University and college admissions 2017: Difficult for schools in the province

(Baonghean) - The draft 2017 Admission Regulations developed by the Ministry of Education and Training have many new points that are beneficial to candidates such as registering multiple wishes and removing the minimum score. However, in reality, many students are no longer interested in university lectures, leading to many difficulties for schools during the admission season, especially for lower-ranked schools or schools in provinces and regions.

Not necessarily college

Since 2012, the Ministry of Education and Training has had a policy of giving priority to direct admission to candidates who are ethnic minorities and have permanent residence in poor districts. This is a major policy of profound humanity with the main goal of developing human resources to ensure socio-economic, national defense and security.

In our province, with 3 poor districts of Tuong Duong, Que Phong, Ky Son, it is expected that each year there will be nearly 2,000 12th grade students graduating from high school and can be admitted directly to universities. However, during the implementation process, students are not very interested in this policy even though the benefits for them are very great.

At Que Phong District High School, last school year, only 125 out of 372 students registered for university admission. This year, the number of students taking the graduation exam has increased and accounts for nearly 70% of the total number of students in the school. According to Ms. Tu Thi Van - Vice Principal of the school: Although the policy is very "open" and creates many advantages for students, they are still hesitant because they are worried about not having a job after graduation.

On the school side, in the process of orienting and assigning students, there is no need to emphasize on high achievement. The important thing is to guide students to choose the professions that the locality needs, suitable to their abilities, qualifications, circumstances and economic conditions of their families.

A review session of 12th grade students at Le Hong Phong High School (Hung Nguyen). Photo: My Ha

At Ky Son High School, the expected rate of students registering for graduation this school year is also approximately 80%. Xa Ba Tru (grade 12K, in Tham Thin village, Nam Can commune) said: "I don't know where I will apply for a job after graduating. I just want to graduate and have a job and get a salary right away."

Even in the plain districts, the view on university education has changed a lot. Class 12 A3, Le Hong Phong High School (Hung Nguyen) is one of the natural science classes and is considered to have quite even quality. However, in this school year, according to the survey, 16/36 students did not take the university entrance exam but chose to study a trade, work or plan to study abroad or work abroad.

Like Ho Thi Manh Kien, although he is one of the good students in the class, Kien has decided not to take the university entrance exam. On the contrary, he has just registered for a Korean language class with the plan to study abroad after graduating.

Sharing the reason, Kien said: “Studying abroad while working is hard, but I think this will be better for me. Firstly, I have a degree, secondly, I have experience and a foreign language. Moreover, I can still earn money to support my life.”

Teacher Nguyen Viet Hung - Principal of the school also said: "Every year, the school has more than 30% of students registering for the graduation exam. This is a positive sign that students have become more proactive in choosing schools, choosing careers and no longer have "illusions" about their abilities and qualifications...".

Admission pressure

Nghe An is considered one of the educational centers of the North Central region with 6 universities and 8 colleges and vocational colleges. The scale of training students at university and college levels has increased sharply in recent years with more than 20,000 students.

In addition, every year there are thousands of students who study and work, pupils and students taking joint training courses. This is also a favorable condition for candidates in the admissions to universities and colleges in the coming school year, especially when the policy of allowing candidates to register multiple wishes and removing the minimum score is approved.

With this regulation, in theory it will be “open” for schools in the admission process, with no limit on input. However, in reality it is not easy when currently, the trend of candidates entering universities is decreasing day by day.

Competition to attract students to schools will also be more intense, and it is very easy for schools to compete to recruit enough students to meet their quotas, regardless of quality or input.

Candidates taking the 2016 National High School Exam. Photo: My Ha

As at Nghe An College of Culture and Arts, last year, although the school had many innovations in admission methods such as considering both academic records and the results of the National High School Exam, the number of admitted candidates only accounted for about 50% of the target.

This year, if the new regulations are applied, the school will be more worried because according to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Duc - Head of Training Department: "The general mentality of many Nghe An families still wants their children to go to university. Therefore, when the opportunities to enter university and college are "equal", it is clear that students will register for schools with higher training levels".

In other schools, the pressure to enroll students is still very heavy. For example, at Nghe An University of Economics, for many years the school has not been able to meet its enrollment quota, including many majors with no students registering to study.

At Nghe An Pedagogical College, although it is a traditional school, only the Preschool College is still “promising”; the remaining majors have only recruited a few students. Even Vinh University last school year, the whole school only recruited more than 3,000 students, instead of more than 5,000 students like previous years.

As university admissions become easier, it is clear that quality is difficult to demand, and the situation of “easy entry, difficult exit” is predictable.

In the above situation, before the admission season, students need to research carefully. High schools and parents also need to guide students to choose the right school, the right major, the right career, and the right ability; at the same time, need to be open, respectful, and create conditions for students to be proactive and confident in themselves when making decisions about their career and future.

My Ha