A Day in School

One school per day is not enough for the child from an affluent family in Viet Nam. Understanding the importance of education, many children attend different schools within a day for the entire year. Thus the most fortunate students attend one school in the morning, another school in the afternoon, and an additional school in the summer. Schooling is literally nonstop affair from grades 1 to 12.

Of course, life is different for the average child in Viet Nam. The government schools offer about five hours per day from Monday to Saturday for grades 1 to 12 throughout September to May. Coursework covers the basics of math, science, ethics, manners, literature, and English. Crowded into small classrooms with inadequate textbooks, sixty children often sit quietly in their uniforms in long rows. Frequently homework involves memorizing long literary passages that would later be presented in front of class. It’s a national tradition to memorize lengthy songs and poems.

Furthermore all test and work are based on a ten point system which then translates to student ranking from top to bottom. Most notably public announcements of scores and rankings provide honor to motivate for the best and disgrace to motivate for the worst. Students compete to be the best, realizing that only the best or the rich make it to university schooling.

Unfortunately many students do not finish high school due to family obligations on the farms or small businesses. Poverty compels family to only assess short term survival. Plus the unlikelihood of a student achieving top ranks forces parents to preemptively withdraw their children from school to save time and money.