Ho Chi Minh City is set to overhaul the Tran Dai Nghia Specialized High School, a move that could drastically alter the landscape of secondary education in the region. The shift is part of a broader strategy to modernize and align the school’s structure with international educational standards.
Ho Chi Minh City to Revamp Tran Dai Nghia High School? – 1
The city government has outlined its plan in a report submitted to the Ministry of Education and Training, detailing a proposal to integrate a sixth-grade intake at Tran Dai Nghia Specialized High School. This new model aims to transform the institution into a modern, cutting-edge secondary school, blending advanced pedagogical approaches with global education practices while preserving its storied achievements.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training is tasked with drafting a proposal to realign Tran Dai Nghia High School’s model in accordance with the Education Law and Ministry regulations. However, the city needs additional time to consult with relevant stakeholders and finalize the plan, meaning the changes won’t be implemented before the 2024-2025 academic year.
To prevent disruption, the city is requesting that the Ministry of Education and Training allow Tran Dai Nghia High School to continue accepting sixth-grade students for the 2024-2025 school year under the current examination system.
If approved, this change will mark the end of the Tran Dai Nghia specialized model, leaving Ho Chi Minh City with only one specialized school: Le Hong Phong High School.
Tran Dai Nghia High School, established in 2000, initially operated as a pilot program with an emphasis on enhanced English instruction and full-day schooling. The inaugural entrance exam attracted 912 students for 23 classes, with the first school year commencing on September 3, 2000.
On October 4, 2002, Ho Chi Minh City issued Decision No. 4072/QD-UB, officially transforming Tran Dai Nghia High School into a specialized institution.
Starting from the 2003-2004 academic year, the school began enrolling students in specialized classes for English, Mathematics, Literature, Physics, and Chemistry, continuing its full-day, intensive English program.
By the 2013-2014 school year, the curriculum expanded to include Biology, increasing the total number of specialized subjects to six.
City officials recognize the school’s significant achievements at the high school level and its successful management of secondary education, making it a vital contributor to the city’s educational quality.
Ho Chi Minh City to Revamp Tran Dai Nghia High School? – 2
At the secondary school level, Tran Dai Nghia High School has consistently attracted substantial interest, with thousands of candidates vying for a place. The competition ratio has ranged from 1 in 7 to 1 in 9. In 2023, nearly 4,800 candidates applied, resulting in a record competition ratio of 1 in 9.
Applicants must meet several criteria to qualify for the sixth grade at Tran Dai Nghia. They must have completed their primary education in Ho Chi Minh City and achieved a score of 9 or above in Vietnamese and Mathematics in their end-of-year assessments. The selection process involves a challenging combined skills test, usually conducted in July.
In a related development, on January 31, 2024, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training submitted a report to the Ministry of Education and Training regarding the admission of non-specialized classes at Hanoi – Amsterdam High School from the 2024-2025 school year.
On March 5, the Ministry of Education and Training responded, citing Article 62 of the Education Law 43/2019/QH14, which stipulates that specialized schools are established at the high school level only. Therefore, no specialized schools should exist at the secondary level.
Furthermore, according to Circular 5/2023/TT-BGDĐT issued by the Minister of Education and Training on March 28, 2023, only specialized classes should be organized within specialized high schools. As a result, the Ministry advised the Hanoi Department of Education and Training to adhere strictly to these regulations, which also affects Ho Chi Minh City’s specialized secondary school model at Tran Dai Nghia.
