Illustration image by Kiều Trinh

By Khánh Linh

The high school exam has long been the most competitive, nerve-wracking and high-pressure ordeal for Vietnamese students, particularly those in urban areas like Hà Nội. In the upcoming academic year of 2024-2025, the competition is forecast to escalate to unprecedented levels as it has become a race among parents before the students' official examinations take place.

In the past week, many private high schools in Hà Nội have begun accepting applications for the upcoming academic year. As part of this process, parents seeking admission for their children are required to pay a fee, referred to as the "reservation fee," "registration fee," or "deposit".

According to schools, this deposit requirement serves as a means of securing students' enrolment when submitting applications before the new academic year. It is a fee agreed upon voluntarily by parents.

The deposit for a seat at private schools this academic year has surged to a historic high. Prestigious institutes like Archimedes High School in Đông Anh District top the list with a fee reaching up to VNĐ23 million (US$932), followed closely by Hanoi Academy High School with VNĐ20 million ($810), Lương Thế Vinh High School with VNĐ15 million ($608), Newton High School with VNĐ12 million ($486), and Lý Thái Tổ High School in Cầu Giấy District with VNĐ11 million ($446) per student.

Relatively less prestigious schools maintain slightly lower fees of VNĐ3-10 million ($405-121).

It's essential to note that this amount is non-refundable, even in case students withdraw their applications from the school.

The story of parents rushing around in panic to secure private school options for their children after failing the public high school entrance exam remains a harsh lesson for many families in the capital city. Due to not considering the possibility of their children failing the exam, many parents did not plan another option.

Consequently, they found themselves staying up all night, queuing to submit applications, yet still unable to secure a place in a private school for their children. Many are forced to send their children to study in their hometowns or accept placements in private schools far from home.

Learning from the previous academic year’s experiences, parents are proactive this year, promptly submitting reservation applications as soon as many private schools opened their enrolment.

Despite the significant deposit required, many parents gritted their teeth and paid the money to ensure their children had back-up option in case they didn't get into their desired public school. They are willing to accept losing this fee if their children are admitted to a better school.

Nguyễn Minh Trang, a parent from Nam Từ Liêm District, has chosen a prestigious private school with a deposit of up to VNĐ15 million for her child.

She said: “I'm willing to spend money for peace of mind. If my child gets into a public school, I'll consider this money spent.”

Trang's situation is not unique. It's common for parents to reserve spots at multiple private schools to alleviate their worries. On social media platforms, parents have engaged in discussions, with many admitting to submitting fees for at least one private school to ensure they can "sleep soundly at night," as one parent said.

Nguyễn Minh Phương, a parent residing at Nguyễn Huy Tưởng Street in Thanh Xuân District, shared that she had paid fees for two schools totalling VNĐ23 million ($932). Uncertain if her child would attend, she paid the reservation fee out of love and concern for her child's future.

“People might criticise me for wasting money, but only those in Hà Nội truly understand the educational pressure,” she explained.

It’s easy to understand the mindset of parents. According to the city’s Department of Education and Training, the number of students transitioning from secondary to highschool steadily rises each year.

It estimates that in the academic year 2024 - 2025, the city will have nearly 135,000 students applying for grade 10, an increase of 5,732 students compared to the previous year.

Meanwhile, the admission rate to public high schools is expected to remain unchanged at around 60 – 62 per cent of the total number of students, making the exam increasingly stressful for students and parents.

The anxiety and fear make many parents restless and uneasy. Many have hurriedly made deposits to reserve a spot without careful consideration.

Nguyễn Kim Dung, a parent residing in Khương Hạ Street in Thanh Xuân District, emphasised that those who have the opportunity should quickly rush to make deposits because “they have to accept waste as they don't want their child to end up in the distressing situation of being left without a school placement.”

At higher education, the situation isn't any different.

Next month, hundreds of thousands of 12th-grade students will begin the competency assessment examination, also known as the critical thinking assessment examination, in the hope that the exams will enhance their chances of admission to their preferred universities.

This examination is independently organised by universities. The fee for each exam session is VNĐ500,000 ($20) per candidate, with candidates having the flexibility to register for as many sessions as they desire.

In recent years, universities have been organising exams in an increasingly overwhelming manner. For instance, Vietnam National University, Hanoi intends to conduct up to six exam sessions, with approximately 75,000 candidates from nine cities and provinces already registered. Similarly, Hanoi University of Science and Technology plans a comparable number of exam sessions across eight localities.

"My child has registered for both examinations at Hồ Chí Minh City National University. She also participated in a preparatory course for these exams. All of my child's classmates have registered for the exams as well," said Nguyễn Thu Hương from Hoàng Mai District.

Dr Nguyễn Hoàng Chương, former Principal of Lộc Phát High School in Lâm Đồng Province, told the Vietnamese Education Magazine that apart from some positive impacts of exams at certain universities, the proliferation of multiple exams has negative effects.

“Students easily become confused and even register for multiple exams to increase their chances. In addition, many students who are unable to register for these exams in their local areas will have to travel to other provinces to take the exams,” he said.

“It not only adds pressure on students to prepare for the exams, but also financial pressure on parents. This results in a waste of social resources," he said.

It is worth noting that these exams are organised before the high school graduation exams. This means that no matter how well a candidate performs in these exams, the results are meaningless if they fail the high school graduation exams.

It's not difficult to see that examinations sound like good business for schools. Only parents and students are at a disadvantage. They endure financial losses, and the pressure of exams only increases.

The waste of money is evident, but the waste of time, effort and the trust of parents and students in the country's education system is immeasurable.

Building more schools is a long-term solution that needs to be done immediately.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Education and Training needs to have clear direction and conduct regular inspections to ensure that competency assessment exams at universities are organised at appropriate times, ensuring quality and fairness for candidates. By implementing these measures, waste and inefficiency in the examination process can be minimised, ultimately benefiting both students and society as a whole. – VNS