The decision of the Ministry of Education and Training to support Vietnamese Heroic Mothers in the university entrance has recently become controversial because the public believe that the mothers are too old for university entrance exams.
The ministry has decided to add two grace marks to the total score given to Vietnamese Heroic Mothers in the University Entrance Exams.
Bui Van Ga, Deputy Education Minister told Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper that Vietnam is fostering learning in society and therefore, age limit is no longer a factor.
"People from all walks of life and age groups must be allowed to participate in the learning process", he said.
In addition, the title ‘Heroic Mothers’ is given, sometimes posthumously, to mothers who have made numerous contributions and sacrifices for not only the national liberation but also the national construction and defense, he added.
Mr. Ga said that the government issued on May 22 new regulations that support Vietnamese Heroic Mothers to sit for University Entrance Exams, and under the circumstances grace marks were justified.
Not just the public but also some in the education sector have criticised the new decision. Le Huu Lap, Deputy Head of Post and Telecommunication Institute in Hanoi, said that some legal points in this decision are just not practical and adding grace marks is not justifiable.
The Education Department added grace marks to scores of certain candidates, such as those from poor or disadvantaged mountainous areas and applicants whose family took part in the country’s past wars against foreign invaders -- to help them compete with better students coming from urban areas. |
