Only one student in the class registered for university entrance exams.

Hoang Quoc Khang is a special and unique case among the 37 students in class 12 A5 at Cua Lo 2 High School who applied for university admission, even though he considers his academic performance to be only average. To fulfill this dream, Khang is currently the most diligent student in his class and is feeling anxious as the National High School Graduation Examination is fast approaching.

The remaining students of class 12 A5 - Cua Lo 2 High School, although still focusing on exam preparation, are calmer and more confident because their main goal is to study abroad.

Hoang Quoc Khang is the only student in class 12A5 who registered for university entrance exams. Photo: My Ha.

By this point, at least two-thirds of the students in the class have either started language classes or have essentially completed the necessary procedures to go to Japan or South Korea for study abroad this summer.

In class, on the schedule board, alongside the review schedule, the teacher also included a reminder for students to complete their applications for "working abroad in Japan." Talking to Vu Hong Minh, she said: "Many members of my family are working in South Korea, so after finishing my studies, I will also apply to study there. I don't know if I'll find work there, but for now, I will try to learn Korean fluently so that when I return to Vietnam, I can apply for jobs at Korean companies."

Next to class 12 A5, class 12 A6 also only has one student applying for university admission. Previously, studying abroad and working overseas after graduation was usually only for students with average or above-average academic performance, but now even the school's top students are enthusiastic about this choice. For example, Le Thi Huyen (a student in class 12 A1) has consistently achieved excellent academic results for three years. In particular, her average scores in Foreign Languages ​​and Mathematics are both above 9 points. However, instead of taking the university entrance exam, Huyen has finished her language studies and completed her application to enroll in Yeungnam University in South Korea in September. When asked about her reasons, Huyen said: "If I took the university entrance exam in Vietnam, I think I would have many opportunities. But I want to study abroad to both improve my language skills and make it easier to find a job after graduation."

A bulletin board in a classroom where the vast majority of students are going abroad for their studies. Photo: My Ha.

A relaxed atmosphere prevails in classrooms where 99% of students did not apply to university this year. Photo: My Ha

In a conversation with Mr. Nguyen Hong Hai, Principal of Cua Lo 2 High School, he stated: Last year, a survey revealed that approximately 70 students (one-third of the 12th-grade students) went to study or work abroad in South Korea and Japan. This year, that number may increase because out of 214 students in the school, only 46 registered for university entrance exams (79%). This reality has led to very low registration rates in many classes, such as classes A5 and A6 with only 1 student each, class A3 with 4 students, and class A4 with 5 students. Class 12 A1, considered a selective class, only had 13 students registering for the entrance exam.

Throughout the province, this rate is not uncommon; in some schools, the percentage of students not registering for university entrance exams reaches 90-100%, such as Mai Hac De High School (100%), Nguyen Van To High School (96.49%), and Nguyen Thuc Tu High School (96.43%). For students at Continuing Education Centers, almost 100% only registered to take the exam for graduation purposes.

Despite having excellent academic records, Le Thi Huyen, a 12th-grade student from Cua Lo High School, chose to study in South Korea instead of attending a university in Vietnam. Photo: My Ha.

The low rate of students applying for university admission also occurred in schools with a long tradition of teaching and learning. These included, besides Cua Lo 2 High School, Cat Ngan High School (72.73%), Hoang Mai 2 High School (69.49%), Yen Thanh 3 High School (67.43%), Nam Yen Thanh High School (61.80%), Nghi Loc 5 High School (61.46%), etc.

Upon investigation, the main reason students are not enthusiastic about universities is primarily due to concerns about the difficulty in finding employment after graduation. However, choosing to study abroad currently also carries many potential risks, especially for students who think of studying abroad as a way to "study and work at the same time."

Currently, many study abroad companies are advertising this type of study abroad program. However, in reality, opportunities for students to find work while studying abroad are limited. Even if they do find work, it's usually only part-time or physically demanding. In many cases, due to the desire to work, students have absconded to work illegally after completing their studies, creating a negative impression of Vietnamese students, especially in South Korea and Japan.

Advertisements for study abroad companies are displayed in many high schools. Photo: My Ha

In January 2017, a delegation from the Japanese Embassy visited Nghe An province. During the meeting, Ms. Tanaka Mizuko, the Second Secretary in charge of education at the Embassy, ​​raised concerns about the illegal residency and law violations of Vietnamese students in Japan, including those from Nghe An.

The delegation also suggested that the province should guide and direct study abroad companies in the province to provide accurate information and avoid misleading advertising of "work-study" programs that could lead students to use study abroad as a means of earning money.