Studying and registering for the entrance exam to grade 10 at public high schools is a legitimate right and need of students. (Illustration photo)

Although it is not a new story, every time before the exam season, the situation of advising weak students not to take the entrance exam to public high schools occurs, causing a "heat" on education forums and social networks. It is worth mentioning that this situation is not only in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City but also occurs in many other localities, causing a stir in public opinion.

Almost every year, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Department of Education and Training of localities have issued instructions, rectified and strictly handled this phenomenon, but it still happens somewhere, why is that? Many questions have been raised, is the phenomenon of advising weak students not to take the 10th grade entrance exam because they are afraid that the school will be affected in terms of achievements and competition rankings? Meanwhile, studying and registering for 10th grade in high schools is the right and legitimate need of all students and that right must be ensured.

Article 13 of the 2019 Education Law stipulates: Learning is the right and obligation of citizens. All citizens, regardless of ethnicity, religion, belief, gender, personal characteristics, family background, social status, and economic circumstances, have equal opportunities to learn. The State implements social justice in education, creates a safe educational environment, ensures inclusive education, and creates conditions for learners to develop their potential and talents.

It is agreed that the work of streamlining after junior high school is necessary. However, schools and teachers need to be responsible for accurately and fully informing students and parents about regulations related to grade 10 admission; guiding students to register for schools that are suitable for their abilities.

From there, ensure the right to participate in the exam for all students when they have full conditions to take the exam as well as have the desire, avoid any form of obstruction. Moreover, every student has the right to experience, to participate in the exam to challenge themselves and help them become more mature, have the right direction in the future.

According to Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training Tran The Cuong, the Hanoi Department of Education does not include the results of the entrance exam to grade 10 public schools in the competition criteria. The City's policy is to ensure the right to study and take the exam of all students according to their wishes. Registering for the entrance exam to grade 10 public high schools is the legal and legitimate right of students, no one has the right to prevent them from registering for the exam. The Department strictly prohibits acts of mobilizing or forcing students not to register for the exam in any form and will strictly handle all violations.

So how to prevent the repetition of advising students not to take the 10th grade exam? According to many experts, studying hard, taking the exam hard, and doing well in the stages related to the post-secondary education process are the solutions to end the phenomenon of encouraging and advising weak students not to take the public 10th grade exam.

But it must also be said that doing a good job of streaming and orienting secondary school students is necessary. It is a process, helping them realize their own abilities, strengths, weaknesses, and not deciding whether to take the exam or not. The important thing is not to let the school's achievements affect all decisions and the future of students. In addition, we must be more practical in teaching, learning and testing, moving towards real learning, real testing, and creating real talent.

From a psychological and educational perspective, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thanh Nam, Vice Principal of the University of Education - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said that at the age of 15, most students are not fully prepared to be independent and make their own decisions and goals. Therefore, advising students not to take the 10th grade exam because they are not capable of taking the exam is like "labeling" students about their limited abilities. From there, they lose confidence in themselves.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thanh Nam affirmed: “Each person has their own talent and qualities and young people will be able to do everything they dream of if they have the right attitude and work hard every day. Therefore, requiring students not to take the 10th grade exam creates great confusion about their self-image and self-esteem.”

Therefore, to solve this problem, it is necessary to better implement the stages related to the streamlining work. In particular, the post-secondary vocational education system must be invested in a systematic way, demonstrating to society more convincingly the development path, forming sustainable careers for students following that path; ensuring that no matter which path they follow, students can develop into good citizens, useful to society.

In addition, it is necessary to change parents' beliefs and perceptions about careers, based on labor, capacity, interests, and personal strengths, no career is superior to any other career. Teachers must also be equipped with appropriate consulting skills, while avoiding pressure to achieve and compete. Moreover, the Government and State management agencies need to add monitoring mechanisms or adjust the streaming ratio to suit each locality, region, and area.