Eliminate career points to fit the new program

According to the draft circular promulgating regulations on high school graduation exams announced by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), one of the notable new points related to students' rights is that there is no longer a regulation on adding vocational training points in high school graduation consideration.

Candidates taking the 2024 high school graduation exam. Photo: Quang Vinh.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Education and Training removed the regulation that high school students and continuing education students with a vocational certificate issued during high school are given bonus points based on their classification (Excellent is awarded 2 points; Fair is awarded 1.5 points; Average is awarded 1 point).

It is noted that there are still many different opinions surrounding this issue. Some opinions say that the removal of career points should have been implemented a long time ago.

According to the analysis of Dr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh - former Director of the Department of Vocational Education (Ministry of Education and Training), in reality, for a long time, students studying vocational training in general schools were not for the purpose of streamlining and career guidance to approach jobs early, the main purpose was to get extra points when considering high school graduation. Therefore, the nature of vocational training of students did not achieve the desired results. Meanwhile, other countries have long abandoned this type of career guidance model.

According to Mr. Vinh, this should be replaced by a more meaningful activity, namely career counseling. If desired, high schools can combine inviting vocational school lecturers to teach students proper skills according to vocational skill standards, with clear assessment. From there, Dr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh completely agrees with the direction of eliminating the extra points in high school graduation exams.

Ms. Truong Thi Thuy - teacher of the General Technical Education Center No. 5 (Hanoi), who was the head of the city-level scientific research project "Teaching general vocational training according to the interactive pedagogical approach at general technical education centers in Hanoi" said that to learn about the current situation of general vocational training, the group conducted a survey of nearly 700 teachers and students at 6 general technical education centers in Hanoi. Through the survey, up to 83.9% of students said that they learned vocational training to get extra points in graduation exams.

Many teachers also pointed out that for a long time, students only studied occupations that were easy to get extra points, while other occupations were studied by very few or no students because it was difficult to get high scores in vocational exams. In addition, students were not allowed to choose a profession based on their interests and abilities, but only studied the occupations that were taught in schools (vocational secondary schools). Not to mention, male and female students studied the same profession while the needs and abilities of each student were different. Female students often tended to be interested in making cakes, arranging flowers, cooking, sewing, etc.

On the contrary, male students tend to be interested in IT, electricity, and repair, but schools do not teach these subjects. In fact, many vocational schools have limited facilities, and many vocational teachers do not have vocational certificates suitable for teaching. This leads to a waste of money and time for students when participating in vocational training.

However, on the other hand, there are still concerns that if the Ministry of Education and Training maintains the bonus points for vocational students and continuing education, it will create motivation for students and parents when choosing to study at vocational education institutions (VET), continuing education. Besides, VET institutions will have more advantages in recruiting students. If the bonus points for vocational students are removed in the high school graduation exam, it will go against the encouragement of vocational education and training; there is a risk of reducing the number of students registering for vocational training, thereby making the work of vocational education and training difficult.

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan - Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Vocational Education Association stated that we are currently implementing streaming and vocational education for middle and high school students. Therefore, it is very necessary for middle and high schools to encourage students to study programs to obtain vocational certificates, take vocational competency exams, and develop skills.

Previously, the removal of vocational entrance exam points according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training was also considered reasonable and necessary. Because many 9th grade students choose to take vocational exams because of the extra points, not because of career orientation. Invisibly, vocational exams have become a "lifesaver" for many students entering 10th grade, which makes vocational exams no longer meaningful as the original goal.

At the recent conference summarizing the work of examinations and inspections of high school graduation exams for the period 2020-2024, in preparation for the high school graduation exam from 2025, a representative of the Ministry of Education and Training said that there will no longer be points added for vocational certificates because the new general education program no longer has regulations on vocational education activities like the old program.

Thus, if approved, the new points in the high school graduation exam regulations will officially apply from 2025 - the first year the exam is implemented according to the 2018 general education program.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/bo-cong-diem-nghe-de-phu-hop-chuong-trinh-moi-10294042.html