Don't 'measure' exams by scores and degrees

Education should focus on nurturing and cultivating character rather than measuring it by grades or...

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Lan Dung: There is no such thing as "learning talent but taking exams is fate"

Professor, People's Teacher Nguyen Lan Dung.

Many people believe that exams are considered a turning point in a student's life, especially exams for transferring to higher levels and entrance exams to colleges and universities.

My family believes that the children's good academic results are the happiness of the whole family. Therefore, no matter how difficult it is, we try to create the best conditions for our children's education. Lan Hieu passed the entrance exams to three universities, Nu Thao won medals in international competitions. My grandchildren are all good students and obedient.

In my opinion, parents should not force their children to take exams in schools that do not match their wishes, but should also advise them to consider their abilities when choosing a school. For example, if they have a talent for foreign languages, why should they choose to study English - where there are too many candidates? Are there no training needs for other foreign languages? It is even more important to base it on the children's wishes, not just choose a major they are familiar with in the hope of having a job after graduation. Studying a major they do not like, or following the crowd is harmful to children.

Your academic performance determines your exam results. There is no such thing as “good at studying and bad at taking exams”. You should read more related reference books, especially put more effort into learning foreign languages. Foreign language teachers should not cram grammar into your students so that they cannot speak or read no matter how long they study.

How to make children find joy in learning and always be healthy enough to study naturally will achieve good results. Moreover, understanding from parents and love in the family are very important for children's learning results. Studying is closely linked to health, studying to the point of health breakdown is too harmful. Because learning is a lifelong thing, must be healthy and happy to have good results.

Tell or find examples for your children to read about overcoming challenges to succeed in their studies and contributions. Manage your children's time to have a balance between studying and resting and entertaining. All of this requires parental attention. However, above all, always remember that there is nothing richer than being rich in intelligence, will and love.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Minh (Lecturer at Hanoi National University of Education): Staying steady in the face of the "storm" of exams

Dr. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Minh.

Don't measure your child's worth by his/her grades. What about his/her physical, emotional, and personal growth? What about his/her values and ideals? How many other achievements cannot be revealed through simple numbers? How many experiences and lessons have you learned throughout your life - things that cannot be measured by grades? How much joy and good deeds have you brought to others cannot be measured by numbers. It cannot be said that a child with 10 points is worth more than a child with 2 points.

Therefore, if we only measure the entire maturity of a child by the scores of exams, it is really one-sided, shallow and blind. Failure or success in life is just a convention. Behind what we define as success or failure, there are many social prejudices that if we are not alert, we will be drowned by them.

If unfortunately the child does not get the desired results at this time, of course parents can feel sad, disappointed and angry, blame and regret. But at this time, parents can stop for a moment to ask themselves: What lessons have my child learned during his school years? How has he/she grown? What good qualities have been formed in him/her? What potential has not been fully developed? How can it be developed in the next stages? What additional support does my/her child need?

The test results are not important, but they will be a good data for you to analyze and answer these questions. When you ask these questions, you will see things in a different way, more optimistic and calm. That is when parents can sit down and talk to their children, like adults.

I always believe that education should focus on nurturing and cultivating personality rather than measuring children by scores. If we are aware of this, we will be calm and steady enough to face the "storm" of exams, and be at ease on our journey of parenthood.

Dr. Cu Van Trung (Chairman of the Board of Directors, Education Consulting and Training Joint Stock Company): Young people should position themselves.

Dr. Cu Van Trung.

Through my work and interactions with young people, I see that many young people choose their careers based on the market, their parents’ preferences, their temporary emotions, or the “hotness” of the industry… That is, they do not really understand and position themselves. This leads to mistakes that linger over the years, and wastes resources.

The mentality of “loving” degrees, wanting children to go to university, and spending money on studying and training for their children to get into university has caused many talents to be stunted. Many students have talent in a field and can become the elite, the pinnacle of a certain profession, but if they are not well-directed and oriented towards a career, the possibility of success will not be high. It is difficult for them to shine on the path to establishing themselves and their careers.

Meanwhile, society increasingly values people with skills and practical working ability over those with many degrees but lacking practicality and being too academic and bookish.

When young people reach the capacity to become master craftsmen, golden hands, the essence of the profession, beauty comes from labor, from work. And that beauty has the power to attract people. The products of a highly skilled person through education are very valuable and that value can be "sold" in a competitive market.

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