Minister Son made this demand at the conference of Directors of Departments of Education and Training on 24/7.

The Minister of Education and Training emphasized that the highest goal for the upcoming academic year is to build a fair, quality, and honest education system, where genuine results are the ultimate goal and the highest measure of value.

Therefore, the first step is to restore genuine educational quality for students, fostering a system of authentic learning, honest exams, true talent, and real value.

To achieve this, Son believes it is necessary to thoroughly end grade inflation, academic record embellishment, and the pursuit of superficial achievements. Within the education system, academic integrity must be instilled in students from preschool through all subsequent levels.

"Each student needs to understand their current standing to strive for personal progress, rather than merely chasing scores for comparison with others," Son stated.

The Minister also referenced the recent high school graduation exam in connection with this issue.

Minister Hoang Minh Son speaking at the conference of Directors of Departments of Education and Training on 24/7. *Photo: Ministry of Education and Training*

According to the Ministry's report, serious violations of regulations occurred at exam sites, including Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted in Tuyen Quang and Le Truc High School in Quang Tri.

The violations stemmed from rapidly evolving technology, insufficient updates to anti-cheating protocols, a lack of standardized detection equipment, and inexperienced invigilators. Furthermore, some misconduct at exam sites resulted from individuals intentionally violating regulations and neglecting their responsibilities.

"The negative incidents that occurred are deeply regrettable for all of us," Son commented.

Reflecting on 40 years of exam reform, Son noted the continuous improvement in high school graduation and university entrance exams. He highlighted that the current exam format offers several advantages, including systematic organization, ease of administration, and reduced pressure on students and society.

Despite these improvements, violations have occurred in some areas. Son suggested that while objective causes might exist, subjective factors also play a role. He posed a critical question: "Have educators identified the underlying drivers of these negative phenomena? Have we truly exerted our best efforts and fully upheld our self-respect?"

He confirmed that the Ministry is collaborating with local authorities and relevant agencies to restore fairness, honesty, and credibility to the exam.

However, the Minister stressed that the problem extends beyond a single exam, requiring scrutiny of daily teaching and management practices to identify areas lacking authenticity, diligence, seriousness, or discipline.

"This is an urgent matter," Son declared. "While not new, the entire sector must demonstrate determination this academic year. With the self-respect inherent in all educators, we must gradually address this issue, starting from the smallest tasks: ensuring authenticity and honesty in teaching, homework evaluation, and result reporting."

Duong Tam