The above message was stated by the Minister of Education and Training (MOET) at the thematic seminar "CORE contents, strategies in education and training and information orientation on hot issues in the field of education and training" held on August 28.
Enough schools, enough classes to reduce enrollment pressure
One of the issues emphasized by Minister Hoang Minh Son at the seminar is the need to solve the pressure of exams, extra classes, and tutoring from the fundamental causes of the system, including the imbalance between learning needs and the ability to meet schools and classes.
According to the Minister, the pressure of 10th grade enrollment is currently not taking place uniformly across the country but mainly concentrated in large cities, urban areas, places where the population is increasing rapidly but the construction speed of schools and classes has not kept up. When there are not enough schools and classes, not enough good places to study, students have to compete to win opportunities to enter school, leading to exam pressure, extra classes, tutoring and the risk of negative developments.
Therefore, the fundamental solution is to gradually ensure sufficient schools, classrooms, teachers and improve the quality of education between institutions. When the ability to meet the needs of schools and classes gradually suits learning needs, the competitive pressure for 10th grade will decrease; the reception of students with conditions will gradually shift towards convenience, proximity to residence and suitability for learning needs.
When there is no competition anymore, the pressure of extra classes, tutoring and then cheating will be greatly reduced" - the Minister stated his opinion.
Along with ensuring school and class conditions, the Minister believes that it is necessary to change the approach to student stratification after lower secondary school.
According to the Minister, streaming is a correct policy to create conditions for each student to choose a path that suits their abilities, strengths, and interests. However, there was a period when streaming was implemented quite rigidly through limiting quotas for 10th grade, especially public 10th grade, with the desire to direct a part of students to vocational training. While social psychology is still focused on the path of high school education, limiting quotas makes students have to compete harder, increasing the pressure of exams, extra classes, and tutoring.
The Head of the Education sector emphasized that the goal of universalizing high school education and equivalent education includes both high school, vocational education and continuing education at an equivalent level. Therefore, streaming should not be implemented by setting "barriers", but must create truly quality choices for learners to decide the right path. If students want to choose vocational education, it is necessary to improve the quality and attractiveness of vocational education, instead of limiting the opportunity to study high school. With this approach, the opportunity to study after lower secondary school, including the opportunity to enter 10th grade, needs to be further expanded.
Building a national smart education platform
Referring to the issue of AI application in schools, Minister Hoang Minh Son said that in the face of the speed of technological development, the use and learning of AI is a trend that cannot be left out. The appropriate approach is "learning through using and using to learn; learning to use better".
The issue currently raised is not whether to allow students to use AI or not, but to guide them to use it correctly and responsibly; know how to use AI to learn knowledge, ask questions, develop thinking and problem-solving skills, instead of technology doing things instead of learning.
The Ministry of Education and Training is building a national smart education platform according to the orientation of Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in education and training development; in the immediate future, focusing on experimenting in a number of subjects and appropriate scope, on that basis, evaluating, completing and gradually expanding.
Unlike conventional AI tools that mainly answer user questions, educational platforms must be able to lead the learning process. The system is oriented to be both a library of knowledge and an online learning platform, and also plays the role of a "teacher", a companion to students. When students ask questions, AI does not immediately provide answers but suggests approaches, learning directions and gradually helps learners find solutions.
Minister Hoang Minh Son shared that if AI only gives an immediate answer, technology risks ruining the learning process. The important thing is to "teach students to learn", so that learners form thinking, problem-solving ability and develop abilities.
In the immediate future, the national smart education platform will be implemented with Math and English, then expanded to other subjects. The educational content put on the platform must closely follow the general education program, ensure accuracy, reliability and be quality-controlled.
The Ministry of Education and Training also orients the development of a set of standards so that corporations and businesses can develop platforms that meet national requirements, thereby both promoting the proactive role of the State and mobilizing social resources to participate in providing digital education services.
