Why laugh at 'the only guy admitted to the Preschool Education department'?

The article 'The only boy who just passed the entrance exam to the Faculty of Preschool Education' published in Thanh Nien Newspaper on September 7 received a large number of shares on forums for parents, students, and university students, along with many comments.

The article "The only boy who just passed the entrance exam to the Faculty of Preschool Education " shares the story of choosing a career and future orientation of Le Trung Nghia, the only boy among 250 new students of the 51st course of the Faculty of Preschool Education at the main campus of Ho Chi Minh City University of Education.

Le Trung Nghia at the welcome party for new students on September 7

PHOTO: THUY HANG

Moved by the love for children of the preschool teachers who raised him when he was a preschooler in Cu Chi district, Le Trung Nghia (a former student of Quang Trung High School, Thai My Commune, Ho Chi Minh City) determined to study hard to pass the exam with a very high score (26.5 points), and was admitted to the Faculty of Preschool Education, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. The preschool teacher who taught Nghia for more than ten years, although retired, diligently reviewed Nghia's notes because she felt Nghia's love for children and his talent.

2025 is the year that the number of candidates taking the aptitude test to enter the Faculty of Preschool Education, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education has increased dramatically, 4 times more than last year. According to Dr. Bui Hong Quan, Head of the Faculty of Preschool Education, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, in 2025 there will be nearly 4,000 candidates taking the aptitude test (and in 2024 there will be about 1,000 candidates). Thus, Le Trung Nghia's admission proves his academic ability and seriousness in choosing a career. In particular, as Nghia shared with Thanh Nien Newspaper, his family all support him to become a preschool teacher in the future.

However, after the article "The only boy who just passed the entrance exam to the Preschool Education Department" was published in Thanh Nien Newspaper, many pages (fanpages) on social networks shared Nghia's pictures and stories. Besides many compliments, admirations, and congratulations to Nghia, there were also many comments making fun of his gender, physical appearance, and even the field of study - preschool education - that Nghia chose.

Some social media users even asked, "Can boys also study preschool education? I thought this major and profession were only for women?" (!?).

Mr. Thai Hong Duy, teacher at 19/5 City Kindergarten, Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, is an excellent teacher at the city level.

PHOTO: THUY HANG

It is necessary to eliminate the prejudice that men cannot study and become preschool teachers.

Thanh Nien Newspaper published a series of articles "Men become preschool teachers, why not?" in 2024. Here, education management officers of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, preschool teachers, management officers in pedagogical universities, and gender experts all affirmed that it is necessary to eliminate the prejudice that men cannot study preschool education, as well as the prejudice that preschool teachers cannot care for, nurture, and educate children as well as female teachers, or that this profession is not strong...

Ms. Nguyen Thi Song Tra, founder of the S Project Sex Education project, Director of TH Education and Training Company Limited (THedu), emphasized the need to change the prejudice that men who work as preschool teachers will not be good at raising children. Society needs more open, understanding and encouraging views so that men can boldly pursue this profession if they really love it. It is necessary to build activities to bring more openness and understanding among generations so that people understand that: Choosing a career does not depend entirely on gender.

Kindergarten teacher Le Cong Su won the title of Outstanding Young Teacher of Ho Chi Minh City in 2024

PHOTO: NVCC

Psychologist Dr. Bui Hong Quan affirmed that in the 2025 admission season, preschool education is increasingly attracting candidates, especially in recent years, with many male candidates interested. Before 2023, there were almost no male students. In 2024, this faculty had 1 male student, and in 2025, there was also 1 person, Le Trung Nghia. "We always hope that the faculty will have more male students. Because, obviously, preschool education is not only for female teachers. Preschool teachers can also do it, and do it very well," said Dr. Quan.

Preschool teachers with many outstanding achievements

Thanh Nien Newspaper has published many articles about the portraits of excellent preschool teachers. For example, Mr. Le Cong Su, 31 years old, teacher of Hoa Dao Kindergarten, Tan Thoi Hiep Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. In 2022, Mr. Su won first prize in the City-level Excellent Preschool Teacher Contest on the theme "Building an environment to nurture, care for, and educate children". In 2024, he won the title of Outstanding Young Teacher of Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Thai Hong Duy (30 years old), a teacher at 19/5 City Kindergarten, Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, is also an energetic teacher, achieving many outstanding achievements in his work. In the 2024-2025 school year, Mr. Duy is one of the 10 best teachers, awarded first prize in the City-level Excellent Preschool Teacher Competition.

In 2024, in an interview with Thanh Nien Newspaper, Ms. Luong Thi Hong Diep, Head of the Preschool Education Department, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said that the city has 21 preschool teachers, of which 8 are managers, 13 are teachers directly involved in nurturing, educating, and caring for children. Thus, there are still many preschool teachers working at educational institutions in Ho Chi Minh City, working quietly every day, building a career of educating people...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sao-lai-cuoi-chang-trai-duy-nhat-trung-tuyen-khoa-giao-duc-mam-non-185250909191402479.htm