Vietnam: When are primary school students subject to grade retention?

May primary school students be subject to grade retention? When are primary school students in Vietnam subject to grade retention?

According to the regulations in Article 11 of the Regulation issued with Circular 27/2020/TT-BGDDT:

Consideration for completion of class programs or primary education programs

1. Consideration for completion of class programs:

a) Students receiving verification for completion of class programs are students who receive academic assessment results of: Excellent completion, Good completion, Completion. 

b) For students who have not received verification for completion of class programs, teachers prepare plans, guidance and assistance; such students shall also receive additional consideration for completion of class programs.

c) For students who remain ineligible for completing class program despite receiving guidance and assistance, depending on level of incompletion of subjects, academic activities, level of formation and development of traits and capacities, teachers prepare list and report to principals in order to organize inspection, assessment and consideration and decide whether the student move on to the next grade or not.

2. Consideration for completion of primary education programs:

Students completing the 5th grade shall be verified and recorded in their study records as “Hoàn thành chương trình tiểu học” (Completed primary education program).

Thus, primary school students shall be subject to grade retention if:

Students who have not received verification for completion of class programs and have received guidance, assistance, and additional assessment for completion of courses from teachers but still do not meet the conditions to complete the school year program;

Depending on the level of incompletion of subjects, academic activities, level of formation and development of traits and capacities, teachers prepare list and report to principals in order to organize inspection, assessment and consideration and decide grade retention.

May primary school students be subject to grade retention? When are primary school students in Vietnam subject to grade retention?

What are the conditions for grading a primary school student as an Excellent student in Vietnam?

The conditions for grading a primary school student as an Excellent student are carried out according to the regulations in point a, clause 2, Article 9 of the Regulation issued with Circular 27/2020/TT-BGDDT as follows:

Consolidation of academic assessment results

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2. At the end of a school year, based on consolidated assessment results of each subjects, academic activities and primary traits, capacities, class mentors shall:

a) Assess academic results of students by 4 levels:

- Excellent completion: Students who achieve excellent scores in assessment results of subjects, academic activities; good in traits and capacities; at least 9 score in periodic final exams of subjects;

- Good completion: 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;

- Completion: Students who fail to achieve excellent and good completion but achieve good or completion scores in assessment results of subjects, academic activities; good or satisfied in traits and capacities; at least 5 score in periodic final exams of subjects;

- No completion: Other students.

Under the above regulation, the conditions for grading a primary school student as an Excellent student are as follows:

- Achieve excellent scores in assessment results of subjects, academic activities;

- Achieve good in traits and capacities;

- Achieve at least 9 scores in periodic final exams of subjects.

What are the regulations on regular assessment for primary school students in Vietnam according to Circular 27/2020/TT-BGDDT?

According to the regulations in Article 6 of the Regulation issued with Circular 27/2020/TT-BGDDT, regular assessment for primary school students is as follows:

- Regular assessment for academic contents of subjects and academic activities.

+ Teachers flexibly and appropriately employ assessment methods, primarily by words to inform students about the right, the wrong and remedial measures; specify feedback in notebooks or academic products of students if necessary and provide timely assistance.

+ Students provide feedback on their work and their peers’ work during execution of academic tasks for the betterment.

+ Students’ parents discuss student feedback and assessment with teachers via appropriate means and cooperate with teachers in motivating and assisting students in studying and training processes. 

- Regular assessment for formation and development of traits and capacities

+ Teachers flexibly and appropriately employ assessment methods; based on display of awareness, behavior and attitude of students; compare with level of completion to be achieved of each primary trait and capacity according to formal primary education programs in order to provide timely feedback and assistance.

+ Students may provide feedback on themselves and their peers regarding display of each primary trait and capacity for self improvement.

+ Students’ parents discuss, cooperate with teachers and assist students in training and developing primary traits and capacities.