VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has decided to cut out some parts from the curriculums for grammar schools. However, students complain that their pressure has not been eased.

Curriculum cuts make teachers puzzled

A lot of teachers complained that the curriculum cuts seem to be unreasonable. For example, MOET has decided to put the texts about Great Tutor Tran Thu Do and the Supreme Commander of Dai Viet during the Tran Dynasty Tran Hung Dao as stories for reference for 10th graders, not for official curriculum. Meanwhile, literature teachers believe that these are very interesting stories which can attract the interests from students and help them compare with the modern society.

“These are lively lessons which allow making historical portraits reappear. I am sure that with experienced teachers, students always love these lessons,” said Nguyen Nhu Huong, a literature teacher of the Pham Hong Thai High School in Hanoi.

Citizenship education teachers complain that the subject has never been respected by students, who call this an “auxiliary subject”. Meanwhile, MOET has cut a lot of lessons, including the ones which have practical education significance. A teacher from a school in Hanoi complained that even the lessons about personal happiness, about family relations and the responsibility of family members have also been cut.

Other teachers complain that the curricula cuts have made them puzzled. In many cases, the ministry only gives vague guidance, from which teachers cannot find any useful information that serves the teaching.

Extra classes burden students

A lot of parents complain that the burden on their children has not been eased, even though the Ministry of Education and Training has cut out some parts of the curriculums.

“My child went to school one month before the new academic year began. Currently, after school hours, he goes to extra classes as well and he has no free time, because he has lessons on Saturday and Sunday as well. However, he gets 6 or 7 marks only for writing practice test,” a parent complained.

“It is now the third week of the new academic year. Meanwhile, the teachers have asked students to practice dictation at home with parents,” T, a parent, whose daughter is going to the Phuc Dong primary school in Long Bien district, said.

“I think that it is now too early to request students to write dictations. I would be happy if my child can write all the letters perfectly,” she continued.

In general, the more prestigious schools students go to, the more extra lessons students will have to have. A parent, whose child is going to a grammar school in Hoan Kiem district said that in order to force students to go to extra classes, teachers always ask students to do a lot of home exercises. As students cannot do all the exercises, they have no other choice than going to extra classes to get advices from teachers.

A mother said that her daughter goes to school from 12.20 pm to 5 pm, and then goes to extra classes from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm. Therefore, the girl has no more time to do home exercises, both given by the teachers and the schools and the tutors.

“When can they play sports, read books or join entertainment activities, then?” she complained. “The new academic year has just begun, but my child always complains that she has got too tired of lessons,” she said.

Students themselves also say that the decision by the Ministry of Education and Training to cut out curriculum does not make them happy, because they still have to learn hard as before.

Lan Anh, a 10th grader of Phan Chau Trinh High School in Tan Binh district, said that the burden on her shoulder remains the same. It is true that some lessons have been cut out from the curriculum. However, instead of learning the lessons, students have to spend time to do more home exercises.

Anh said that though the curriculum are very heavy, students still cannot obtain enough knowledge for the university entrance exams, therefore, all students have to go to extra classes.

Source: Tien phong