Need to clarify the necessity of including literature in medical major admissions

Medical student practice hours. Photo: Archive

Those schools are: Van Lang University recruits medical students using 3 traditional combinations A00, B00, D08 and 1 new combination D12 (Literature, Chemistry and English); Vo Truong Toan University (Hau Giang) and Tan Tao University (Long An) use combination B03 (Mathematics, Literature, Biology); Duy Tan University uses 4 combinations: A16 (Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Literature), B00, D90 and D08.

Sharing about the fact that some schools consider admission to medical majors using Literature, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long - Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Training (Ministry of Health) said that regarding university admissions, Point b Clause 2 Article 34 of the revised Law on Higher Education stipulates: "Higher education institutions autonomously decide on admission methods and are responsible for admissions work".

Specifically, in Circular 08/2022/TT-BGDDT dated June 6, 2022 of the Ministry of Education and Training promulgating the Regulations on university admissions, Clause 1, Article 3 stipulates that "Training institutions exercise autonomy and accountability in admissions, ensure compliance with legal regulations and are responsible before the law".

Article 6 of this Circular stipulates that the subject combination used for admission includes at least 3 subjects suitable to the characteristics and requirements of the training program, not using more than 4 admission combinations for a major or training program; changing or supplementing admission methods or combinations must have a reasonable basis and roadmap.

Clause 5, Article 6 of the Circular stipulates: “Training institutions are responsible for explaining the scientific and practical basis in determining admission methods, admission methods, admission combinations and allocating admission quotas; including based on analysis, evaluation and comparison of the learning outcomes of admitted students each year”.

The health sector currently has 17 university training codes, 66 schools with university training in the health sector, with a total enrollment target of 37,512 students in 2022. The health sector is basically a natural science, requiring logical thinking, quick analysis ability, and accurate assessment.

"Most majors in the health sector in recent years have used the combination B00 (Math, Chemistry, Biology) and A00 (Math, Chemistry, Physics), in addition to A02 (Math, Physics, Biology); D07 (Math, Chemistry, English), D08 (Math, Biology, English)... Math, Chemistry, Biology, Physics are very important and necessary subjects for the health sector," Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long said.

According to the Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Training, with its assigned functions and tasks, the Ministry of Education and Training is the focal point for managing higher education, including higher education for the health sector. The Ministry of Health does not manage the input, training process and output of higher education.

However, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long analyzed that the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment amended in 2023 stipulates that the examination and assessment of medical examination and treatment practice capacity before requesting a practice license applies to the titles of doctor, physician, nurse, midwife, medical technician, clinical nutritionist, outpatient emergency worker and clinical psychologist, conducted by the National Medical Council.

It is expected that the form of assessment of professional practice capacity will be by computer-based multiple-choice test through the medical practice capacity assessment toolkit issued by the National Medical Council.

"Including Literature in the university entrance exam for health care is under the authority of training institutions. However, if Literature is included in the exam, other subjects (Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology) will be eliminated. So is there any scientific basis to say that Literature will be more important than the subject that must be eliminated? Training institutions need to have a scientific and practical basis," Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long asked.

Therefore, the Ministry of Health recommends that training institutions need to have a clear and convincing analysis and explanation of the scientific and practical basis for the necessity and reasons for including Literature in the admission to university training in the health sector, including analysis, evaluation and comparison of the learning outcomes of admitted students every year in accordance with the requirements of Circular 08/2022 of the Ministry of Education and Training.

In addition, the consideration of the scientific and practical basis for including Literature in the admission exam must be analyzed for each specific major code in the health sector.

Training institutions need to consider the provisions of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment on testing and assessing medical practice capacity before requesting a practice license applicable to certain positions, especially regarding the content and form of the test (multiple choice) to consider including Literature in the admission group.

Educational institutions are fully responsible before the law and in practice for selecting Literature as the subject for admission.

According to VNA