Information that Hanoi is studying the possibility of innovating the method of enrollment in public 10th grade has received the attention of many parents, from families whose children have gone through the grade transfer exam to those who are preparing their children to enter the final year of secondary school.
For each family, the story of enrollment is not only related to choosing a school but also to the process of preparing knowledge, time and psychology for students.
Hope the grade transfer exam can be easier
Mr. Ngo Van Luan - whose child just entered 9th grade in Hanoi - said that his family once had a daughter who passed the 10th grade entrance exam, so they still remember clearly the days of preparing for the exam.
According to Mr. Luan, throughout 9th grade, studying and reviewing almost occupied most of his child's time. Outside of class hours, he had to spend more time consolidating knowledge, practicing questions and preparing for exams.
It's really stressful. Knowledge must be prepared very carefully, almost no free time throughout a year of 9th grade. Then comes the matter of exam scores, benchmark scores, aspirations" - Mr. Luan shared.
According to this parent, the pressure also comes from choosing aspirations. If they are not admitted to aspiration 1, students continue to consider the following aspirations, while the benchmark score of each school is a factor that families have to calculate carefully.
This year, Mr. Luan's second daughter enters 9th grade, preparing for the 10th grade entrance exam. Therefore, his family once again has to prepare mentally for the journey of reviewing and taking the grade transfer exam.
I hope that if there is a change in the enrollment method, parents and students will be informed soon to have time to prepare. I am also interested in how to evaluate students if the enrollment method is changed to ensure fairness" - Mr. Luan said.
Also having a child taking the 10th grade entrance exam, Ms. Bui Thanh Trang (Dong Anh commune, Hanoi) said that the grade transfer exam creates no small pressure for students and families.
Ms. Trang said that during the time her child is preparing for the exam, the family must pay much attention to her child's study and review. The atmosphere in the house is also somewhat affected by the desired high school entrance exam goal.
The exam is very stressful. I just hope the grade transfer exam can be easier for my children" - Ms. Trang shared.
From the perspective of parents, Ms. Trang believes that it is possible to study other forms of enrollment so that students do not have to bear too much pressure from a single exam.
She believes that considering admission for students to high schools may also be a considered option. After students enter the school, the school can organize appropriate tests and assessments to classify them.
Children all have the right to finish high school, so if there is a more appropriate enrollment form, it will reduce some of the pressure of transfer exams. However, in any form, fairness is still the most important thing" - Ms. Trang said.
According to Ms. Trang, parents also need to be provided with complete information if there are changes in the enrollment method, especially the time of application, evaluation criteria and admission methods, so that families can proactively accompany their children.
Parents expect clear enrollment criteria
Ms. Pham Thi Xuyen (Vinh Thanh commune, Hanoi) - a parent whose child is studying at the secondary school level - said that her family is also interested in information that the city is researching new enrollment methods. According to her, each enrollment method has its own advantages and limitations, so what parents are most interested in is still the method of assessing students' abilities.
If we do not organize a common exam but switch to another form, I think the evaluation between schools needs to be carefully calculated. Parents will be more assured if the criteria are clear and students in schools have equal opportunities" - she said.
According to her, if there are changes, announcing the plan early will also help families be more proactive in orienting their children's studies.
