VietNamNet Bridge – The question raised at the literature exams for 12th excellent graders in Hai Phong City was described by some educators as “abnormal.”

The question is as follows: Ngoc Trinh, a model, when answering a local newspaper’s interview, said she would never love a poor man, because she doesn’t want to live in poverty.

Le Thi Huyen Anh, a young girl, also said on a social network: “I hope a lot of rich men like me and give me a lot of money.”

Please write an essay with 800 words at maximum on the theme: “The social progress and the young girls’ dream for rich men.”

The exam question has immediately stirred up the public. A reader poll conducted by Nguoi lao dong newspaper found that 39 percent of readers said they did not feel surprised about the question, while 61 percent said it was “abnormal.”

Truong Khac Dung, a reader, said the exam question was “very interesting and creative.” Literature is a social science which reflects the social issues. Therefore, students need to have the opportunities to express their opinions about the social issues.

“Why don’t we confront the social evils we see in our lives? Let the young people say what they think about the evils,” said Hai Hau, another reader.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Van Vinh believes that students should be asked about today’s problems, not the problems which happened thousands years ago (In the past, students were always asked to make comments about the statements of some national famous men or national heroes who lived a long time ago).

Nguyen Thi Hoang Mai, a literature teacher of the HCM City High School for the Gifted also thinks the question is good. The statements of the two young girls show the lifestyle and the viewpoint of a part of young people in the society, a negative lifestyle which should be condemned.

Mai does not think it is a problem to raise a question about a negative phenomenon in the society at such an exam. She said all the social issues, both good and bad, could become the topic of discussions.

Dang Dinh Dai from the international school Wellspring, who has been teaching literature for 50 years, said that this is an “open” question which encourages students to express their viewpoints and allows them to show their true ability.

“I think the question is suitable for an exam for excellent students,” Dai said.

Meanwhile, Associate Professor Van Nhu Cuong, Headmaster of the Luong The Vinh High School in Hanoi, said he does not think this is a good idea.

“I cannot understand why the Hai Phong City’s Education and Training named the two young girls in the question,” he said.

“It is a good way to set “open questions” for students at exams. But I think the questions need to be educational,” he added.

Truong Ngoc Bich, a former literature teacher of the Kim Lien High School, commented that the viewpoint and lifestyle of the two young girls does not the common lifestyle of the Vietnamese youth, therefore, it should not be the topic for discussion. Meanwhile, the two young girls have been criticized heavily in recent days for their ludicrous statements and behaviors.

K. Chi