Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha accepts responsibility before the National Assembly.

During more than a day of discussions in the National Assembly, many delegates raised concerns related to exam cheating and school violence. Numerous opinions expressed worries about the quality of education and the effectiveness of educational reforms.

Reporting to the National Assembly this morning (May 31), Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha emphasized that reforming examinations, tests, and assessments of educational quality is one of many tasks that must be implemented, overcoming the burdensome situation of having three consecutive exams in one year (high school graduation, college, and university).

The government issued an action plan, assigning the Ministry of Education and Training to develop a project with a roadmap for reforming the examination system, aiming for a single national exam to certify high school graduation and serve as the basis for university and college admissions. The Ministry implemented this directive, and through the organization of the exam, pressure has been reduced.

Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha reported to the National Assembly on the morning of May 31st.

Regarding the exam cheating scandal at the 2018 high school graduation exam that caused public outrage, Minister Phung Xuan Nha stated that, after reviewing the causes, the Ministry of Education and Training, as well as he personally as the head of the ministry, accept responsibility for the shortcomings.

The shortcomings pointed out by the Minister include technical vulnerabilities in the test software that allow malicious actors to manipulate test results; inadequate guidance on exam regulations in some localities; and insufficient thoroughness in some stages of inspection and supervision.

According to Mr. Phung Xuan Nha, local authorities, under the decentralized system, have also not fully fulfilled their responsibilities, including the selection of participating officials who do not meet the requirements, and in some cases, these individuals even actively collude and connect with each other to inflate scores.

Immediately after discovering the incident, the Ministry of Education and Training dispatched an inspection team and requested the Ministry of Public Security to cooperate in clarifying the matter. The Prime Minister directed a decisive and thorough investigation. The investigation has yielded initial results, with several officials being prosecuted and many candidates being sent back by their respective schools. The investigation and handling of related individuals are still ongoing.

“We are conducting a review and drawing lessons learned throughout the entire sector. The Ministry of Public Security has initiated legal proceedings and is handling the individuals involved. Local authorities will also take action. The stance is to strictly punish and dismiss from the force any individuals who violate regulations,” said Mr. Phung Xuan Nha.

To address shortcomings and ensure the safety of the 2019 high school graduation exam, the Ministry of Education and Training is strengthening the dissemination of exam regulations, providing detailed guidance on procedures, focusing on the deployment of examiners and invigilators, and increasing inspections and audits.

Mr. Phung Xuan Nha also stated that the Ministry will directly supervise the upcoming exam grading process, assigning universities to take charge; the software will be upgraded to encrypt all data and assign unique codes; and there will be surveillance cameras in the examination area... The essay exam will be graded in two rounds.

The Minister of Education and Training also requested local Party committees, authorities, voters, and representatives to strengthen supervision to ensure the safety of the 2019 exam.

"We are aware of the issues raised and are resolutely addressing them. Some innovations may not yield immediate results, and some hesitation and shortcomings are unavoidable. We will resolutely overcome them to do better," said Minister Phung Xuan Nha.

We propose that students who were unfairly rejected be admitted.

Immediately after Minister Phung Xuan Nha's speech, delegate Nguyen Mai Bo suggested considering admitting eligible students who were not selected, after those candidates whose scores were artificially inflated were rejected by universities and colleges.

According to him, the number of candidates whose scores were inflated and who were subsequently rejected, as well as the number of affected candidates, can be calculated. Therefore, calling back those who meet the eligibility criteria is aimed at ensuring fairness for those who studied and took the exams honestly.