The Ministry of Education and Training organised a conference in HCM City this week to review the 2005-2006 school year and work out key tasks for the new academic year. Participants spent much time discussing effective measures for the education sector to overcome shortcomings.

Over the past years, the fight against negative phenomena in the education sector, particularly in exams and achievement figures, has been raised at many workshops and conferences. But no effective measures have been taken to remedy the situation. In several cases teachers bravely denounced the phenomena to suffer immediate retaliation and intimidation. In other cases, some educators and teachers compromised or ignored negative phenomena. The practice of giving bribes to enter top-notch schools or to fabricate higher graduate rates in exams was widespread among teachers, students and their parents.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan pointed out the four major types of waste as a result of such practices: the wasting of time, (for students), money (for parents), educational contributions (for teachers) and for society in general.

Phan Van Be, director of the Central Highlands Dak Nong province’s Department of Education and Training, welcomed the education sectors’ determination to fight these negative phenomena, because previously the sector had failed to stamp out such pratices as the “buying” of certificates to aid promotion. He said the fight should begin with the ministry and educators, and then continue with student parents and local administrations.

Nguyen Khac Hao, director of northern Hung Yen province’s Department of Education and Training, said that the whole campaign is very sensitive, therefore, the ministry should clarify the responsibility of each individual and organisation.

Mr Hao said it is imperative to tighten management of teachers and change the nature of student assessment. Accordingly, 70 percent of examinations should involve spontaneous problem-solving activities.

Meanwhile, Ho Van Hiep, director of the Department of Education and Training of southern An Giang province which strictly observes exam regulations, said the ministry must be the catalyst in the fight.

“Once the ministry clarifies specific criteria, provincial and municipal departments of education and training will strictly observe them. When local departments strictly deal with any exam frauds, no negative phenomena will be reported in schools,” said Mr Hiep.  

To avoid such negative phenomena, the education sector should work out specific criteria of the emulation movement “Teach well – Learn well” and “Teach truly – Learn truly”. In addition, it should modernise education and training to ensure balanced regional development, and consider policies to improve teachers’ living conditions.

Fighting negative phenomena requires effort not only from the education sector, but also support from the entire political system and society in general.

In addition to the campaign, newly-elected Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said it is time to renew teaching and learning methodologies to encourage self-study among students and creativity among teachers.

“We need to re-establish order and principle in exams by encouraging emulation movements among teachers and students. We welcome innovation in teaching and learning methodologies, which we believe will receive widespread support from parents and society as a whole.”

The new campaign is considered a breakthrough and a good sign for education in the upcoming school year. The move is expected to pave the way for Vietnam to ameliorate the education system for the sake of national development.