VietNamNet Bridge – Local education and training departments have noted the sharp increase in the number of the students registering to attend the exams to pedagogical schools. Meanwhile, economics relating majors have become less attractive.

“The most surprising thing this exam season I have noted is the unexpected rise in the number of students registering to study at education universities,” said Pham Thi Hanh, an officer of the Dong Da district education and training sub-department.

“In previous years, only several students attended the exams to pedagogical schools. But things are quite different this year. Tens of registrations have been made so far,” she said, adding that the deadline for application submission is April 22.

High schools’ leaders have also been surprised with the sharp increase in the number of their students who want to study at pedagogical schools.. The Yen Hoa High School in Cau Giay district has reported that tens of students have expressed their desire to study at pedagogical schools to become teachers.

The Phan Dinh Phung High School’s students now register to study at technique, medical and pedagogical schools instead of targeting economics schools.

Though the number of students heading for pedagogical schools remains modest, the modest increase still could be seen as the “good news.” Nguyen Ton Vinh, Headmaster of the Dong Da High School, said he has been trying to persuade good students to study to become teachers, but students nowadays tend to choose economics majors, which would bring better jobs in the future.

Experts have voiced their concern about the low quality of the pedagogical school graduates, which has been attributed to the low quality of the input students. High school students only choose to study at pedagogical schools only if there is no other choice for them.

Dr. Nguyen Kim Hong, President of the HCM City University of Education, who has also given warning about the qualification of the pedagogical school graduates, admitted that it’s very difficult to enroll excellent high school graduates, because of the high percentage of pedagogical schools’ graduates who cannot find jobs after the graduation.

This enrolment season has also witnessed the sharp fall in the number of students who register to attend the exams to economics schools. Economics training majors have become “cooled” after the Ministry of Education and Training warned about the oversupply of the bachelors in economic fields in the near future.

According to Nguyen Thi Ngoc Trinh, Director of the Hanoi Youth Job Center, 16 job career meetings have been organized for both the students in the inner city and the suburbs. It was estimated that 18,000 students attend the meetings.

High schools have also reportedly give job career advices to their students in the implementation of the Ministry of Education and Training initiated program on driving students to suitable jobs.

The Cam Ly High School in Bac Giang province said it has organized a mock exam for the students who wish to follow university education. The students who get less than 10 marks from the three exam subjects have been advised not to attend the national exam, because they are sure of failing the exams. They have been advised to go to vocational schools instead.

It takes every student VND4-5 million to prepare for the university entrance exams, which is the value of one ton of rice. Meanwhile, a lot of students with low learning capability insist on attending the exam, thus causing a big waste of money.

Compiled by Thu Uyen