In the 2023-2024 school year, the universities: Van Lang (Ho Chi Minh City), Vo Truong Toan (Hau Giang province), Tan Tao (Long An province) and Duy Tan (Da Nang city) proposed to include Literature in the admission combination for the medical major, causing many concerns in society. Besides the opinions that literature cannot replace Chemistry and Biology in the medical school entrance exam, there are opinions that including Literature in the admission for the medical major also has positive factors, but the medical major needs to provide scientific bases and have a methodical process.

To understand patients better

In fact, the Law on Higher Education allows schools to decide and be responsible for their own admissions. The inclusion of Literature in the admissions process for the medical field is the school's right. However, the appearance of Literature has created a "strange" admission combination because most majors in the health sector use the combination B00 (Math, Chemistry, Biology) and A00 (Math, Chemistry, Physics), in addition to A02 (Math, Physics, Biology), D07 (Math, Chemistry, English), D08 (Math, Biology, English)... Math, Chemistry, Biology, Physics are very important and necessary subjects for the health sector. Therefore, changing the combination or changing the exam subjects in each combination requires full, comprehensive consideration and a specific roadmap.

Knowledge of natural sciences plays an important role in the ability to acquire knowledge in the medical field.

Explaining this, these schools claim that they are following the law and helping to find candidates who understand patients better. Dr. Vo Thanh Hai, Vice Principal of Duy Tan University, said that the addition of Literature to the admission subject group is due to the fact that the medical industry values ​​humanity, compassion, sympathy, sharing and the ability to withstand pressure in the process of treating patients. The school only added Literature for admission purposes, not removed the subject.

Sharing the same view, Professor, Doctor, Doctor Nguyen Thanh Liem, Director of Vinmec International General Hospital expressed his support for including Literature in the admission criteria because doctors treat patients not only by performing procedures, surgeries, and prescriptions, but also by their heart and personality. “Literature is a person, so literature is an important factor in shaping personality. Literary works give doctors a comprehensive view of people, of complex emotional and psychological states of people. This helps doctors develop humanistic thinking, enhance their ability to understand and sympathize with patients, and be able to treat patients individually. Scientific knowledge can still be acquired if learned late, but the process of forming personality and soul is a process that begins from a young age,” shared Dr. Nguyen Thanh Liem.

According to the explanation of the opinions supporting Literature as only 1 of 3 subjects in the admission group. To enter the medical field, candidates must be excellent students in grade 12, with an average score of 8 in the admission subjects. Therefore, the inclusion of Literature in the admission group along with Chemistry and English is to serve the needs of admission, training a generation of doctors who are good at their profession and in health communication consulting, psychology, psychiatry, and taking care of people's health according to the family doctor model, both general and specialized, with the ability to interact and coordinate well with patients.

In fact, in international medical student entrance exams, in addition to the theoretical part, the interview part is very important. In this part, the questioner does not limit himself to scientific knowledge but requires candidates to have a very broad understanding of many issues, especially social issues, and the ability to handle situations. In Vietnam, previous generations of doctors were not only good at their profession but also great personalities.

Need convincing evidence

The health sector currently has 17 university training codes, with 66 training schools. The total enrollment target in 2022 is 37,512 students. This field is basically a natural science, requiring logical thinking, quick analysis ability, and accurate assessment. Therefore, the 3 subjects of Math, Chemistry, and Biology give learners logical thinking and an understanding of the nature of things.

Therefore, many opinions say that Literature should only be a soft skill, an additional condition. We also need to learn from international experience to strengthen screening and prevent harmful risks from medical ethics issues in the health care industry. For example, in the education industry, when candidates apply for teacher training, in addition to compulsory subjects, they must undergo a criminal background check and answer a number of personality questionnaires to eliminate all risks of harm to children. Personality tests show whether that person tends to be anxious and have difficulty controlling emotions, or has violent behavior...

Therefore, any change in the admission plan must go through a research and impact assessment process. If Literature is included in the admission process, it must be evaluated by scientists, especially medical scientists.

According to National Assembly delegate Pham Khanh Phong Lan (Ho Chi Minh City delegation), the inclusion of Literature in the entrance exam should not be arbitrary, but should be carefully studied to avoid unpredictable consequences later. The delegate said that the inclusion of Literature in the entrance exam of the medical major by schools is not wrong but is not satisfactory, causing doubts from society. The schools have not provided any basis or convincing arguments that medical students who are good at Literature will be better than those who are good at natural sciences. On the other hand, if we accept admission to the medical major using Literature, we must tighten the output standards.

Regarding this, the Ministry of Health also believes that training institutions need to have a clear and convincing analysis and explanation of the scientific and practical basis for the necessity of including Literature in the admission exam for university training in the health sector, including analysis, evaluation and comparison of the learning outcomes of admitted students every year according to the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Training. The consideration of the scientific and practical basis for including Literature in the admission exam must be analyzed for each specific major code in the health sector. Educational institutions are fully responsible before the law and before practice for selecting Literature in the admission exam combination.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy, Director of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Training said: “The criticisms from society, the community, the press, experts, schools, etc. all show positivity, exuding the spirit of university autonomy, coupled with accountability. The Ministry of Education and Training always listens and absorbs to be able to make policy adjustments in accordance with the functions and tasks of State management.”

Medicine is an important field of study, related to the health and life of patients; training takes a lot of time, effort and money. If students are not capable of acquiring specialized medical knowledge, they may have to drop out of school early or graduate without being able to practice, leading to a great waste of money and time. Meanwhile, communication skills do not depend on Literature but on the qualities and training of each person. While medical schools have not yet agreed on a common admission method and method, students still have to study passively. Candidates all hope that the Ministry of Education and Training as well as medical schools will soon answer this question to reduce anxiety about admission to the medical field from 2025.

Article and photos: NGAN HA