The Ministry of Education and Training is seeking opinions on whether this year the exam will be in natural sciences, next year it will be in social sciences or there will be a draw for a third subject in grade 10.
The method of drawing lots for the third subject among the remaining subjects in the education program of the Ministry of Education and Training is supported by the majority of teachers and education experts.
Because, in addition to Math and Literature, the third subject must be drawn by lot, forcing students to study all subjects equally, avoiding rote learning and lopsided learning.
Normally, when the exam subjects are announced in advance, students will focus on those subjects and skip other subjects. Meanwhile, the general education program aims to provide students with knowledge in all subjects equally, so that after graduating from high school, they will have enough basic knowledge from natural sciences to social sciences.
When they don't know what the third exam subject is, students will study all subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, History, Geography... Teachers who teach the remaining subjects besides Math and Literature all focus on their expertise, so that students can study best, so that they can pass the exam with high quality if it falls into their subject.
Therefore, the suggestions to draw lots and announce the third exam early also need to be reviewed. When is early?
If the lottery is drawn and announced too early, students will focus on that subject, and will return to the state of rote learning, lopsided learning, and uneven learning of all subjects. As for teachers of subjects that are not "drawn" by the lottery, they will be relaxed because they are not under pressure regarding their expertise and teaching.
However, it should not be too early or too late. Because if the lottery is drawn too late, students will not have enough time to review for the exam, not to mention the psychological pressure and anxiety that they will face is also not good.
Balancing studies, evenly distributing subjects, preparing well for exams, and reducing exam pressure are things that the education sector from the central to local levels must consider and do.
As for teachers and parents, they need to prepare their students and children to be mentally ready, calm, and study all subjects evenly to achieve good results in exams no matter what "scenario" happens. That is real learning, not "parrot learning".
