Proposal to use literature as a subject in medical school admissions.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien expressed her approval of the proposal from some school principals to use literature as a subject in the entrance examination for medical schools. However, many opinions suggest that this proposal needs careful consideration and planning.

Candidates taking the entrance exam for Hanoi Medical University in 2014.

Many advantages

At the conference of rectors of medical and pharmaceutical universities held in Hanoi on October 10th, leaders of several medical universities proposed using literature as a subject for admission to medical schools.

Supporting this view, Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien stated: "The current system of exams based on subject groups has led to students focusing on only certain subjects. Literature is essential for medical professionals, helping them speak fluently, express themselves clearly in written form, and use correct grammar."

To give just one example, many specialists at the ministry write official documents with grammatical errors. Sometimes I jokingly say: it's very easy to have a brain hemorrhage when reading the original versions of these documents."

According to Ms. Tien, since the Ministry of Education and Training has stipulated that mathematics, literature, and foreign language are three compulsory subjects in the high school graduation examination, medical schools should also follow this approach by selecting those subject combinations for admission and adding an elective subject: chemistry for pharmacy majors and biology for medical majors.

Therefore, candidates aiming for medical or pharmaceutical fields can choose four subjects for their high school graduation exam, which are also the four subjects for university admission, instead of having to take many more subjects as was the case when universities maintained the B-block exam system.

The advantages of literature in the medical field.

Professor Nguyen Minh Thuyet, former Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture, Education, Youth, and Children, also supported this proposal when asked.

According to Professor Thuyet: "At first glance, this proposal seems strange, but a careful analysis reveals its logic. Firstly, if medical and pharmaceutical schools recruit students based on the results of the three compulsory subjects in the national high school graduation exam (mathematics, literature, and foreign language) plus biology or chemistry, students would avoid having to take an additional school-wide entrance exam, reducing bureaucracy and meeting the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Training when organizing a unified exam."

He analyzed the advantages of literature in the recruitment of people into the medical field:

“The subject of Vietnamese language and literature consists of two parts: language and literature. The language part helps students develop logical thinking, clear expression, and persuasiveness. Doctors are scientists who need good thinking skills to develop their abilities in research. Doctors with strong language skills will communicate well, which is of great significance in their daily interactions with patients. The literature part nurtures the soul and educates humanistic feelings in each person. Those who excel in literature will certainly have profound emotional responses to everyday situations and the pitiable circumstances of people in life. When doctors empathize with patients, they will wholeheartedly strive to find ways to cure them. When doctors empathize with patients, share their anxieties, and can even help patients find the strength to heal themselves.”

Upon review, we see that medical and pharmaceutical schools have traditionally tested students on mathematics, chemistry, and biology. Chemistry and biology are closely related to medical and pharmaceutical fields, but mathematics is more relevant to mechanical engineering, finance, and construction. Mathematics was chosen because it clearly develops critical thinking skills. Adding another subject to assess students' thinking abilities would be even better.

Ms. Lan Anh, a literature teacher at Tran Phu High School in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, along with several other literature teachers, believe that the proposal to use literature as a subject for medical school entrance exams is a good long-term strategic move and very meaningful.

Literature is essential not only in medicine, but in every profession, and it's used daily in everyday life in speech, manners, and interpersonal communication.

Consideration is needed.

However, according to this teacher, if implemented, literature should only be a prerequisite subject for candidates wishing to study medicine.

“There needs to be a certain threshold for eligibility to enter medical school. This will encourage students to pay attention and strive harder. Literature shouldn't be one of the four subjects with equal scores compared to subjects like math, chemistry, and biology. This would create pressure on students, especially since they are currently studying for the traditional exam block consisting of math, chemistry, and biology. The admissions plan could be announced this year and implemented in 2016. Over time, even though literature is a requirement, the score and requirements could be gradually increased,” Ms. Lan Anh suggested.

Sharing a similar viewpoint with Ms. Lan Anh, Professor Nguyen Minh Thuyet suggested that to avoid confusion for candidates who have traditionally studied for the entrance exams of medical and pharmaceutical schools, it would be best to implement the new system starting in 2016. Regarding the scoring system, he proposed that subjects like mathematics, literature, and foreign languages ​​could have a weight of 1, while chemistry or biology could have a weight of 2.

Meanwhile, the Rector of Hanoi Medical University, Nguyen Duc Hinh, stated that it is not yet possible to use literature as a subject for admission to medical schools, and that at least several years of preparation are needed before implementation. The Council of Rectors of medical and pharmaceutical schools will meet in December to discuss specific admission plans for 2015.

Nguyen Huu Tien, the top student at Hanoi Medical University in 2013, said that he and most of his classmates, when applying to the university, not only focused on academic knowledge but also on the awareness and responsibility of a doctor in saving lives.

"When we enter university, my classmates and I learn from the senior students; the teachers frequently remind us of important things. The university also has a course on medical ethics for students. Document drafting can be learned in short-term training courses or through self-study," Tiến said.

According to Vietnamnet