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

During more than a day of discussion in the hall, many National Assembly delegates raised concerns related to exam cheating and school violence. Many expressed concerns about the quality of education and the effectiveness of educational innovation.

Reporting to the National Assembly this morning (May 31), Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha emphasized that innovation in exams, testing, and assessment of education quality is one of many tasks that must be carried out, overcoming the very heavy situation of having 3 consecutive exams in a year (high school graduation, college, university).

The Government issued an action program, assigning the Ministry of Education and Training to develop a project with a roadmap for exam reform, aiming for a common exam to consider high school graduation and serve as a basis for university and college admissions. The Ministry has implemented this direction and through organizing the exam, it has reduced pressure.

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

Referring to the cheating in the 2018 High School Graduation Exam that caused outrage, Minister Phung Xuan Nha said that after reviewing the causes, the Ministry of Education and Training as well as the individual head of the industry would like to accept responsibility and shortcomings.

The shortcomings that this Minister pointed out were that the multiple-choice test software still had technical loopholes that were exploited by bad guys to distort the test results; the dissemination of test regulations was not well instructed in some localities; and the inspection and examination work was not really thorough in some stages.

According to Mr. Phung Xuan Nha, the local authorities have not yet fulfilled their responsibilities, including the selection of participating officials who have not met the requirements, and even these people actively colluded and connected with each other to inflate scores.

Immediately after discovering the incident, the Ministry of Education and Training sent an inspection team to investigate and sent a document requesting the Ministry of Public Security to coordinate in clarifying the case. The Prime Minister directed to take drastic and strict action. The investigation had initial results, many officials were prosecuted, and many candidates were returned to their schools. Currently, the investigation and handling of related subjects are still ongoing.

“We are organizing a review to learn from experience in the entire industry. The Ministry of Public Security has prosecuted and is handling the related subjects. Local authorities will also handle the case. The viewpoint is to strictly handle and expel the individuals who violate the law from the industry,” said Mr. Phung Xuan Nha.

To overcome these shortcomings and ensure the safety of the 2019 high school graduation exam, the Ministry of Education and Training has strengthened the dissemination of exam regulations, provided detailed instructions on professional skills, focused on assigning exam graders and invigilators, and strengthened inspections.

Mr. Phung Xuan Nha also said that the upcoming exam marking process will be directly directed by the Ministry, and universities will be responsible for it; the software will be upgraded to encrypt all data and score; there will be cameras to monitor the exam area... As for the essay subject, there will be 2 rounds of marking.

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

"We are aware of the issues raised and are resolutely implementing them. There are innovations that cannot produce immediate results, confusion and shortcomings are inevitable. We will resolutely overcome them to do better" - Minister Phung Xuan Nha said.

Proposal to call for admission of students who were unfairly failed

Immediately after Minister Phung Xuan Nha's speech, delegate Nguyen Mai Bo proposed considering calling in qualified students who failed to pass the exam, after candidates whose scores were raised were returned by universities and colleges.

According to him, the number of candidates whose scores were raised and who were returned and the number of candidates affected can be calculated, so calling back qualified candidates is to ensure fairness for those who study and take real exams.