The explanation session of the Minister of Education and Training was organized by the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Society.
According to the program, the Minister will explain some issues in the field of education that voters and people are interested in such as: high school graduation exams and university admissions; school culture; comprehensive education; prevention of school violence and protection of students in the online environment...
As a teacher with 38 years of experience in the education sector, teacher Nguyen Van Luc (former teacher of Trinh Phong Secondary School, now Dien Khanh Secondary School, Khanh Hoa) sent recommendations to the Minister before the explanation session.
First, teacher Luc suggested that the Ministry should have a definitive solution to tutoring. To do this, the Ministry needs to re-evaluate whether the program and textbooks are overloaded for students, streamline the purpose and requirements to achieve each lesson to ensure that it is appropriate for the majority of students. In addition, the evaluation, examination, and admission also need to be streamlined and not fierce competition to get a place in 10th grade, as well as get a place in university.
Next, regarding textbooks, teacher Luc said that with the 2018 General Education Program, the secondary school level includes 10 subjects and 2 educational activities: Literature; Mathematics; Foreign Language 1; Civic Education; History and Geography; Natural Sciences; Technology; Informatics; Physical Education; Arts (Music, Fine Arts); Experiential activities, career guidance; Local education content. But in reality, students have to study 16 subjects.
The reason is that natural science is an "integration" of 3 subjects Physics, Chemistry, Biology; History and Geography are integrated from History and Geography; Art is integrated from Music and Fine Arts; Local education content is an integration of many topics depending on each locality; Career experience activities.
To avoid creating pressure on students and teachers, teacher Luc hopes that the Ministry of Education and Training will evaluate the implementation process, thereby adjusting and recalculating the number of subjects and units of knowledge suitable for each level of education and age group. If possible, the Ministry of Education and Training should remove some subjects and educational activities that are not practical and no longer suitable for reality.
Teacher Luc also proposed that the Ministry study a roadmap towards not organizing the high school graduation exam. According to the orientation of Resolution 71 of the Politburo, general education is set out with clear goals: By 2030, complete compulsory education universalization until the end of secondary school and ensure that at least 85% of people of school age complete high school or equivalent; by 2035, move towards universalizing high school and equivalent nationwide.
According to Mr. Luc, this is the legal basis for abolishing the annual high school graduation exam. This exam is very time-consuming and costly, while the graduation rate is always over 95%, unnecessary, only recognizing the completion of the high school program. However, to implement this change, it needs to be approved at the National Assembly, so the Ministry of Education and Training needs to include it in the Government's agenda to submit to the National Assembly in 2026.
The next content Mr. Luc mentioned related to university admissions. In recent years, university admissions have changed many times, leading to the situation that candidates have not had time to adapt and have anxiety. Therefore, Mr. Luc proposed that the Minister study so that the university entrance exam does not have to change year by year.
The Ministry can organize a common entrance exam for public universities under the Ministry's management, while private and semi-public universities are autonomous in enrollment" - Mr. Luc suggested.
In addition, the preferential treatment regime for teachers is also an issue that worries teacher Luc. From July 1, 2026, the base salary will increase from 2.34 million VND/month to 2.53 million VND/month, equivalent to an increase of about 8%. Teacher Luc hopes that the preferential treatment regime for teachers will also be strongly improved through accompanying specific policies.
I really hope the Ministry of Education and Training will advise so that all teachers can enjoy a special salary coefficient. In which, preschool teachers are entitled to a special salary coefficient of 1.25 compared to the current salary coefficient; other teacher titles are entitled to a special salary coefficient of 1.15 compared to the current salary coefficient as drafted by the Ministry of Education and Training" - teacher Luc said.
