The husband gave the opinion that any school is fine, but because his child is not too excellent, if he tries to get into a public school, it will be difficult to compete with his friends.
My wife's sister-in-law requires public schools because tuition fees are reasonable and "I heard that" public school teachers are "better". Everyone defends their views to the point of not bothering to talk to each other for a week now.
The story of my friend's family is quite typical in the race to enter 10th grade in Hanoi today.
With about 147,000 secondary school graduates each year, but only about 55% have a place in public 10th grade, this exam becomes one of the most stressful "gates" for Hanoi students. It is worth mentioning that the pressure is not only on weak students. Even students with good and excellent academic performance have to race for each score, each aspiration. A small mistake can cause the entire 9-year learning process to be re-evaluated, pushing students and parents into a prolonged state of stress.
Therefore, the fact that more and more parents proactively choose private schools is no longer simply a backup plan, but has become a way to reduce risks. When the public door is only open to more than half of the students, it is understandable to proactively find another way. This is also a sign that trust in the education system is shifting in a more diverse direction.
For many years, private schools have been seen as the last resort. But now, that view has changed significantly. Many private schools invest heavily in facilities, training programs, foreign languages and soft skills. Many students from private schools still pass top universities or win international scholarships. This makes parents no longer focus on "having to go to public schools", but start considering which environment is more suitable for their children's orientation.
However, this choice is not for everyone. The biggest barrier is still tuition fees. With a common cost of several million to tens of millions of VND per month, going to private schools becomes a financial burden for many families. This leads to a clear reality: Not everyone has the right to "choose". For many families, public schools are still the only way, even though they know the pressure is very high.
Therefore, the story of public or private schools is not only an educational story, but also related to social justice. When well-off families can reduce pressure on their children by switching to private schools, middle and low-income families still have to accept a fierce race. Without appropriate support policies, this gap may widen.
In the opposite direction, public schools are also facing innovation requirements. Not only ensuring enough places to study, but also reducing exam pressure, improving the quality of education and creating a more balanced learning environment.
The issue is not to choose public or private schools, but to allow two areas to coexist and complement each other. Public schools play a leading role, ensuring learning opportunities; private schools need to develop transparently and with quality to become a real choice.
The shift from public to private in Hanoi is not temporary, but a sign of the transformation of the education system in the face of increasingly diverse needs and expectations.
Returning to the story of my friend's family, the couple argued but forgot the "main character" is the child. What is needed at this time is not public-private disputes, but listening to the child's opinions, helping children develop early self-determination, not completely dependent on their parents.
