VietNamNet Bridge - 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. 

MOET decided to remove the floor mark from the 2018-2019 academic year, but it will set up the floor mark for teacher training facilities in order to ensure teacher quality.

MOET’s Phung Xuan Nha announced the decision at a meeting with presidents of pedagogical schools some days ago. The meeting was scheduled amid worries about the low quality of incoming students at pedagogical schools. 

Education experts have rung the alarm bell over the enrollment at pedagogical schools. Students just need to have a 10 score for three exam subjects to enroll in pedagogical junior colleges (3-year training), while pedagogical universities (4-5 year training) accept students who got a 15.5 score only.

MOET has vowed to improve the quality of teachers by setting up a floor mark for pedagogical schools, but education experts do not think the measure will help.

Hong Duc University in Thanh Hoa province requires a 15.5 score for all 10 training majors. The Hung Vuong University in Phu Tho requires a 15.5 score for 8 of 10 majors and Hue University of Education for 10 of 15.

Van Nhu Cuong, a renowned educator, thinks that education schools should only admit students with a minimum 18 or 20 score, because teaching is a special career.

However, many people doubt the floor mark will help improve the quality of teachers. 

A senior teacher at a high school in Cau Giay district said pedagogical schools have to accept students with low scores because very few students register at the schools.

“So, the problem is that pedagogical schools are not attractive in students’ eyes. If MOET sets high floor mark, schools won’t attract anyone, both good or bad students,” he said.

“The floor mark won’t have any significance. Students will follow majors which allow them to find jobs after graduation,” he added.

Nguyen Tung Lam, chair of the Hanoi Educational Psychology Association, said if MOET can ensure job opportunities for pedagogical school graduates, it will be able to attract good students and there would be no need to set up floor mark specifically for pedagogical schools.

Deputy Chair of the NA’s Committee for Culture, Education, the Youth and Children Pham Tat Thang commented that it is necessary to apply reasonable policies to attract more students.

He said the number of students applying for police and military schools is very high because the graduates of the schools don’t have to worry about jobs after graduation, and can expect salaries higher than other civil servants. 

If the same policies are applied to pedagogical schools, the current situation will improve.

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