What did the Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ha Giang say about the allegations of unusually high exam scores?

On the morning of July 14th, responding to press inquiries regarding the controversy surrounding the unusually high scores in the 2018 National High School Graduation Exam, Mr. Vu Van Su, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ha Giang province, stated that there has been no conclusion yet regarding suspicions in the exam supervision and grading process of the provincial Department of Education and Training.

"Whether it's a breakthrough or an anomaly, I haven't reached a conclusion yet; the review process is still ongoing. Right now, the press and public opinion are saying this, but I can't just follow public opinion; I have to speak based on reality. Only after a serious and objective review is complete will we discuss the matter further. Educational reform is something the whole country is undertaking, and naturally, Ha Giang must also be part of that system," said Mr. Vu Van Su.

Mr. Vu Van Su - Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ha Giang Province

Mr. Su also gave examples of the success of educational reforms in Ha Giang province: "In the recent Young Mathematician Talent Search competition, out of 9 students nationwide who went to Singapore for the final round, 6 won medals, including one student from Ha Giang. The press has reported a lot about this. I think this is also a definite achievement."

It is known that during the 2018 National High School Graduation Examination, the Ha Giang Department of Education and Training collaborated with the Banking Academy and Ha Giang College of Education to supervise the examination process. The multiple-choice grading process was supervised by the police, and all activities had to be documented with minutes and signatures. In addition, the Ministry of Education and Training sent two inspectors to the locality. The original exam score data was stored on two discs: one kept by the chairman of the examination board, Mr. Su, and the other sent to the Ministry of Education and Training.

In response to public concerns about loopholes in the supervision process, Mr. Su affirmed that the Ha Giang Department of Education and Training had done everything necessary. The chosen grading location was very quiet and isolated from residential areas. The number of people involved in the grading process included police officers, security guards, grading staff, and high-quality equipment. In addition, many measures were taken to enhance security and ensure objectivity and safety.

“We installed a surveillance camera system to protect the area where exam papers and records are stored, ensuring security. The door is locked with two locks. The Head of the Examination Committee holds one key, and the Head of the Secretariat holds the other. The regulations specify when that room can be opened. No matter how strict the security measures are, everything must stem from the individuals involved, their awareness, responsibility, and their role towards themselves, others, and ultimately, the people,” Mr. Su said.

Regarding the incident, on the evening of July 12th, the Steering Committee for the 2018 National High School Examination sent a document to the Steering Committee for the examination in Ha Giang province. The document stated that the Steering Committee for the 2018 National High School Examination had received reports in the media about unusual exam results at the examination board of the Department of Education and Training of Ha Giang province.

The Steering Committee for the 2018 National High School Examination requests the Steering Committee for the 2018 National High School Examination in Ha Giang province to inspect, review, and verify all stages of the examination and submit a written report to the Steering Committee for the 2018 National High School Examination before July 17th.

Previously, information circulated on social media alleging unusually high scores in the 2018 National High School Graduation Examination in Ha Giang. Specifically, the percentage of high-scoring candidates in the A1 subject group in this province accounted for nearly 50% of the national total. For instance, while only 76 candidates nationwide achieved a score of 27 or higher in the A1 subject group, Ha Giang had 36 candidates, representing 47.37% of the national total.

Notably, the number of candidates nationwide is 170 times that of Ha Giang province, with 925,000 candidates, while Ha Giang only has 5,500 candidates.

There were also unusual irregularities in the Math subject, with 50 candidates scoring between 8 and 8.75, and 57 candidates scoring 9 or higher.

Despite having many high-scoring candidates, the high school graduation rate in Ha Giang this year is only 89.35%, among the lowest in the country.

Another figure cited on forums is that in Ha Giang province, 65 candidates scored 9 or higher in the Physics exam, while only 28 candidates scored between 8 and under 9.

According to experts, this is unusual because, generally speaking, the proportion of candidates scoring between 8 and under 9 should be higher than those scoring 9 or higher to be considered reasonable.