Should Vietnam embrace gap years?

This unique academic year is free of exams and assessments, focusing instead on self-directed learning and exploration of diverse subjects, from environmental science to the arts, to hands-on work experience. The goal? To help students discover their passions.

The article pointed out that billionaire Patrick Collison, who grew up in a modest Irish family, found his passion for technology during his Transition Year. He devoted his time to learning programming, eventually becoming the world’s youngest self-made billionaire at 28. Likewise, Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy began his journey into acting during his Transition Year, a period that ignited his lifelong passion for drama.

This year, our school received a handwritten letter from a 17-year-old student from Argentina. In the letter, he wrote, "I come from Argentina, the country that won the last World Cup. I have spent most of my time studying to understand my country's culture, and I want to share it with you. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of your family and look forward to meeting you." He is one of the students who chose Vietnam as his destination for a Transition Year.

Meanwhile, in Vietnam, students of the same age are entangled in the high school entrance exam grind. The high school curriculum remains heavily academic, with students also struggling with IELTS, SAT, and A-Level exams, all to compete for spots in prestigious universities.

In many developed countries, the concept of a "gap year" is well-established. Students often take a year off before university to explore life and society. The Transition Year program, however, seems even more effective, as students are still guided and supported by educators and experts. This model could serve as a powerful inspiration for Vietnamese policymakers to adopt a more open approach to high school education.

Vietnam's general education program effective since 2018 has just completed its first cycle, and this year will provide the first set of results across all three educational levels. While this reform represents significant progress, particularly in allowing high school students to choose their subjects, the implementation has been challenging. Most schools have offered subject choices within predefined groups, sticking to the old specialized education model. A credit-based system, which allows students greater freedom in choosing their courses, would be preferable. However, under the current classroom management system, this approach seems almost impossible.

Looking at higher education globally, major universities have embraced a common approach to their programs. Students at the National University of Singapore, for instance, have the option in their third year to participate in an exchange semester at other universities worldwide, alongside internships. During these exchanges, students earn credits recognized by their home universities. The philosophy behind this approach is clear: students need to be trained to adapt to various environments and discover themselves through diverse experiences.

The benefits of these unstructured semesters are well-documented. Evaluations by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in Ireland show that 88% of students who participated in Transition Year felt they had matured personally, managed their time, emotions, and work better. Additionally, 95% felt more confident facing academic and social challenges due to skills developed in teamwork, communication, and leadership. Students in this group also typically scored 5-10% higher than those who did not participate.

For university students, extracurricular activities outside the classroom also yield significant benefits. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reports that 70% of students received formal job offers after internships, 84% learned skills not taught in school, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, and 80% developed strong connections that supported their job search post-internship.

Can Vietnamese education open itself up to the idea of a Transition Year? And are families ready to give their children the freedom to explore and develop themselves?

As the new school year approached early this month, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son remarked that "never before has the education sector faced such great challenges." I couldn’t agree more. The time has come for Vietnam to adopt a more open and modern education system that focuses on developing human potential rather than fixating on exams. The world is changing, and our education system must change with it.

*Dr. Dam Quang Minh works in the education sector, known for his contribution in the successul establishment and reformation of many education institutions.