VietNamNet Bridge - Students not only have to do well in school, but also need to be lucky to obtain seats at state-owned high schools.

Nguyen Van Hai, a parent in HCM City, said he has had a divided mind over the last few weeks because he is unsure abouts the high schools his son should apply to. 

His son wants to attend the entrance exam to the Nguyen Cong Tru High School in Go Vap District. However, Hai is not sure if his son can pass the exam to the school.

In 2014, students had to get a minimum 37.75 score at the entrance exam, to be admitted to the school. “37.75 scores is within my son’s reach. However, I am afraid something bad may happen and he may not get the desired results. You know, it’s the luck of the game,” he said.

Hai, like other parents in HCM City, feel anxious about the upcoming entrance exams to state-owned high schools their children have to attend. They have been warned that in many cases, the students who get high scores at the entrance exam may still fail to enroll in any state-owned schools. 

Dinh Thien Can, head of the District 1’s education sub-department, confirmed that this happens every year -- that many students getting high scores cannot enter state-owned schools, even though they have three choices.

Under current regulations, every examinee can register three choices for high schools. If the scores they get from the exam are not high enough to enroll in a school, they can register to study at their second and third choices, if they can satisfy the requirements set by the schools.

Hai said it was difficult to choose the right schools for children because it was nearly impossible to predict how many scores their children may get and how many scores the schools will require.

“You will regret your decision if your child gets high scores, but you only registered to study at a less prestigious school, which does not require high scores,” he explained.

Kim Vinh Phuc, former headmaster of the Luong The Vinh School, noted that students can assess their capabilities themselves based on the scores they get from the 9th grade semester-end exam. 

However, the semester-end exam includes easy questions, designed for medium-level students; more difficult questions will be raised for the high school entrance exam.

Hoang Le An, headmaster of the Nguyen Du Secondary School in District 1, suggested adjusting the current examination scheme. She said it would be better if students sit the entrance exams first and they will choose the schools to study after they know their exam results.

NLD