Two teachers, one taking the exam for the third time, the other waiting in the rain to encourage the students

These are two of many beautiful stories during the high school graduation exam season, reflecting the teachers' determination and love for their students, which is not limited to chalk and blackboards.

Ms. Tran Thi Thu Na (front row, middle) and volunteer students support candidates for the 2025 high school graduation exam.

PHOTO: NGOC LONG

At the Nguyen Trai High School (HCMC) exam site on the last day of the 12th grade exam, many candidates from Nguyen Huu Tho High School (HCMC) after saying goodbye to their parents were immediately guided to a small table next to the school gate. This is where Ms. Tran Thi Thu Na, a national defense and securityeducation teacher at Nguyen Huu Tho High School, and her junior students took roll call throughout the exam days.

Not only ensuring that all candidates of the school are present and on time, the team of teachers and students are also in charge of checking the equipment and encouraging the candidates to take the first high school graduation exam according to the 2018 General Education Program (new program). Everyone also prepares a list of contact information of both candidates and parents to call if necessary.

"But luckily, no one was absent on both exam days, only one student was given special permission not to take the exam," said Ms. Na.

Candidates come to check in before entering the exam room.

PHOTO: NGOC LONG

According to Ms. Na, exam days are a time when students are under a lot of pressure and stress, so if they have the attention and encouragement from their families and teachers, they will feel secure and calm to do better on the test. The school has only been taking attendance and encouraging them in the past few years at exam sites with students, according to the female teacher, and has been done on the voluntary basis of the teachers without any additional salary or bonus.

Not only was she present at the beginning of the exam, the female teacher said she also stayed at the exam site until the end of each subject to ask about the exam situation as well as reassure the students. "After the literature exam, the students happily said they had done the test, but in the afternoon, when they took the math exam, they were sad because the test was too difficult. Some even said that the heavy rain was due to the students' tears," Ms. Na recalled.

And despite the heavy rain, she and her students in the Hoa Phuong Do volunteer team still wore raincoats and stood with their parents waiting for the candidates to finish the exam, then held umbrellas and took the students to the car to go home with their parents. "You guys are just like my own children," said Ms. Na.

Contact information of each 12th grade student of the school is compiled by teachers and students for contact when needed.

PHOTO: NGOC LONG

At this testing site, along with teachers to support students, there is also a group of volunteers from universities supporting the upcoming exam season. They not only give water, food and many other items to the candidates, but also continuously send words of encouragement and cheering. When it rains, these volunteers are also ready to brave the rain to take candidates from inside the testing site to where their parents are waiting.

About 3.4 km away, the image of Ms. Vo Thi Thanh Loan (41 years old, living in Binh Tan District), currently a teacher at a kindergarten, still determined to retake the exam also made many candidates at the exam site of Nguyen Du Secondary School (HCMC) admire. Ms. Loan said this was the third time she retook the exam, after the first time in 2004 and the second time in 2012. "I was also busy with work and family so I couldn't take the exam for the past few years, luckily I have the chance now," Ms. Loan said.

The female teacher said she did not encounter many difficulties in the exam preparation process at a center near her home, because she already had a foundation of knowledge, "having studied before, she had something to remember". Her dream is to be admitted to the preschool education program at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. A university degree not only meets the job requirements but also helps Ms. Loan improve her professional work, thereby taking better care of and teaching the children.

Ms. Vo Thi Thanh Loan, one of the independent candidates taking the high school graduation exam according to the old program.

PHOTO: NGOC LONG

Commenting on the 2025 high school graduation exam, one of the parts that impressed Ms. Loan was the social discussion in the literature exam according to the 2006 General Education Program (old program). Specifically, the question required candidates to present their thoughts on "the need for young people to renew themselves in the current context". "In the essay, I wrote that not only young people, but also 'older' people like me must dare to think and dare to do", Ms. Loan said with a smile.

The female teacher added that she has two young children and her whole family is very supportive of her journey to go to school and retake the exam.

This year's high school graduation exam had more than 1.1 million candidates participating, an increase of 100,000 candidates compared to last year. According to information from the Ministry of Education and Training, it is expected that at 8:00 a.m. on July 16, the Ministry of Education and Training will announce the results of the 2025 high school graduation exam and consider recognizing high school graduation no later than July 18.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hai-co-giao-nguoi-thi-lai-lan-3-nguoi-doi-mua-cho-dong-vien-si-tu-185250629191110242.htm