Son La Department of Education and Training speaks out about information about a 'score buying' network
Mr. Tran Van Trong - Chief of Office of Son La Department of Education and Training, after being authorized by the Department's Board of Directors, had an exchange and dialogue with the press about the "shock" of a series of officials of this Department who were recently arrested.
- Up to now, the leaders of the Son La Department of Education and Training have not spoken out, nor have they apologized for the violations of examination regulations in the locality. What do you want to say at this time?
- The incident that happened is a very sad story not only for the Board of Directors of the Department of Education and Training of Son La province but also for the entire education sector. In addition to many things related to the work of the province as well as the sector, such as preparing for the year-end summary activities, preparing for the new school year, so the Board of Directors has authorized me to stand here to answer questions.
The Department's view is that if something is wrong, it should be corrected.
Regarding the issue of responsibility, sorry, I think the Board of Directors will have a statement, as well as a word to the whole industry at the upcoming 2017-2018 school year summary conference.
- Before becoming a manager, you were also a teacher. When you saw your colleague being arrested yesterday, what did you think?
- I am really sad. Now answering the press, I still feel sorry for the industry and for my colleagues.
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| Mr. Tran Van Trong - Chief of Office of the Department of Education and Training of Son La province. |
- After the incident at the Provincial Examination Council in Son La, 5 officials in the multiple-choice test marking team were prosecuted. Could you please tell us what the roles, responsibilities and work of each defendant were during the marking process?
- From the direction to the implementation of documents on the organization of the national high school exam in Son La province, everything was carried out and done in accordance with the regulations. However, during the organization of the exam, an incident occurred in the marking process. The responsibility of the members of the multiple-choice marking team, as answered last time, is that if you make a mistake, you will be responsible for it.
- Regarding these 5 defendants, could you please tell us whether they were assigned by the Son La Department of Education and Training to grade exams in previous years?
- This year, for sure, all 5 defendants were assigned to work in the multiple-choice test marking team. As for previous years, I don't know.
I only remember that in 2017, comrade Tran Xuan Yen was in the examination board. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Nga was of course there, because she was in charge of the examination work of the industry. Comrade Nga was also in charge of the examination marking computer. As for the other members, I don't remember exactly whether they participated in previous years.
- The 5 members of the multiple choice test marking team are assigned different tasks, each person has a job, right, sir?
- Yes, each person is assigned a job.
- So now the security investigation agency concluded that all 5 members of the test scoring team committed violations. Was there any direction from above that led to such a chain of violations?
- I don't know that. I don't know that.
- So what is the role of the exam inspector assigned by the Department of Education and Training when violations occur, sir?
- I don't know that either. Because I didn't go to the exam marking area, I don't know that information.
- During the exam marking process in Son La province, there is also supervision from coordinating agencies and departments. When violations occur, to what extent are those coordinating agencies responsible, sir?
- As I have answered, the members of the steering committee and related departments have all performed their duties, tasks, and exam regulations regarding supervision. As for the violations in the exam marking stage by the comrades involved, that is beyond supervision. As you know, we now need the involvement of the investigation agency.
Intentional score increase, is there a point buying network?- What is the opinion of the Son La Department of Education and Training on the intention of the officials who made mistakes in the recent exam marking?
- In my opinion, I personally cannot answer whether the officers had a purpose or not. Because there are many stages in the marking process. Now it has been concluded that there were errors in the marking process, but whether it was intentional or not, only those comrades themselves know.
We ourselves cannot know what other people are thinking, so we cannot confirm whether my colleagues have intentions or not.
- Son La people reported that a score-buying network has existed in Son La for several years. What is the truth of this information, sir?
- As far as I know, there is no such thing. If I don't see that, I think there is no point-buying network. As for this year, the incident has not yet been concluded by the authorities, so I cannot answer this.
The test is still being reviewed and re-evaluated.- Currently, the authorities are continuing to investigate the multiple-choice tests suspected of being erased and having their scores increased. In your opinion, how will the re-evaluation affect the test results of candidates?
- Personally, I cannot answer whether there will be any changes or not. The multiple-choice test is still being checked and re-evaluated. As the Minister of Education and Training said, if those tests with unusually high scores were tampered with or were incorrect, even students who have already enrolled must be held responsible and must leave university and return.
Hopefully there won't be such a change that you have to leave college like that.
- Do you know when the final results of the multiple choice test will be available?
- I don't know. The authorities haven't notified the industry, so we don't know. Even the fact that my colleagues were prosecuted, it wasn't until yesterday afternoon that the investigation agency called to say they were coming, and informed the agency that they would search the office.
5 officers were prosecuted, but the Department's work continued as usual.- What instructions has the Son La Department of Education and Training given in prosecuting 5 defendants, including the Department's leaders, to investigate the case of correcting test papers and raising exam scores of candidates in the province?
- After the incident, the department held a meeting to thoroughly understand, re-energize, and educate the political ideology of the staff; at the same time, there were certain lessons learned from the recent exam at the Son La Examination Council.
In the upcoming conference summarizing the 2017-2018 school year and deploying tasks for the 2018-2019 school year of the entire industry, we will have an overall assessment, comments, and experience to better direct the industry.
- After the decision to prosecute those involved in the exam score fixing case in Son La, with the departments currently vacant, how will the provincial Department of Education and Training continue to operate and work?
- Regarding the violations committed by these comrades, before the time of prosecution, right from the time the Working Group of the Ministry of Education and Training came to work with the Department of Education and Training of Son La and concluded that there were signs of violations, the Department arranged for officers from other departments and offices of the Department to take their place, during the time these comrades were invited and summoned to work with the security investigation agency.
Thus, the work of the department is still maintained and carried out normally, without delay or congestion.
As you can see, the re-scoring and re-checking of the exams have been carried out and the real scores have been returned to the students, and the graduation results have been announced as normal. That is, the work of the Department has not been affected.
Comrade Tran Xuan Yen and Cam Thi Bun Son, except for being invited and summoned by the investigation agency, still came to work normally.
As for the organization of personnel, we have to wait for the final decision of the investigation side. At that time, the Department will present a plan based on which position, level, and authority is assigned.