The combined examination system for high school graduation and university admission in Vietnam is facing scrutiny as it has exposed various shortcomings and negative consequences. On July 14, during a meeting regarding the June citizen report, several members of the National Assembly's Standing Committee voiced their concerns about a cheating scandal that occurred in Tuyen Quang. Nguyen Dac Vinh, Chairman of the Culture and Education Committee, described the incident as serious, emphasizing the importance of the examination, which significantly impacts society.

Vinh praised the government's decisive stance on addressing violations, stating that there should be no exceptions. He suggested that the government should also consider policy adjustments regarding the high school graduation exam. Currently, there are two prevailing opinions that need thorough investigation. On one hand, the dual examination system saves effort and costs for families and society. On the other hand, merging these two exams has led to various problems, including an emphasis on achieving high scores for university admission, which contributes to unethical practices.

Vinh proposed the idea of separating the two examinations, arguing that the high school graduation exam should focus on assessing students' knowledge and classifying their educational levels. This would allow for a better evaluation of educational quality and necessary adjustments. Meanwhile, university admissions should be managed independently by higher education institutions. Some universities have already shifted to competency-based assessments and self-admissions, indicating a trend towards greater autonomy.

Additionally, Vinh highlighted the need for discussions with the Ministry of Education and Training regarding the examination format. He expressed concerns that relying solely on multiple-choice questions, especially in mathematics, does not adequately teach students how to present their reasoning and develop coherent thinking. Purely multiple-choice formats may not reflect the overall learning process, leading students to focus solely on selecting the correct answers.

In light of the Tuyen Quang scandal, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang acknowledged the public's heightened interest in the matter. The government is taking decisive action, directing the Ministry of Education and Training and relevant authorities to conduct thorough investigations. Thang assured that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is closely monitoring the situation and has convened meetings to ensure appropriate measures are taken. The government's stance is clear: any identified misconduct will be dealt with strictly according to the law, ensuring fairness for students and maintaining public trust in the education sector.

During the session, the Standing Committee on Citizen Complaints and Supervision urged the National Assembly's Standing Committee to request the government and the Prime Minister to direct relevant ministries and localities to investigate the unusual scoring in the mathematics exam at Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted. It was reported that over 140 out of 154 tests scored a perfect 10, raising suspicions of malpractice. As of now, 19 individuals have been prosecuted for abusing their positions during the examination process, including Tran Thi Thu Hang, the deputy principal of Nguyen Van Huyen High School, who allegedly directed some examiners to assist candidates in the mathematics exam.