VietNamNet Bridge – More than 80 percent of primary school students in Hanoi and HCM City are weak at analyzing and setting problems, while they only have booklore, a survey by the Education Research Institute has found.

Imitating servilely others’ behaviors, waiting for solutions from adults

The capability of children to deal with arising problems in concrete circumstances is considered one of the most important factors to assess the intelligence and the ability of children in the present period or in the future.

In the survey, children were asked to answer the questions raised in the way different from the way students got familiar at their lessons. They were also asked to take actions in concrete contingencies.

When alarm rang, the school yard suddenly became chaotic. Students tried to run at the top of their speed, jostled with each other to rush out to the main entrance door. Some other students stood still with tears shed, because they did not know what to do.

Everyone then rushed to the main entrance door, while no one noticed the board with the words “Loi thoat hiem” (exit). The children automatically rushed to the entrance door because they saw the light from the direction, while they did not notice the board “Nguy hiem” (danger) hung over the door.

An educator said that children need to be trained how to keep calm and deal with the problems in unexpected circumstances. They need to practice the skills of observing, finding the problems and thinking of possible solutions.

The survey conducted by the education research institute has found out that more than 55 percent of children could not deal well with arising problems. At school, the children usually get 9, 10 – the best marks – in all subjects. However, they do not have creativeness and they have been relying on parents.

Every time when children meet difficulties or cannot solve questions, they would stop learning and expect the solutions from adults. Especially, they are not creative in literature lessons, which explains why a lot of essays are nearly the same.

“Vietnamese students do not have the chances to get involved to settle the problems in reality. They also are not keen in utilizing the knowledge in their lives,” said Dr Kim Dung, Deputy Head of the Education Research Institute, who conducted the survey in both Hanoi and HCM City.

“Therefore, only 7.1 percent of primary school students are believed to have a good skill of analyzing information, which is a reasonable result,” Dung said.

Children usually stay passive, why?

At the primary education age, children are believed to easily acquire knowledge via lively and colorful lessons and illustrations, suitable to their habits and psychology. If the knowledge is provided in a reasonable way, this would help encourage the thinking ability and the creativeness of children.

However, the currently applied education method in Vietnam has been described as “too academic,” which cannot bring enthusiasm to children.

Up to 64 percent of polled subjects, including parents, teachers and management officers, believe that the curriculums are overloaded; calling on to cut down the numbers of theoretical lessons and give more lessons on life skills and extracurricular activities.

Scientists have pointed out that the people succeeding in their lives and careers always have keen intelligence from the early age. They always try to settle problems themselves instead of relying on adults.

Thao Minh