Let's handle this match-fixing scandal using the rules of football!
(Baonghean.vn) - The top student at the Army Officer Academy I in Hoa Binh scored 28.2 points (Mathematics 9.2, Physics 9, Chemistry 9.25 + regional bonus points), but the re-evaluation score was (Mathematics 1, Physics 0, Chemistry 0). This is truly a "talented soldier," a multiple-choice test with 80 questions that didn't get a single question right – how could any bomb or bullet possibly hit him?
When a student diligently studies and passes the exam, people say it's like a "carp transforming into a dragon." If that student fails, they are encouraged with the saying, "Talent in learning, fate in exams." Because achieving good results in the exam depends not only on effort but also on many factors, including luck. That was the case in the past, and it remains so today, but the meaning of "fate" has changed.
The top scorer at the Army Officer Academy I in Hoa Binh scored 28.2 points (Mathematics 9.2, Physics 9, Chemistry 9.25 + regional bonus points), but the re-evaluation score was (Mathematics 1, Physics 0, Chemistry 0). This is truly a "talented soldier," a multiple-choice test with 80 questions that didn't get a single question right – how could any bomb or bullet possibly hit him?
Another "future teacher" from Hoa Binh, who was the top student in a "double" category at Hanoi Pedagogical University, received a 14.85-point boost to her score. And there are many other "privileged children" who, while at the peak of their success, suddenly find themselves facing ruin. The painful and heartbreaking part is that most of these candidates were intended to study fields such as the military, police, and medicine...
In recent days, public opinion has been heated by the announcement of the Ministry of Education and Training's re-evaluation of exam scores in several provinces. The results show that 114 candidates in Ha Giang had over 330 exam papers with inflated scores. In Hoa Binh, 63 candidates from 2018 and 1 candidate from 2017 had 140 exam papers with inflated scores. In Son La, 44 candidates had 95 multiple-choice exam papers and 2 Literature papers with manipulated scores.
We feel sorrow and regret for the students who were robbed of fairness and transparency in a national examination. We are even more shocked and pained by the information that some parents whose children had their scores artificially inflated are "comrades" holding high and important positions in some localities.
It's understandable that the public is questioning whether this is the first time such a shocking grade-fixing scandal has occurred, or if this is the first case to be discovered. And how should this case be handled to avoid negative consequences for the education sector in particular and society in general in the future?
From my perspective as a sports journalist, if the National High School Graduation Examination were a football tournament, this would be nothing short of organized match-fixing and grade manipulation. Besides the measures already being taken by the authorities, shouldn't this case be handled according to FIFA's Laws of Football and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) regulations?
The VFF's disciplinary regulations clearly state in Articles 54 and 55: If a match is suspected of being rigged (collusion, conceding points, match-fixing, etc.), a fine of 50 to 100 million VND will be considered. Furthermore, if "betting, match-fixing, brokering betting, or gambling related to football" is involved, then "a temporary or permanent ban from participating in football activities" will apply.
Once the investigation reveals who was involved in "collusion, grade manipulation, or cheating" in the National High School Graduation Examination, it will be clear that the parents of those "privileged children" cannot escape blame either.
In the United States, public opinion was once shaken by the practice of buying admissions scores to prestigious universities such as Georgetown, Yale, and Stanford. When the case came to light, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) prosecuted the parents involved in the fraud for bribery. In addition to millions of dollars in fines, those involved in the university admissions scheme, if convicted, could face up to 20 years in prison, including the mastermind and the parents.
It seems that Americans were quick to adopt the "match-fixing" laws in soccer to handle these cases, upholding fair play, honesty, and sportsmanship. What about Vietnam?
