High school graduation rate drops, worry or joy?

(Baonghean) - According to the latest statistics, as of June 17, 28 provinces and cities nationwide have officially announced the results of the 2013 high school graduation exam. Accordingly, while some provinces with high school graduation rates such as Nam Dinh (99.8%), Dong Thap (99.7%), followed by provinces with rates above 99% such as Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Hai Duong... Above 98% such as Ho Chi Minh City, Soc Trang, Phu Tho, Bac Can, Lam Dong. Above 97% such as Hanoi, Quang Nam...

Although only 28 provinces have announced results, according to the general assessment, besides the provinces with high rates and approximately the same as last year, this year many provinces have a slight decrease in the graduation exam pass rate in the high school system and a significant decrease in the continuing education system. For example, in Dak Lak province, while the high school system reached 95.7%, the "supplementary" block only reached 55.1%, a decrease of 15% compared to last year. Also in Tuyen Quang, the pass rate was 92%, while last year it was 100%; Ninh Thuan province decreased by nearly 20% while the general education block reached 98.4%, a decrease of 1%; other provinces such as Bac Giang and Bac Can have the pass rate of these two systems both decreasing from 3 to 10%. Particularly in Nghe An, the first province to announce results nationwide, the general education system reached 96.8%, the continuing education system reached 85.1%. Compared to last year, both systems had graduation pass rates that decreased by 2.1% and 5.6% respectively.

Just hearing the passing rate of the provinces, whether it increases or decreases slightly or decreases significantly, many people still think that the decrease does not reflect the reality. Discussing the above information, a principal of a high school in the lowlands said that if the exam was taken seriously, the average passing rate would only be from 60 to 70%. The opinion of the principal above is not unreasonable. Remember, in the 2007 graduation exam, the first exam of the "Two Nos" Campaign in the Education sector launched by the new Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, the graduation rate that year nationwide was only 67.5%. Much lower than 92% in 2006. Remember that year, mountainous provinces such as Tuyen Quang, the general education system only passed 14%, Bac Can 20%. Many general schools or continuing education schools across the country had no candidates passing the graduation exam or very few passed.
The results of that year made those who were interested in the country’s education “startled” but thinking back, they were happy. Happy because it was an exam season that was evaluated by public opinion as substantial, a measure to review the quality of teaching and learning in the education sector. However, those in the sector in some provinces with low scores felt “foolish” for participating in the “Two No” movement too actively (?) so that their sector, their locality and the candidates suffered double losses!

At that time, Nghe An went from a passing rate of 98% in 2006 to 44.5%. Although the rate dropped to nearly 54%, many responsible people were happy because this was a serious lesson for both teachers and students. I don't know if that's true or not, but in the next exam, the high school graduation exam in 2008, this rate increased to 68% while the national average was 76.5%. And, by 2011 and 2012, the graduation rate of the general education system and the continuing education system of Nghe An as well as the whole country returned to the level before the "Two No" Campaign. That is, at a "sky-high" level. On the other hand, some chaotic phenomena in exams were discovered, last year was the "Doi Ngo" case (Bac Giang) that shocked public opinion, and this year, an exam site in Hanoi is being verified by the authorities to have a clear conclusion. It seems that the "achievement disease" in education and in exams that was warned about and prevented in 2006 and 2007 is still rampant today.

The above figures and phenomena have made the public interested in asking the question: since 2007, the high school graduation rate nationwide has increased rapidly and almost reached its "peak", does it truly reflect the quality of teaching and learning? And if the situation continues like this, should we abolish the graduation exam, an exam that costs a lot of money when the passing rate is nearly 100%, and almost everyone involved can predict it?

Viet Long