Having been studying in America for one year, I feel luckier than many students in Vietnam. I have the opportunity to interact with the modern education of America, while many friends of mine still fight to get the knowledge everyday.
In America, the education system develops throughout the country, from the biggest city to the smallest one. Children, both poor and rich, have equal chance to go to schools. If parents can’t effort for their children’ education, these kids come to schools for free until they graduate from high school. If they go to colleges, they can find grants, scholarships or take loans. Not only gives the chances for children, American government but also gives good conditions for children to learn. Children borrow textbooks from school every school year. Each class has about twenty students so teachers can contact with every child. After school, students can stay at school to join extracurricular activities or play sports. Every school, from elementary school to university, has counselors to help students and give them advices. Farther than that, schools in America also offer English as a second language program for immigrant students to help them study in America. Students in America have chances to prepare for their future, make their dream come true and contribute to their country. So I’m not surprise that America is the most powerful nation in the world, a good education is a strong root for a tree grows.
Vietnamese education is left behind so far. In Vietnam, parents spend a large amount of money for school fees, textbooks and school supplies for their children every school year. Not only has that, parents also pay for tutors after school. If parents cannot afford the fee, their children will quit school. Although Vietnamese people pay too much for their kids’ education, they don’t get back the good result. Students have the heavy programs from first grade to twelfth grade. Every day, they go to school in the morning, take extra time in the afternoon at school, and come to teacher’s house to learn over in the evening. Finally, they go home at nine and start doing their work at schools. Extracurricular activities and sports are forgotten in schools, clubs are only uniform. It is completely stressful and horrible. Students don’t have time to relax, watching televisions and hanging out with friends like a luxurious gifts for them. So when Vietnamese students leave school and enter the life, they are so innocent and don’t have any experience about real society.
However, it is not a whole picture of Vietnamese education. Students who live in big cities seem to be luckier than students live in small towns. The economy of their families is better, the cultures exchange between countries and technologies make better conditions for these kids to get education. Otherwise, students who live in small towns face many difficulties on their studying road. Family contribution and limiting information are obstacles for them. They fight daily life so that they can come to school. If they graduate from high schools, it is a big success.
I was a Vietnamese student and I was providential that I lived in a modern town of Vietnam. I got a better education than many Vietnamese students. I remembered when I traveled to Ca Mau, I met a kid with his dad sold the lotteries on the streets. My parents talked with them and knew that his dad was a teacher. This made me think about too much. My mom was a teacher too and she could travel with her family in the summer. While the man did more job so as to maintain his family’s life. It’s so complicated.
For me, family and education are the foundation of the society. Nevertheless, the education of Vietnam is weak, it cannot form a strong base for the young generations. Then these young adults will not have enough knowledge and skills to contribute and develop Vietnam rather than weaken Vietnam. I want to help my country and what I can do now is studying well and helping as much students like me as I can. In the future, I hope the education of Vietnam will be better.
