Noting that the competitions organized by prestigious organizations provide a useful ‘playing field’, Cuong warned, however, that if students spend too much time on competitions, they won’t have time for lessons.

His school first collects information about organizers, ways of organization, and prizes before giving advice to students about whether they should attend.

“We support healthy and high-quality playing fields for students. But there are too many nonsensical online competitions that are not organized in a serious manner, with no supervisor to ensure fairness and with too many prizes,” he said.

He said the school never forces students to attend competitions.

Thai Thinh School is pursuing an international integration policy, under which teachers receive training to teach mathematics in English and prepare students to attend international competitions in mathematics and sciences. 

The teaching staff prepares students who attend the competitions free of charge. 

The school provides information about competitions so that parents and students can make choice.

Cuong thinks the competitions will help students prepare well for international exams to enter foreign universities.

Headmaster of Marie Curie School Nguyen Xuan Khang said students should be selective when attending international competitions, because many, especially those organized by private companies, lack high quality.

“We never ask students to attend such competitions. In general, students attend the competitions to ‘test their abilities’,” Khang said.

Luong Thi Thuan Anh from Tran Van Thoi Secondary School in Ca Mau said many competitions are a waste of time, money and effort. 

Meanwhile, a secondary school teacher in Hanoi, who asked to be anonymous, said the competitions are organized because the demand is high.

Ngan Anh