Ho Chi Minh City students "struggling" with changes

Having just stabilized their review for the 2025 high school graduation exam after implementing Circular 29, many students continue to express their concerns when the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has just proposed to organize the exam nearly 20 days earlier.

Students in Ho Chi Minh City are witnessing many changes ahead of the 2025 high school graduation exam. Most recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training proposed to hold the exam nearly 3 weeks earlier than expected, causing a wave of anxiety. Especially when students have just begun to settle down after changes from Circular 29 on the ban on extra teaching and learning.

Candidates after completing the final exam at the 2024 High School Graduation Exam. Photo: Dao Tuan

"Have to run again before I can catch my breath"

For many students and parents, the earlier start of the exam means that 12th graders have to speed up their exam preparation. This causes a lot of disruption, especially when they are just starting to settle down after the changes from Circular 29 on the ban on extra tutoring and learning.

Nguyen Thi An (a 12th grader in Ho Chi Minh City) shared: "I have just adapted to not having extra classes, and now I have to face an earlier exam schedule. If the review time is shortened, I am afraid I will not have enough strength to prepare."

An added that self-study requires a high level of concentration and discipline and she is trying to adapt. "I am trying to build a detailed study plan, but if the exam schedule is earlier, I feel the time is too urgent."

As for Nguyen Hoang Minh, he has just found a suitable tutoring center. Minh shared: "My friends and I all feel that this year has had too many changes. Especially, when we heard that not only the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City but also some Departments of Education and Training in other provinces and cities have proposed to organize this exam earlier, no matter how optimistic we are, we still start to feel a lot of pressure."

Not only students, parents also expressed concern about these constant changes. Ms. Tran Thu Huong (a parent in Go Vap district) shared: "I understand that the education sector wants to innovate, but the change is so fast that both parents and students cannot adapt. My child has just started to get used to the new learning method, now he has to race against time, I am very worried about his health and spirit".

Ms. Huong said that her child was a good student, but these changes made him lose confidence. "My child often complains about not having enough time to review. I see that he is always stressed and tired," she said.

Parents anxiously wait for their children to complete the 2024 High School Graduation Exam. Photo: Dao Tuan

Another parent, Mr. Le Van Nam (Thu Duc City) shared: "What worries me most is that my child has to face too many changes in a short time. The children need time to adapt and stabilize, but if the exam schedule is earlier, I'm afraid they won't have enough time."

Mr. Nam added that he had learned about the changes in the 2025 high school graduation exam and realized that the exam also has many other new points, including the format is not just a simple multiple choice test, the exam content closely follows the new general education program,...

"I think these changes are necessary, but there needs to be a clear roadmap and appropriate preparation time for students," said Mr. Nam.

However, Ms. Hoang Thi Hao, Principal of Son Tay High School (Thu Duc City) said that if the exam time is adjusted, it will not affect students too much: "The school always focuses on reviewing for students from the beginning of the year. The students already have enough knowledge, so if the high school graduation exam takes place about 3 weeks earlier, it will not affect much."

Regarding the reason for the proposal to organize the 2025 high school graduation exam from June 7-10, 2025, 20 days earlier than the expected schedule announced by the Ministry of Education and Training as June 26-27, according to the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, due to the impact in the context of the whole country implementing the arrangement and merger of provinces and cities, completing the district-level tasks according to Conclusion 127-KL/TW dated February 28, 2025 of the Politburo and the Secretariat on implementing research and proposing to continue to arrange the organization of the political system.

At the same time, the Department also recommended that the Ministry of Education and Training soon issue directives, organization plans and schedules for high school graduation exams.

"These adjustments aim to ensure the rights of students and stabilize the psychology of parents and students. At the same time, they facilitate the preparation work of localities to organize the high school graduation exam safely, seriously, and in accordance with regulations," the document stated.

Source: https://danviet.vn/ky-thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-2025-hoc-sinh-tphcm-quay-cuong-truoc-nhung-bien-dong-20250318112207313.htm