Mixed opinions about history in the 2025 high school graduation exam

The Department of Education and Training of provinces and cities is surveying teachers' opinions on two options for high school graduation exams from 2025. In option 1, students will take four compulsory subjects: Math, Literature, Foreign Language, History and two elective subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Economic and Legal Education, Information Technology, Technology).

Option 2 includes three compulsory subjects: Math, Literature, Foreign Language and two elective subjects from the subjects studied (including History).

The only difference between these two options is whether or not to make History a compulsory subject. On this matter, teachers, experts and education administrators have different opinions.

Ms. Nguyen Boi Quynh, Principal of Viet Duc High School, Hanoi, said that the plan to have four compulsory subjects is more reasonable because History is a compulsory subject in the new curriculum. The important thing is that the exam questions are designed in an open way, reducing the need to memorize numbers mechanically.

"After innovating teaching, we need to innovate testing methods. These two things must go together to be effective," she said. She also commented that taking four compulsory subjects will not disrupt the university entrance exam combination, because the "core" subjects of the exam blocks, Math, Literature and Foreign Language, will not change.

If the three-subject exam plan is implemented, students will neglect History. In that case, adding History to the compulsory high school curriculum may have the opposite effect.

On the contrary, many administrators and teachers support option two (three compulsory subjects and two elective subjects). According to them, this reduces pressure on students, reduces costs to society, and ensures a balance between natural and social subjects in the graduation exam.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Huyen Thao, a History teacher at Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted in Ho Chi Minh City, believes that the fear that students will neglect their studies if they do not take the exam is the wrong way to put the issue. Instead, teachers need to change their methods so that students truly want to study and take the History exam. That way, even if they are not forced, students will still choose this subject.

Ms. Le Thi Huong, Director of the Quang Tri Department of Education and Training, also agreed. "If we are afraid that students will be distracted because they do not take the exam, then should we also make other subjects compulsory?" she said, adding that if so, studying would be just a coping mechanism, not a real thing.

According to her, the 2018 general education program focuses on developing learners’ personal abilities and qualities. From grade 10, students have been able to choose subject combinations according to their career orientation. High school graduation exam results are also related to university admission. Therefore, only three compulsory subjects need to be taken, the remaining two subjects should be chosen by students according to their strengths and orientation.

"Reducing one compulsory subject helps students reduce the pressure of studying and taking exams, and spend time studying and developing other abilities and skills. The high school graduation exam also needs to be streamlined so as not to cause costs to society," said Ms. Huong.

Mr. Nguyen Tan, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Thua Thien - Hue, also said that if History is made a compulsory subject, it will create an imbalance and disadvantage for students who are oriented towards Natural Sciences.

Master Ho Sy Anh, an expert from the Institute of Educational Research, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, said that currently the percentage of students choosing to take the Social Science exam is always over 50%.

"Students choose to take social science exams not because they like it, but because it's easy to pass," he said, saying that adding History to the compulsory exam would create a difference in the number of natural science (Math) and social science (Literature, Foreign Language, History) subjects.

2025 is the year the first batch of students under the new general education program (also known as the 2018 program) will take their graduation exams. From March to May, the Ministry of Education and Training solicited opinions on the 2025 high school graduation exam plan with four compulsory subjects: Math, Literature, Foreign Language, History and two elective subjects. By the end of August, localities received another request to survey opinions on the two exam plans as above.

Explaining this, Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Van Chuong, Director of the Department of Quality Management, Ministry of Education and Training, said that the Ministry has received many different opinions on the 2025 high school graduation exam plan, including making History a compulsory subject.

"Society has many proposals on graduation exam plans, so the Ministry continues to ask localities to officially consult with officials, lecturers, especially teachers. The spirit is to implement the best plan for society," said Mr. Chuong.

According to Mr. Sy Anh, if History is not required, the Ministry should set a binding condition on the final score of this subject, for example above 5 or 6 points. This will help schools manage the quality of students, while ensuring that they do not neglect History.

Regardless of which option is chosen, teachers and administrators expressed their hope that the Ministry of Education and Training would announce it soon so that students and schools can have direction and prepare for the exam soon.