Don't orient your children according to 'which career is richer'

Professor Phan Van Truong (front row, fourth from left) in the discussion "Education in the new era" with students and parents of grade 10, Le Quy Don High School on August 30 - Photo: MY DUNG

During a talk with students and parents welcoming 10th grade students for the 2024-2025 school year at Le Quy Don High School, Ho Chi Minh City on the evening of August 30, Professor Phan Van Truong - permanent advisor to the French Government on international trade since the 1990s, had an interview with Tuoi Tre Online .

According to Professor Phan Van Truong, the current problem is that parents are guiding their children in choosing a career by comparing one career with another, to see which career is the "best", which career makes more money.

The professor, who was awarded the Medal for Education by the President of Vietnam (in 2010), emphasized that guiding children to choose a career in such a way is wrong and will make it difficult for them to succeed in work and life later on.

Also because of the view that which profession is richer, this profession is better than another, parents will often choose subjects for their children (in high school according to the 2018 program) based on the "orientation" of the profession in that direction. This makes the child study without love, without passion, without inspiration. Later on, the child will struggle in his career.

"It's not that doctors will make more money than engineers. It's not that lawyers will make more money than teachers… All those kinds of comparisons are superficial in today's era.

Choosing a career and major for your child must be based on the student's passion and interests," Professor Phan Van Truong emphasized.

According to Professor Phan Van Truong, the mindset of choosing a career based on qualifications is an old one, and parents need to change it soon. Because, nowadays, paying a person a salary, people earning money through work is not only based on qualifications or the name of the job they undertake.

"A person who has a hobby and talent for singing, does not like to be a doctor. But parents keep "forcing" their child to study medicine because they think that being a doctor is good and interesting. Later, that child will study medicine according to the parents' direction and become a bad doctor, which will be much worse than if that person pursues his passion for singing.

When a career is a passion and a hobby of each individual, that person will learn throughout their life, making it easier for them to succeed in the career they choose," Professor Truong explained.

Therefore, he advises parents to help their children find their own interests and passions and encourage them to pursue that path. The path of passion in work and career is the path that leads to good horizons for the child's future.

Many parents are misunderstanding about future orientation for students.

Talking to students and parents in many different places, Professor Phan Van Truong said that many parents today misunderstand the future orientation for students. The reason is that they worry too much about their children, sometimes they fall into a situation where they do too much, leaving no room for students to do, study, think and "do what they like".

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/khong-nen-dinh-huong-cho-con-theo-kieu-nghe-nao-giau-hon-20240831114439209.htm