person must educate themselves, parents can educate their children themselves through their own example. Not everyone has the conditions to send their children to this or that school, which is considered good, so each parent, each family educating their own children first is the best thing.