University and College Entrance Exams 2014: Expectations after a year of reform

(Baonghean) - After much anxiety and worry, the 2014 university and college entrance exams finally took place smoothly, seriously, safely, and in accordance with regulations. This exam was also considered to have many innovations in the way questions were formulated and candidates were categorized…

The joy of the candidates at the exam center at Truong Thi Secondary School.

At the exam center at Truong Thi Secondary School (Vinh City), among the candidates who finished their exams earliest, everyone noticed a pretty female student wearing a bright red shirt with the red flag and yellow star printed on it. Admitting that she wore the shirt intentionally, Tuyet, a former student of Tan Ky High School, said: "As soon as I arrived in Vinh for the exam, I went straight to buy this shirt. I thought that wearing a shirt with the image of my country's flag would give me more strength and confidence when taking the exam." Perhaps because of that thought, after the three subjects in the C-block entrance exam for the University of Internal Affairs, Tuyet confidently said that "I did very well in all of them." Regarding Literature, the last subject, she felt most optimistic and had high hopes for question 2, the social commentary question that asked students to analyze a quote from the work "The Superfluous Life" by writer Nam Cao."A strong person is not someone who steps on the shoulders of others to satisfy their selfishness. A strong person is someone who helps others by carrying them on their own shoulders."Regarding her personal opinion, Tuyet stated: "In daily life, I always consciously try to help my friends and strive for unity and harmony. I also related this saying to the current situation in our country, especially the South China Sea dispute. China may be a large country, but it is acting against international law, and if that is its way of showing its 'strength,' then it is a misguided strategy, only aimed at 'satisfying its selfishness.'"

Not only in Literature, but in many other subjects as well, teachers have commented that this year's exam questions have shown positive changes. They not only require students to have a solid grasp of knowledge and creativity in their expression, but also demand candidates to possess a certain level of knowledge relevant to life. This is also one of the positive innovations of the Ministry of Education and Training that has been highly appreciated by the public and experts. At the same time, everyone hopes that these innovations will lead to many more innovations in teaching and learning methods in the coming years. The goal is to eliminate rote learning methods that are heavily focused on textbook data and to pay more attention to knowledge that is connected to reality and has high educational value, helping students to gravitate towards genuine values ​​in life.

The 2014 university and college entrance exams in the Vinh examination cluster were assessed as safe and serious, with only 3 candidates suspended after 2 rounds of exams. Security and order during the exams were absolutely ensured, and the staff involved in the admissions process performed their duties and responsibilities correctly, adhering to regulations and avoiding any errors. The examination centers were adequately equipped with necessary facilities and stationery. Following the exam, Mr. Dinh Xuan Khoa, Rector of Vinh University and Chairman of the Examination Board, stated that the results were due to the constant attention and guidance of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Committee, and relevant departments and agencies such as the Police, the Department of Education and Training, and the Electricity Company. In addition, the unified direction, inspection, and supervision by the members of the Examination Board, the scientific, coordinated, and harmonious cooperation, and the support of universities, especially those located far away or those that sent candidates to take the exam at the Vinh cluster, contributed to this success. This year's exam also highlighted the efforts of student volunteers and young people participating in the "Exam Support Program." They arranged nearly 100 free accommodations and over 4,000 affordable rooms for exam candidates and their families. They provided counseling to nearly 40,000 people and offered free transportation for nearly 5,000 vehicles. In addition, they provided luggage and vehicle storage services for thousands of candidates.

However, observing the organization of the exams, especially the activities of the exam support teams this year, there are still many issues that need attention. Specifically, although a large number of young volunteers participated in the exams, nearly 1700 people, the activities of the volunteer teams were generally monotonous, focusing heavily on the number of participants rather than providing practical assistance. Information about accommodation and volunteer locations on the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union website is also very scarce. Hopefully, from these shortcomings, future exams will see more investment in organization, with the most important role being played by the Provincial Youth Union, the main unit directing, planning, and monitoring the "Exam Support" program.

My Ha