Is university education necessary? Lively discussion begins on social media

For the 45-year-old Hanoi woman, the idea of not attending university is unacceptable in her scholarly family.

It is her firm belief that people without a degree face societal scrutiny and "can never live with their heads held high."

From a young age Thuy Linh, her daughter, has harbored a passion for drawing and dreams of becoming a professional tattoo artist. Viewing the profession as promising with lots of opportunities in Vietnam, the 17-year-old has been stunned by her parents' vehement opposition.

To avoid conflict, Linh has decided to focus on her high school graduation exams.

She still plans to pursue tattooing if she can persuade her family before the university admission exams come around. Otherwise, she will go to university and seek other ways to nurture her passion.

Thuy Linh's desire to pursue tattoo art is met with strong objections from her family. Illustration photo by Unsplash

Twelve years ago Lan Hue of Thai Binh Province wanted to set up a business selling handicrafts rather than pursue a university degree. But her farming family had high expectations of her since it had no university graduates until then.

So, despite her reluctance, she prepared for the entrance exams and got admitted to the finance and banking faculty at Thuongmai University in Hanoi.

After graduating, and failing to secure a job in finance, she started working for a company that made clay toys for children.

Putting her skills and creativity to good use, she managed to earn VND25-30 million ($980-1180) a month, also managing to put away her bachelor's degree in the process.

"If I could choose again, I would not enter university," the 30-year-old says.

Linh and Hue are among many who do not wish to go to university but meet with opposition from their family.

The topic of whether to enter university has recently sparked lots of discussions on social media in recent times.

A male rapper stirred controversy by claiming that many individuals who attend college merely do so for the sake of it without deriving much benefit from it whereas high school graduates start working right after finishing school.

Some took his side, saying practical experience is more important than formal education, while others said a strong educational foundation is essential for professional success.

"There are many jobs that require higher education ... especially those that require high skills such as medicine, scientific research, military weaponry, and space science. If you only finish high school, will you be able to do it?" Vu Huy wrote.

A survey by VnExpress involving almost 1,000 readers about the importance of university education today revealed that 50% believe it varies by occupation, 36% deem it essential, and just 14% consider it unnecessary.

Delving into the reasons behind the importance placed on college education, psychologist Dao Le Tam An (Ho Chi Minh City) says two decades ago getting a university degree was very difficult.

Many people who could not achieve this dream now project their aspirations onto their children.

The relatively easier access to university degrees nowadays spurs parents to push their children toward higher education, even if it does not dovetail with their interests or aptitude.

Dr Vu Thu Huong, a former lecturer at the Hanoi National University of Education, says the deep belief in the necessity of a university education stems from the mindset that it is the sole pathway to success.

Furthermore, society cherishes degrees, leading some parents to fear ridicule from others and comparisons involving their children.

A 2019 study by the Ho Chi Minh City Center of Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labor Market Information found that 60% of students opted for the wrong major and 75% had inadequate understanding of their chosen field.

A 2020 study by the British Council found that 18% of young Vietnamese choose university courses based on external influences such as family, friends and mentors.

Dr Huong suggests that students should consider taking a gap year to explore various professions and identify their interests. This approach can be seen in Kim Ly's family in Hai Phong.

Instead of rushing her son to enroll in university, the 50-year-old woman suggested taking a gap year, while her own family opposed the idea for fear of interrupting her son’s education and creating a bad premise for his younger siblings.

However, the gap year gave the 19-year-old the opportunity to explore different career options, leading him to choose public communications over his original choice of economics.

"Entering university or not does not matter as much as what you can do and how you can contribute meaningfully to society," Ly says.

"It is okay to defer higher education for one or two years, or any duration at all. It’s never too late, as long as young people can choose their own direction."