Deputy Prime Minister "burned out lesson plans"

According to Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam's speech to hundreds of "top" leaders of the education sector this morning, February 13, it is not possible to abolish the university entrance exam. At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Training needs to reconsider the proposed changes to the high school graduation exam.

Taking charge of the education sector since the end of 2013, this is the first time Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has attended an education sector conference with the presence of education leaders from 63 provinces and cities. And also in a "hot context": the education sector is actively implementing the "education reform" project, the first push of which is the plan to change the high school graduation exam and university and college entrance exams this year.

After sitting all morning listening to 14 opinions, when it was his turn to "speak", the Deputy Prime Minister began:

“Today I was “burned” with my lesson plan because I was mentally prepared to listen to many opinions, and mentally prepared to have opinions in the afternoon. But by the end of the morning, everyone had run out of opinions, so I would like to have a few opinions, and also hope to share sincerely."

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and Minister Pham Vu Luan are listening to the discussion. Photo: Van Chung

Not in a hurry but cannot hold back

According to Mr. Dam, education has many problems that even the education sector is not satisfied with. That dissatisfaction was also proposed by the sector and the Central Committee discussed two sessions before issuing Resolution 29 - comprehensive fundamental innovation of education and training.

But then again, our country's education system has many proud achievements and progress, respected by society...

Mr. Dam said, “Any country with a good education system will prosper. Therefore, this comprehensive fundamental reform cannot be done all at once, cannot be hasty but cannot be done half-heartedly. We must be very urgent, very determined but must be very scientific and careful step by step.”

Rectify the national anthem and cleaning duties

Sharing with officials and teachers in the industry, Mr. Dam said: if we look closely, there are many things "we say we will change but in reality we have not done it".

For example, the goal of "not only teaching knowledge but also teaching humanity" has been set by the education system since the government took power, since the first educational reform.

“During my school days and the time of many department leaders, there were several things that should now be reviewed and corrected; from the very small things like: saluting the flag, singing the national anthem. Teaching children to love their country and their fellow countrymen must be done like that. Now, many schools do not take this seriously.

Or about physical education: In the past, we paid a lot of attention to mid-break exercise. Or we assigned each other to be on duty every day; did general cleaning, planted trees...every week.

Nowadays, many places outsource these activities, to the point that their children do not know how to work. But the important thing is not not knowing, but not doing it directly means not loving work, not loving the workers.

These examples were given by the Deputy Prime Minister about "there are things that do not need to wait for the Ministry, do not need to wait for hundreds of millions of dollars to create a standard program to modernize textbooks, modernize facilities" but can still be innovated.

Changes should be announced before the opening day.

Mr. Dam spent most of his time discussing changes in the industry's examination system.

According to him, the Ministry of Education and Training is actively innovating the curriculum, "but we cannot do it sequentially. Teaching before innovating the exam is also an approach, but we have to redesign the Vietnamese education system, from there issue a national framework program. Then write textbooks and train teachers. Only then will we complete the exam innovation."

Delegates speaking at the conference. Photo: Van Chung

Mr. Dam said that the Ministry's choice of a breakthrough in the examination work also has the meaning of going one step ahead to create a strong and widespread impulse in innovation.

Before this conference took place, the Ministry of Education and Training announced a plan to change the high school graduation exam.

Accordingly, there are plans to reduce the number of compulsory exams from 6 to 4, candidates will have optional exams, 20% of students will be exempted from graduation exams, this will be applied in this year's exam, etc.

Referring to this plan, the Deputy Prime Minister noted that it must be discussed carefully, because it cannot be changed in just one year, in the spirit: there should not be continuous changes but should be piloted on a small scale; there cannot be a situation of "discrimination between teachers", "learning from advanced countries" must be appropriate, and any work that is tiring but necessary and effective should not be afraid.

"The Ministry should discuss carefully and try to announce it before the new school year starts or before summer break, including the university admission plan," he said.

According to vietnamnet