Pre-university learning from high school: Many problems remain

To make pre-university learning from high school feasible, many issues need to be raised.

C FOR OUTSTANDING STUDENTS ONLY

In 2014, Hanoi National University issued a special mechanism for admission and training at high school and university levels. By 2018, this regulation was amended and began to be implemented. Accordingly, Hanoi National University allows students from specialized high schools to study some university subjects in advance. After evaluating the effectiveness, by the end of 2021, this special mechanism will be expanded to allow specialized high school students nationwide to register to study some credits in advance in the training program of Hanoi National University.

Học trước ĐH từ phổ thông: Còn nhiều vướng mắc- Ảnh 1. — Students from specialized schools across the country, if qualified, can study to accumulate credits from Hanoi National University.

Specifically, high school students of Hanoi National University and specialized high school students nationwide (starting from the second semester of grade 11) who want to register must ensure the following conditions: have at least excellent academic results in the previous school year and semester; be approved by the principal of the high school the student is studying at and the university training unit. In one semester, students can study a maximum of 3 credits. Universities under Hanoi National University will organize for students who meet the conditions to study the credits in advance and students can participate in studying with the credit classes of regular university students. The credit results will be reserved when students are admitted to Hanoi National University.

Recently, at the end of December 2023, Ho Chi Minh City National University also announced that in 2024, it will pilot a number of general subjects and credit recognition for high school students with outstanding abilities through a combination of online and in-person methods. Accordingly, talented students at all high schools will study a number of university-level subjects through the MOOC online lecture system of member schools, then take direct exams to have their credits recognized. These credits will be recognized when students become students of Ho Chi Minh City National University.

Meanwhile, FPT University has also developed a training program for high school students who are interested in information technology for many years. In this program, the school develops a number of subjects equivalent to university level subjects so that if students become students of the school, they can transfer and have their credits recognized. Although this program does not set out criteria for students to be good or excellent to be able to register, in reality, only students who are truly passionate and have outstanding abilities in information technology can study.

"The special regulations of Hanoi National University aim to create conditions for students with outstanding abilities to accumulate some credits in the university program in advance, experience the university learning environment, develop their abilities and later shorten the time when studying at university," Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Head of the Training Department of Hanoi National University, shared.

The goal of implementing the project for students to study before university of Ho Chi Minh City National University, according to Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Hai Quan, Director of Ho Chi Minh City National University, is also to help talented students have the opportunity to get acquainted with the university environment, have early career orientation and later shorten the university study process, with a maximum of one year.

Học trước ĐH từ phổ thông: Còn nhiều vướng mắc- Ảnh 2. — Students with ability and need, if studying before university, will save time for the university study process later.

DIFFICULT BECAUSE STUDENTS DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME

Speaking to Thanh Nien Newspaper, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Lieu, Principal of the High School for the Gifted in Social Sciences and Humanities (Hanoi National University), said that since Hanoi National University launched the program, the school has had more than 20 students enrolled. According to regulations, students will have to participate in the same classes as regular university students.

"Most of the students are enthusiastic, hard-working and progressing very quickly. Parents whose children are studying this program are also very supportive. Up to now, a student of the school has accumulated 30/130 university credits. With the current progress, this student can graduate from university in 2 years. However, only students who are truly outstanding and can arrange their study time reasonably in high school and at university can achieve such results, because they also have to go through tests, assessments and meet the same output standards as full-time students," Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quang Lieu shared.

Therefore, according to Mr. Lieu, if one is not really capable and well-prepared, accumulating university credits in advance can cause pressure, waste time and money of students and their families without achieving the desired results.

This is even more difficult if the university wants to attract students from specialized schools in other provinces and cities, even if they are excellent and outstanding students. Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan commented: "Due to the geographical distance, it is difficult for students to arrange their time to both study the general education program and return to Hanoi to study the university program, especially for those in their final years. We are still looking for a suitable solution to implement this."

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Head of Training Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, said that letting high school students study before university could become a trend in Vietnam in the future. However, the difficulty is whether they can arrange their time to go to school directly with full-time students.

If I study at another university , will the accumulated credits still have value?

One issue that many people are concerned about is what if a student has accumulated credits at a member school of Hanoi National University, but after graduating from high school wants to study at Foreign Trade University or a member school of Ho Chi Minh City National University?

Dr. Pham Tan Ha, Vice Principal of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University), commented: "Normally, students who have registered in advance have a clear career orientation, determining what major and which school they will study after high school. However, there will also be situations where students change their orientation in choosing a school or career. Thus, the accumulated credits are only valuable when the schools have a synchronization in the training program, have the same subject outline and have signed a cooperation agreement to recognize each other. To ensure the benefits for learners, this is necessary," Dr. Ha stated.

But mutual recognition is not simple. Dr. Le Truong Tung, Chairman of the Board of FPT University, said that university admissions currently have two directions, one is very strict input, the other is open input. At the same time, the curriculum, assessment methods, training quality, and output standards of the schools are also different, so is it possible to transfer credits from schools with open input and low output standards to schools with strict input and higher output standards? "Therefore, schools must build programs and subjects that are consistent, equivalent, and after completing the course, they will be granted certificates, then those credits will be valuable when studying anywhere," Dr. Le Truong Tung shared.

Regulations allow schools to transfer up to 50% of credits.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan suggested that when the course content is 80% similar, mutual recognition should be made. In addition, to facilitate mutual credit recognition, universities should also discuss and agree on tuition fees that meet the requirements of all parties.

Representatives of many universities believe that if the world has done it, Vietnam must do it sooner or later to create the best conditions for learners. "Currently, the training regulations and rules of the Ministry of Education and Training are completely favorable, allowing schools to transfer credits up to 50%. The remaining problem is between universities," said Dr. Le Truong Tung.

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