Nguyen Minh Khanh, a 9th grade student in Tan Binh ward, said that in addition to official school hours, she takes 5 extra classes per week, not to mention exam preparation classes on weekends. "Normally, I take extra classes in Math and English in the evening, and on weekends I practice the exams for all three subjects. Some days I study until 9-10 pm before going home, do personal hygiene, and after eating, I continue to do homework," Minh Khanh shared.
Not only students, parents are also caught up in the race. Many families are willing to spend millions of VND each month on extra classes with the expectation that their children will achieve good results in the exam, increase their chances of entering public schools, and reduce the burden of tuition fees compared to private schools.
According to records, in Ho Chi Minh City in recent years, the number of public 10th grade classes only meets about 65-70% of secondary school graduates. The rest are forced to switch to private schools, vocational education centers - continuing education or vocational training.
This rate creates great pressure for 9th grade students and their families. Many students have to maintain high academic intensity for a long time, leading to fatigue, psychological stress, and lack of rest and exercise time.
“I take extra classes 6 times a week. The extra classes help me consolidate my knowledge,” said Nguyen Lan Chi, a 9th grade student in Binh Dong ward.
From the school's perspective, Mr. Dinh Phu Cuong - Principal of Nguyen Van Luong Secondary School (Binh Phu ward) said that every year the school proactively develops plans to support 9th grade students to prepare for the 10th grade entrance exam. "Based on voluntary registration, the school organizes review from the beginning of March to the end of May, teachers directly teach and do not charge fees," Mr. Cuong informed.
According to Mr. Cuong, in addition to consolidating knowledge, homeroom teachers and subject teachers regularly advise and support students in choosing high schools that suit their abilities. "Parents should not let their children take extra classes indiscriminately in many places at the same time, because it is easy to cause overload, overlapping methods and not bringing efficiency," he emphasized. Similarly, Mr. Pho Trong Huy - Principal of Binh An Secondary School (Binh Dong ward), said that the school's counseling and orientation for 10th grade enrollment is implemented throughout the school year.
After the first semester, counseling is carried out more deeply, based on the actual ability of each student. When registering aspirations, students need to compare their academic results with the benchmark scores of the most recent years to choose appropriately, avoid setting too high goals that cause psychological pressure," Mr. Huy shared.
According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dac - Principal of Hoang Hoa Tham Secondary School (Tan Binh ward), the preparation for the 10th grade entrance exam needs to be determined right from the beginning of the 9th grade school year, and should not be concentrated in the period close to the exam. "If you wait until April or May to focus on reviewing, the time fund is very limited. Students need to soon identify goals, develop clear study plans and maintain regular review throughout the school year to achieve effectiveness," Mr. Dac said.
