General schools allowed to enroll students via interviews
The ‘first come first served’ principle will not be applied at for some prestigious secondary schools in Hanoi. They will instead select the most capable students.
However, the city’s education department last year told schools not to do this, saying that students at a young age must not be put under pressure. The department told schools to select students by considering students’ school reports, and threatened to punish any school which organized entrance exams under any form.
 |
The instruction by the city’s education department was not welcomed by schools, which complained that it was difficult to select students just by considering students’ school reports.
An analyst commented that more than 90% of students applying for ‘star’ schools were excellent students at primary schools with a GPA (grade point average) over 9.0. Therefore, it was nearly impossible to select the best among the excellent students.
However, the local education department turned a deaf ear to the complaints by schools, affirming that the new regulation must be respected.
The proposals by some schools on organizing tests or interviews to learn more about students’ abilities were also rejected.
It also stated that in principle, classes for the gifted or classes of selected students are not encouraged for secondary schools.
Therefore, educators were surprised when hearing that interviews would be allowed in 2016 to help schools choose the best students.
Deputy director of the Hanoi Education and Training Department Pham Xuan Tien has confirmed the move.
Nguyen Thi Kim Anh, headmaster of Cau Giay Secondary School, one of the ‘star’ schools, commented that selecting students via interview was a good solution.
“This would make the enrolment fair,” she said.
Van Nhu Cuong, a renowned educator, chair of Luong The Vinh School, commented: “There must be tests under some certain forms to discover students’ abilities."
Luong The Vinh, Cau Giay, Hanoi-Amsterdam for the Gifted, Marie Curie and Nguyen Sieu are listed as ‘star’ schools which receive thousands of applications every year, but they can enroll only 200-300 sixth graders.
