The Ministry of Education and Training announced the information on the evening of 9/7. The ministry requested the Tuyen Quang Provincial People's Committee to continue directing functional agencies to promptly and objectively verify the nature of the incident. This includes clarifying violations and strictly handling organizations and individuals who violated exam regulations and laws.

Based on exam regulations, inspection and handling results, verification results from functional agencies, and a comprehensive assessment of the incident's impact, the ministry will decide on an appropriate handling plan. This plan aims to ensure objectivity, fairness, educational humanity, and the legitimate rights and interests of candidates.

"The plan will prevent genuinely capable candidates from having their learning opportunities affected, while upholding discipline, fairness, and the reputation of the high school graduation exam," the ministry stated in a press release.

The ministry's move came after Tuyen Quang province's proposal for handling the fraud incident, which led to "abnormally high" math scores at the Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted test center.

According to the high school graduation exam scores announced by the ministry on the morning of 1/7, Tuyen Quang province ranked 28th out of 34 localities for its average math score of 5,069 points.

Across the province, 154 test papers achieved a score of 10 out of nearly 17,600 candidates, accounting for 0,88%. This rate was the second highest nationwide, after Ha Tinh (0,91%). Notably, scores of 10 were primarily concentrated at Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted.

More than 290 of the 328 candidates, with candidate numbers ranging from 080163xx to 080166xx, scored 9 or higher in mathematics; more than 140 of them achieved a perfect score. The average score for this group was 9,58, the highest nationwide.

At a press conference on the afternoon of 9/7 regarding the incident, a representative from the provincial police announced that criminal proceedings had been initiated against four defendants to investigate the crime of abuse of power while on duty.

Investigators determined that Tran Thi Thu Hang, deputy principal of Nguyen Van Huyen High School and head of the Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted test center, had directed and instructed several invigilators to facilitate candidates taking the math exam. Following the test center head's instructions, defendant Duy "entered the examination room and directly guided" some candidates in taking the math exam.

Hoang Minh Canh, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training, stated that the department had met with parents and candidates at the Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted test center to listen to their opinions and aspirations. All parents agreed to the proposal for a math re-exam to ensure fairness, objectivity, and the legitimate rights of candidates. Therefore, the department proposed this plan to the Ministry of Education and Training, also considering university and college admissions timelines.

Entrance of Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted. *Photo: Thanh Hang*

The high school graduation exam took place on 11-12/6, with a record number of candidates – over 1,2 million.

Regarding the "abnormally high" math scores at Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted, Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau assessed that it seriously affected the exam results. He requested the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Public Security, and Tuyen Quang province to promptly verify and strictly handle organizations and individuals in violation, and to have a handling plan before 10/7, in accordance with the law and educational humanity.

Duong Tam