Consider publishing the names of candidates who cheated on national high school exam scores

On the afternoon of April 2, at a regular Government press conference, answering the press about the disclosure of the identities of candidates who cheated on exam scores in Ha Giang, Son La, and Hoa Binh, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Huu Do said that students currently studying at university will have to drop out to "ensure fairness".

"We understand that some students did not participate, and the score adjustment was done by adults," said the Deputy Minister of Education.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Bui Van Nam said that the results of the investigation into exam cheating have been reported to the Ministry of Education and Training and relevant parties. Whether or not to disclose the identities of students whose scores were raised is an important issue. The Ministry of Public Security has discussed in detail with the Ministry of Education and localities about the handling plan to ensure both the strictness of the law and humanity.

"We and the Ministry of Education will have a satisfactory solution, ensuring seriousness, compliance with the law but also caring for the students," said Mr. Nam.

Regarding this issue, Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung said that the right to announce belongs to the Ministry of Education. However, the extent of the announcement must be considered. The list of students cheating on their scores will be sent to the Department of Schools and universities.

"We must handle this humanely and not affect the students, because they may not know about the cheating due to some influence. We must state the facts correctly, accurately, and objectively, but we must not let it create other complications," said Mr. Dung.

In early March, the Security Investigation Agency (Ministry of Public Security) completed the investigation conclusion of the cheating case in Hoa Binh in the 2018 National High School Exam. 210 multiple-choice tests of 77 candidates showed signs of interference and were sent for examination. The results of 140 tests of 56 candidates had their answers erased and edited. The answers on the multiple-choice tests were not filled in by the same person.

The Ministry of Education's assessment results determined that the test scores of 64 candidates, including 63 in 2018 and one in 2017, had changes, with the assessment scores decreasing compared to the announced scores. Of these, 56 candidates with 140 multiple-choice tests had their scores changed from 0.2 to 9.25 points per subject. One candidate's score on three university entrance exams was increased to 26.45.

According to the regulations, the assessment scores are official and are used to replace the national high school exam scores announced in July 2018. These results are used to consider high school graduation and as a basis for colleges and universities to enroll students.

The Ministry of Education and Training has sent an official dispatch requesting the Hoa Binh Department of Education to update the assessment results of 64 candidates on the exam management software system and review the high school graduation. The Hoa Binh Department of Education must notify the updated results to the universities, academies, and colleges where the candidates are studying for handling according to regulations.

In August 2018, Hoa Binh Provincial Police initiated a criminal case on the crime ofAbuse of position and power while performing official duties, according to Article 356 of the 2015 Penal Code, to investigate violations at the 2018 National High School Examination Council.

The three people prosecuted include: Nguyen Quang Vinh (former Head of the Department of Examination and Education Quality Management, Hoa Binh Department of Education); Do Manh Tuan (former Vice Principal of Lac Thuy District Boarding Secondary and High School for Ethnic Minorities) and Nguyen Khac Tuan (specialist of the Department of Examination and Education Quality Management, Hoa Binh Department of Education).

Previously, Hoa Binh province aroused public suspicion when the number of candidates achieving a score of 9 or higher in Math was 27, accounting for 4.7% of the country. Considering the traditional exam groups (A, A1, B, C, C3, D1), this locality had 22 out of 324 candidates achieving 27 points or higher. Many candidates from Hoa Binh, Son La and Lang Son (localities suspected of cheating) were on the admission list with the highest admission scores in the "hot" school groups of the military and police.