Vietnam: Shall excellent or good primary school students be awarded the title of outstanding student?

Shall excellent or good primary school students in Vietnam be awarded the title of outstanding student?

Under Article 13 of the Regulations on the Assessment of Primary School Students issued with Circular 27/2020/TT-BGDDT, the regulations regarding commendations for primary school students are as follows:

Commendations

1. Principals shall award certificates of achievement for students:

a) End-of-year commendation:

- Award Excellent student title for student achieving Excellent completion;

- Award Student with good completion in study and training title for students achieving Good completion and earning excellent achievement in at least 1 subject or show clear development in at least 1 trait or capacity and receive recognition by the whole class.

b) Irregular commendation: students earning sudden achievements in school years.

2. Students with special achievements considered and requested for commendation by the schools.

3. Managing officials and teachers may send commendation letters to students with achievements and efforts during studying, training processes or students with good deeds.

The title of Student with good completion in study and training shall be awarded for students achieving Good completion and earning excellent achievement in at least 1 subject or show clear development in at least 1 trait or capacity and receive recognition by the whole class.

According to the Regulations on the Assessment of Primary School Students issued with Circular 27/2020/TT-BGDDT, at the end of a school year, students who fail to achieve excellent completion but achieve good scores in assessment results of subjects, academic activities; good in traits and capacities; at least 7 score in periodic final exams of subjects are considered to be at the Good Completion level.

Currently, the new education program no longer assesses primary school students based on excellent, good, average levels, etc. However, in some cases where parents compare to previous standards, the title of outstanding student is considered equivalent to being a good student.

Thus, the title of outstanding student for primary school students is equivalent to the title of good student according to the old regulations.

Shall excellent or good primary school students in Vietnam be awarded the title of outstanding student? (Image from the Internet)

What are the objectives for assessment of primary school students in Vietnam?

Under Article 3 of the Regulations on the Assessment of Primary School Students issued with Circular 27/2020/TT-BGDDT, the objectives for assessment of primary school students in Vietnam are as follows:

The assessment aims to provide information accurately, promptly, identify studying and training results depending on requirements on formal primary education program and progression of students to guide academic activities, adjust teaching activities to improve education quality, to be specific:

- Assist teachers in adjusting and renovating organization format and education methods in teaching and academic processes; promptly acknowledge efforts and progress of students to motivate, encourage and detect insurmountable obstacles of students to guide, support in order to improve studying and training effectiveness of students; in part to implement objectives of primary education level.  

- Help students develop ability to self-reflect, reflect, self-study, adjust studying methods, communicate, cooperate, interest in learning and training for improvement.

- Assist student’s parents or guardians (hereinafter referred to as “student’s parents”) in assessing studying, training progress and results, processes of forming and developing traits, capacities of students; actively cooperating with schools in educating students.

- Assist education management officials of all levels to promptly direct education activities, renovate teaching methods and assessment methods to achieve education effectiveness.

- Assist social organization in acknowledging accurate and objective information, develop social sources for investment in development of education.

What are the requirements for assessment of primary school students in Vietnam?

According to Article 4 of the Regulations on the Assessment of Primary School Students issued with Circular 27/2020/TT-BGDDT, the requirements for assessment of primary school students in Vietnam are as follows:

- Assess students via level of satisfaction of requirements and specific display of capacities in subjects, academic activities, traits and capabilities of students required by formal primary education program. 

- Conduct regular assessment by feedback, periodic assessment in form of scores in combination with comments; combine assessment of teachers, students, students' parents in which teachers’ assessment holds the highest priority.

- Assess progression and do so for the progression of students; emphasize encouragement and motivation of efforts in studying and training of students; assist students in making the best of their capabilities and efforts; guarantee timeliness, fairness and transparency; refrain from comparing one student to another, refrain from pressuring students, teachers or students' parents.