Daughter-in-law shows off mother-in-law's 1979 university entrance exam paper and untold story

In mid-June, Ms. Thuong posted on social media her mother-in-law's 1979 university entrance exam registration form.

The ballot paper was worn at the edges but the blue ink was still intact, the handwriting was neat and straight as if printed. The information fields were neatly lined up, showing the hard work of the person who made it.

"If I were born at that time, I would have spent the whole summer writing university entrance exam registration forms," ​​Ms. Thuong said.

University entrance exam registration form in 1979 of teacher Ho Thi Ngoan (Photo: NVCC).

The owner of the ballot is Ho Thi Ngoan, born on June 10, 1962, registered for the B block exam, Biology department, Vinh Pedagogical University. The ballot was written on March 15, 1979.

At that time, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces were one province, called Nghe Tinh. The agency in charge of universities was the Ministry of Universities and Vocational Secondary Schools, separated from the Ministry of Education in 1965.

In the wish section, the candidate chooses the second wish, Thanh Hoa Banking College.

However, the voter did not have to use his second choice because he had passed his first choice, becoming a teacher training student with an admission score of 13.5, 1.5 points higher than the standard score to enter Vinh Pedagogical University at that time.

The 18-year-old female student Ho Thi Ngoan is now retired teacher Ho Thi Ngoan, living in her hometown Quynh Luu, Nghe An.

Portrait of Ms. Ho Thi Ngoan (Photo: NVCC).

Sharing with Dan Tri reporter, Ms. Ngoan said that she was one of 21 students from Quynh Luu district high school who passed the university entrance exam in 1979. At that time, there was no pressure, no review, whoever felt capable of taking the exam could take it.

"I didn't go to any review school because there were no teachers to teach me about university entrance exams. I spent two sessions a day, one session at school and one session working in the fields. I didn't have time to study at home.

The whole district has a small bookstore, but apart from textbooks and storybooks, there are almost no reference books. Study materials are even scarcer, there are only exercise books and a supplementary cultural book to review," Ms. Ngoan said.

Ms. Ngoan's family was poor. Her father went to war, her mother was a farmer, life was poor and difficult. However, her hometown Quynh Luu was a land of learning, people in the area, no matter how poor, still let their children go to school, only when they could not afford to study did they have to drop out.

However, due to the lack of learning conditions, the journey of "learning to escape poverty" was not easy. Many of Ms. Ngoan's friends dropped out of school after graduating from secondary school because they were unable to pass the high school entrance exam. Ms. Ngoan was admitted directly to high school thanks to her excellent academic achievements.

The university entrance score was very low at that time. 16-17 points was enough to study abroad. 12 points in block B (math, chemistry, biology) was enough to get into medical school. Ms. Ngoan got 13.5 points, then registered for teaching because her friends persuaded her.

"Her father also advised her to pursue a career in medicine. She was thin and weak, and her health was poor, so studying medicine was more suitable. But at that time, she was very shy, afraid of blood and needles. Students had no knowledge of the profession, and no one gave them advice. Her friends encouraged each other to take the teacher training exam, so they took it. In her knowledge, she only knew about teaching," Ms. Ngoan confided.

When asked if Ms. Ngoan regretted choosing to be a biology teacher instead of a doctor, she said: "I have never. Because teaching is the job I truly love."

After graduating, Ms. Ngoan was assigned to work in Dong Thap. 3 years later, she applied to move to Nghe An, teaching 10km from home.

Because there were too many high school teachers, Ms. Ngoan was assigned to teach at the middle school. A year later, she transferred to the middle school near her home, Quynh Luu Gifted School, which was later renamed Ho Xuan Huong Middle School.

Her love for teaching and her love for poor, studious children made Ms. Ngoan stick with the teaching profession for more than 30 years until her retirement. She went through the ups and downs, hardships of the profession, with the meager salary, the poverty of a student teacher, without ever feeling regretful or remorseful.

Ms. Ho Thi Ngoan with her husband, children and grandchildren (Photo: NVCC).

For many years, she has been responsible for training excellent students at the provincial level for Ho Xuan Huong School and Quynh Luu District, training many excellent students at the provincial and national levels.

She also participates in professional work of the Department of Education and Training of Nghe An province such as training, inspection, grading, invigilation, and exam preparation...

Ms. Ngoan was awarded a certificate of merit by the Ministry of Education and Training for her dedication and contributions to the cause of education.

Interestingly, Ms. Ngoan's second son followed the medical profession, although it was not his original intention.

He majored in physics at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted (Nghe An), won third prize in the national physics competition, and was admitted to Hanoi University of Science and Technology as he wished. However, because he took the B block exam as a "backup", he also passed the Hanoi Medical University.

At the last minute choosing a university, Ms. Ngoan's son chose to study medicine and is now a doctor at Hanoi Medical University Hospital.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/con-dau-khoe-phieu-du-thi-dai-hoc-nam-1979-cua-me-chong-va-chuyen-chua-ke-20240624130653575.htm