VietNamNet Bridge – First graders are being asked to solve math questions before they have even learned to read, parents say.

Thuy Duong, whose daughter attends a primary school in District 7 in HCM City, said:  “I think the math questions are too complicated for first graders. In order to solve the questions, students need to be able to read the questions to understand what they are told to do. They have to become familiar with letters and syllables.”

Dinh Thi Anh Tuyet, a parent in District 3 in HCM City, also noted that the lessons were not scheduled in a reasonable way.

“The academic year just began one month ago. First graders still cannot read and write. How can they solve math questions if they don’t understand the questions?”

“To solve some math questions, students need to do addition. Meanwhile, 1=1 and 2=2 is all the knowledge they have received so far,” she added.

A teacher at a primary school in District 5 in HCM City, who asked to be not named, complained that the curriculum caused difficulties for both teachers and students.

In the first semester, first graders have to solve questions with numbers from 1 to 10.

However, the questions are very difficult for them. “The questions can even confuse adults, let alone children,” the teacher said.

“The high requirements on students puts a heavy burden on teachers, because we have to spend a lot of time to explain every concept to students,” she said.

Bui Thi Thu Dung, a teacher at Nguyen Van Troi Primary School in District 4, said it took far too much time explaining concepts to students, as they still could not read.

“It would be more reasonable if the first math lessons come after reading and writing lessons. Students should be asked to solve math questions after they can read and write,” she said.

Le Ngoc Diep, former head of the primary education division at the HCM City Education and Training Department, said it was necessary to re-program the lessons for first graders.

He said the first year at school should be dedicated to reading and writing lessons and practicing those skills. Only after students can read and write proficiently should they begin to study math and other subjects.

However, he noted that teachers would continue to have difficulties with any curriculum if they did not use appropriate instructional methodologies.

“Teachers need to be flexible in their teaching. If they give lessons in a mechanical way, the task of easing the overloading on primary school students will never be fulfilled,” he said.

NLD