Students, especially those attending private schools and centres for continuing education in HCM City, face difficulties accessing research facilities and applying their research findings in practical settings. — Photo baoquangngai.vn

HCM CITY—Students, especially those attending private schools and centres for continuing education in HCM City, face difficulties accessing research facilities and applying their research findings in practical settings.

At the eighth dialogue meeting with officials of the city’s Department of Education and Training on Tuesday, 152 students discussed their needs.

Nguyễn Nhi of Phú Nhuận District Continuing Education Centre said the centre had poor infrastructure for scientific research.

Nguyễn Võ Minh Hiếu, a 12th grader at Nhân Việt High School, said that his group did not have access to labs of universities and colleges in the city. The group asked the department for assistance.

Many other students complained that their research works were evaluated highly and won prizes but had no chance for practical application.

They said that enterprises should offer more opportunities for application and work with the department.

The lack of opportunity caused them to lose motivation to do research, many students said.

Phạm Tường Lan Thy of the Lê Hồng Phong High School for Gifted Students, for example, said that soap made from cooking oil could be used but had not been applied by any company.

Scientific research clubs are set up at schools, but there was no link among schools, students said.

They suggested that the city set up a forum or website publishing the latest news on research efforts by students.

Thái Minh of Phú Nhuận High School recommended that a scientific museum for students be established so they could display their products.

Not only would it inspire creativity, but the museum would be a place where enterprises could examine and choose products.

Lê Hồng Sơn, head of the city department, said he supported the idea but there was no space for the museum.

The department said it would work the HCM Communist Youth Union and the Young Businesspeople Association as well as students to identify solutions to the problem.

The department’s professional and tertiary education division will also connect with universities and colleges to create conditions, including labs and other infrastructure for students to conduct research. -- VNS