The argument about whether to continue the VNEN teaching model has resurfaced after the World Bank released a report, affirming the great advantages of the model, and HCMC’s decision to continue the model at local schools.

VietNamNet Bridge - A recent report shows that 50 percent of titled professors and PhDs are working at state management agencies. 

Educators have shown their doubts about the feasibility of MOET’s plan to use education curricula from developed countries like Finland, saying that the curricula are well designed, but don’t fit the conditions in Vietnam. 

While educators continue to argue about whether to teach children to read and write at the age of six, Vietnamese parents are practicing both skills with their children aged 4-5.

“I am sure that doctoral training quality will improve. There will not be many candidates who can meet the requirements to be trained for a doctorate and not everyone can become a PhD students’ instructor,” said MOET Deputy Minister Bui Van Ga.

VietNamNet Bridge - Ten years ago, in-service training for bachelor’s degrees was the bread-earner for universities. Now, schools live on master’s degree training. 

No undergraduates enrolled in a university in Nam Dinh Province in the 2017 admission season, the same as last year, but the school is still operating thanks to its postgraduate programme.

VietNamNet Bridge - The government in 2015 approved a plan on reforming curricula and textbooks for general education, emphasizing a student-centered approach which aims to promote initiative, creativity and self-study.

VietNamNet Bridge - At the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), one teacher guides up to 44 PhD students and one PhD is produced every 1.76 days.

Many people have supported MOET's decision to temporarily stop Math and English competitions because they think the competition puts pressure on teachers and students, while others believe it would be unreasonable to remove them.

VietNamNet Bridge - Many universities are still short of students for the upcoming academic year, with some training majors in danger of closing. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi National University and HCM City University of Science & Tech nology produce the highest number of graduates who go on to become entrepreneurs, according to a survey.  

The Ministry of Education & Training (MOET) has vowed to improve the quality of teachers by setting up a minimum admission mark for pedagogical schools, but education experts do not think the measure will help. 

Despite sharp enrollment cuts, the number of teachers trained every year is still far higher than demand, as the Ministry of Education & Training (MOET) lacks control over hiring at the local level. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Even after accepting students with low entrance exam scores, pedagogical schools are continuing to see a drop in enrollment.

The new mathematics curriculum is based on four elements, “streamline, practice, modernity and creativity”, according to Do Duc Thai, chief editor of the math curriculum compilation division.

Dr Do Quang Yen, a lecturer at the University of Virginia, who won one gold and one silver medal at the 1998 and 1999 International Mathematics Olympiads, says Vietnam lacks professors and leading experts who can develop talented students.

Students only need a 3 score on one entrance exam subject to be admitted to pedagogy training schools, while university lecturers at the schools rarely conduct research. Such is the state of teacher training in the country. 

As many as 352,000 students passed exams to enter universities in the first enrollment period, but only 242,000 students have turned up to start school, while 110,000 students have rejected the opportunity. 

Even with a 29 score for three exam subjects (each on a 10-point scale), many students have not been accepted by the schools they chose, leading to questions about the fairness of the enrollment scheme.