Hoa Binh announces 5 officials whose children had their 2018 national high school exam scores raised

Five officials and party members whose children had their scores increased in the 2018 national high school exam include: Bui Van Thang (former Director of the Department of Transport), Tran Van Tiep (Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development), Do Hai Ho (Director of the Department of Science and Technology), Nguyen Anh Tuan (Deputy Director of the Tax Department), and Pham Hong Hai (Director of Bao Viet Hoa Binh Company).

During the investigation, the above officials all affirmed that they "did not intervene to raise their children's exam scores".

However, the Inspection Committee of the Hoa Binh Provincial Party Committee believes that the cadre whose child had his/her score increased is a violation of the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training. Candidates who use illegally increased test scores to register for universities and academies are violating the admission regulations. Therefore, the cadre whose child had his/her score increased has violated the regulations on the responsibility of setting an example for cadres and party members issued by the Central Committee.

The Inspection Committee of Hoa Binh Provincial Party Committee requested Party Committees at all levels to review and discipline the above 5 cadres and party members, and report before August 10.

On July 31, the Inspection Committee of the Hoa Binh Provincial Party Committee proposed that the Standing Committee submit to the Provincial Party Committee to consider warning Mr. Bui Van Cuu (Vice Chairman of the province, Head of the Steering Committee for the 2018 National High School Exam in the locality) for allowing violations to increase the scores of 65 candidates.

Regarding the exam cheating scandal, Mr. Bui Trong Dac (Director of the Department of Education and Training, Deputy Head of the Examination Steering Committee, Chairman of the 2018 National High School Examination Council of Hoa Binh) was proposed to be dismissed. Mr. Nguyen Duc Luong (Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training), Ms. Dinh Thi Huong (Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training) were proposed to be warned. Colonel Nguyen Thanh (Deputy Director of the Provincial Police, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for the 2018 National High School Examination) was proposed to be reprimanded.

In the 2018 national high school exam, Hoa Binh had more than 8,900 candidates taking the exam. The results raised public suspicions due to the unusually high number of excellent scores. During the university admission season, Hoa Binh had many candidates admitted to police and military schools - schools with admission scores much higher than the average.

On August 3, 2018, Hoa Binh Provincial Police initiated a case.Abuse of position and power while performing official duties, to investigate violations at the local 2018 National High School Examination Council. Up to now, the Investigation Security Agency (Ministry of Public Security) has prosecuted and detained 8 officials and teachers, including Mr. Nguyen Quang Vinh (Head of the Department of Examination and Education Quality Assessment), Ms. Diep Thi Hong Lien (Deputy Head of the Department).

By March 12, 2019, the Ministry of Public Security had just completed the investigation conclusion, the Ministry of Education and Training announced the assessment scores (re-scoring when there are doubts) of the candidates. The results were 63 people.In 2018 and one person in 2017, there were changes, the assessment scores decreased compared to the announced scores. Of which, 56 candidates with 140 multiple choice tests had their scores changed from 0.2 to 9.25 points per subject.