VietNamNet Bridge - Parents are rushing to enroll their children in reading and writing classes to prepare for the new academic year.

Yen, a parent in Thu Duc district in HCMC, had decided to send her daughter, who has finished preschool, to her mother's house in Tra Vinh province, so the girl could enjoy the summer holiday in the countryside. However, she later changed her mind.

“I have to send my daughter to reading and writing class, or she will lag behind classmates when entering the first grade,” she explained.  

Many Vietnamese parents, like Yen, say their children have to learn reading and writing before entering the first grade.

When reporters visited the Children’s Cultural House, they saw many parents waiting for their children in front of classrooms. A parent said her 5-year-old daughter was practicing spelling in the class.

Parents are rushing to enroll their children in reading and writing classes to prepare for the new academic year.

“Educators say children should only begin learning reading and writing at the age of six. But I believe that it would be better to begin at five. There are child prodigies who can read at the age of 3-4,” she said.

A teacher at the cultural house said most of the children could recognize letters, including preschoolers. 

The classes admit children of different ages, including preschool children. Some parents hire private tutors to teach their children at home. 

Pham Thuy Ha, headmaster of Nguyen Van Troi Primary School, commented that the majority of parents believe that it would be better for their children to learn reading and writing in advance. 

“Getting children to learn reading and writing in advance may bring some immediate benefits but will cause long-term negative effects,” she said.

Vo Van Nam, a lecturer at the HCMC University of Education, said the children who can read and write before entering the first grade, will not be able to concentrate in class because they think they already have the knowledge.

Nam went on to say that it is necessary to prepare children for the first grade. However, this does not mean that children need to learn to read and write in advance. Parents should help their children have self-confidence, energy and enthusiasm to speak their mind in the class.

“Let children grow up in a natural way and don’t force them to do things before the appropriate age,” Nam concluded. 

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