No Grading for Some High School Subjects: What Do Teachers Say?

Students of Phan Huy Chu High School (Hanoi) in a group study session

The Ministry of Education and Training has just issued a new circular regulating the assessment of high school students, which will be implemented immediately for grade 6 in the 2021-2022 school year. Accordingly, some subjects will not be graded, but teachers in charge will only give "pass" or "fail" marks.

Education administrators and teachers expressed support, but also concerns about the Ministry's new regulations on assessing high school students.Education and TrainingcreateEducation and Training).

* Mr. Nguyen Tung Lam - President of Hanoi Educational Psychology Association, President of the Education Council of Dinh Tien Hoang High School (Hanoi):

Need clearer criteria for evaluating conduct

When participating in the review of the draft regulations for assessing new students, I paid close attention to the removal of the previous classification of conduct, which included the weak and poor levels. Meanwhile, the criteria for classification were not close to the requirements for developing students' qualities and abilities.

In the new regulation, there is no "conduct rating" but only training points. I support this change. However, the criteria for evaluation need to be clearer. In many other countries, high school students are required to participate in some community activities.

And in the student training assessment, there is a section to record this. That is very advisable because it not only encourages students to study well but also encourages students to have a sense of community, to know how to share and contribute.

It is not without reason that many foreign universities, when considering scholarships for those who want to apply for scholarships to study abroad, are very interested in whether the candidate participates in community activities, charity activities, or inspires people... Because that is one of the proofs of ability.

As someone who values ​​moral education for high school students, I support the assessment method that increases comments and encourages students' progress. Especially giving students opportunities to "do it again".

In the new regulation, there is a section that students can have the opportunity to practice during the summer, review the content of some subjects that they did not pass during the summer to be considered for promotion if during the school year, students do not pass the practice and study points. This is good content. Because during the school year, students can be sick, mentally unstable due to negative impacts, due to family problems, causing the tests at a certain time to be not good.

If given a chance to do it again, students may have different results. And that way, the assessment of students' abilities and qualities will be more accurate.

I looked at the appendix of the new student assessment circular, the section for teachers to write comments is too small. If the model is published for schools to refer to, the box should be larger. That also helps teachers understand and get used to "assessment and comments".

Overemphasizing scores in assessment is a common mentality among teachers and parents and that should gradually change.

* Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhiep, principal of Yen Hoa High School (Hanoi):

Innovation with inheritance

In fact, new points in assessment such as increasing comments, diversifying assessment methods, and being consistent with active teaching methods... are contents stipulated in previously issued Circular 26.

Regarding periodic testing with the requirement of constructing questions according to the matrix, it is difficult for many high schools, but from practical experience, I see that when periodic testing is in accordance with the matrix specifications prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, the quality assessment is closer. Also a 1-period or 2-period test (45 minutes, 90 minutes) but not following the matrix will make it difficult to assess students' abilities.

But currently, most high schools do not have a standardized question bank. Determining the assessment content corresponding to the levels is left to the subject groups and teachers to build based on the program and teaching progress, not from the available question bank. The Ministry needs to have guidelines so that schools have the capacity to build tests according to the matrix.

Ms. Ngo Thi Thanh, Vice Principal of Phan Huy Chu High School (Hanoi):

Teachers will add work

I agree with the circular stipulating that some subjects are assessed by comments because these are subjects that focus on aptitude and skills, so assessment by comments is appropriate.

But combining assessment by comments and scores - if it is mandatory and must be shown in records - will certainly add more work for teachers.

Each teacher himself/herself, when evaluating the regular learning results of students, also gives comments if necessary, so it is not necessary to include detailed comments in the final evaluation of each subject. Subjects that can be quantified should be evaluated by scores.

Assessment by comments/or scores is just a way of doing it - a scale for students. Therefore, it is unreasonable to say that assessment by comments reduces teachers' (students') motivation. Because whether it becomes a motivation or not depends on the specific way the teacher does it, whether it has a positive or negative impact on students.

According to Tuoi Tre