This year, nearly 103,000 students registered to take the 10th grade entrance exam of non-professional public high schools, while the target is only about 64%. A number that makes the "fighting" rate tense. Every year, this "race" is repeated, but the worry has never subsided.
As a parent whose child is preparing to take the exam, I understand this mentality very well. The whole family revolves around their children's study and review schedules. Since Tet, my daughter has had almost no weekend off. All activities in the family are arranged so that children can study with the best conditions.
However, the pressure does not only come from studying. Every time a school or class has new information about the exam, the number of subjects, the difficulty rate... parents are confused. A ticket to a public school suddenly becomes an invisible measure of success, even if everyone understands that studying anywhere can be successful if their children are properly supported.
Besides, I am very worried about her psychology. Although the family always encourages "children to keep trying their best", it is not easy for children to give up the "must pass" mentality. In class, students have day and night classes, and parents are equally impatient. One day, my daughter whispered: "I'm so scared, Mom, I don't know if I can pass". Just one thing that kept me up all night.
Information about tightening the supervision of this year's exam, with the principles of "3 no, 4 right, 6 clear", controlling high-tech equipment to prevent fraud... I fully support the fairness of the exam. But I also hope that the staff will consider the exam and follow the correct spirit: serious but do not create more pressure for candidates.
One thing I always wonder: Why is the 10th grade entrance exam becoming such a "war"? If the system of non-public schools has more uniform quality and more reasonable tuition fees, parents will certainly not take it too seriously to go to public schools at all costs.
As a mother, I just hope that in each exam, the education sector will continue to have solutions to reduce pressure on both students and parents. Testing is necessary, but it should not become an obsession for children and a psychological burden for families.
Now, with only a few days left to enter the exam, I - like tens of thousands of parents in Hanoi - just hope that the children will be calm and confident in entering the exam room. No matter the result, the children have tried their best and are always the pride of their parents and family.
