Tuyen Quang Exam Cheating Scandal Deemed 'Extremely Serious' by Prime Minister

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has described the exam cheating scandal at Tuyen Quang High School (THPT chuyên Tuyên Quang) as 'extremely serious,' outlining three core principles for handling the case. During a meeting with Tuyen Quang province on July 15, the Prime Minister stated that the violations have undermined the integrity and fairness of the examination, negatively impacting the reputation of the education sector and public trust. The three principles for handling the matter are: First, to conduct a thorough and objective verification of the facts to uncover the true nature of the incident, ensuring fairness and transparency. Second, to strictly handle organizations and individuals responsible for violations, clearly differentiating their roles, responsibilities, and the severity of their misconduct. Third, to ensure that proposed actions align with examination regulations and legal provisions, respecting the legitimate rights of candidates while upholding educational humanism. This also involves maintaining strict discipline, fairness, and the credibility of the examination. The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Public Security to continue instructing the Tuyen Quang Provincial Police to expedite the investigation and fact-finding process. The aim is to identify all involved parties and impose strict sanctions without exception or impunity. The Ministry of Education and Training will collaborate with Tuyen Quang province to decide on the handling of examination results for students at the high school. Furthermore, a comprehensive review of the national examination process, including regulations and security measures at all stages, is necessary to prevent recurrence. Tuyen Quang province is expected to cooperate in resolving the issue, provide accurate and timely information to the public, and sincerely acknowledge its shortcomings and failures in leadership, direction, and implementation. The scandal emerged after an unusually high number of students—146 out of 328—achieved perfect scores (10) in the math exam at Tuyen Quang High School, with 299 scoring 9 or above, the highest proportion nationwide. As of July 15, police have prosecuted 26 individuals for abuse of power while on duty. Tran Thi Thu Hang, the deputy headmaster of Nguyen Van Huyen High School, is accused of directing some invigilators to facilitate candidates during the math exam. Nguyen Ha Duy, a math teacher at Tuyen Quang High School, allegedly entered exam rooms to provide direct guidance to certain students. Phan Huy Ngoc, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Tuyen Quang Provincial People's Committee, pledged that the locality will handle the matter thoroughly and strictly, serving as a "warning for Tuyen Quang as well as the entire country." Previously, the provincial Department of Education and Training proposed a re-examination for the 328 students. However, the Ministry of Education and Training has not yet agreed, pending further investigation results to assess the overall impact. Students are still able to apply for university admissions during this period. The Ministry will impose sanctions later if violations are confirmed.