Students cheating during a high school graduation exam at Doi Ngo High School in Bac Giang Province in 2012 

Vu Duc Dam, Chairman of the Government Office told the press on the afternoon of February 28 that some contents in the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET)’s recently amended Circular 4 on high school graduation exam regulations for 2013 were irrational and need amending.

“I’ve checked and see several unreasonable contents in the regulation, which violate people’s right to make denouncements. There still remain some inadequate regulations and they must be repealed regardless of who is the issuer. I’ve discussed the issue with the MoET leaders and was informed that Minister of Education and Training has requested an inspection and will amend the regulation,” Dam commented.

Circular 3 stipulates that students who have evidence of exam cheating are not allowed to distribute the information in any form.

According to the regulation, the students must send the evidence to central or provincial steering committees for high school graduation exams and education inspectorates at different levels after their exams. Those who submit such information will be held accountable for the reliability of the information provided.

Criticism

Such regulation has received serious public criticism.

Prof. Ha Huy Bang, Chairman of Dao Duy Tu High School in Hanoi told DTiNews, “I think that this regulation is groundless as it affects people’s right to make denouncements. As I’ve acted as chairman of high school graduation and university entrance exams, I realised that MoET has been too relaxed about students being able to bring several types of electronic devices in exams, and this has posed difficulties in the supervision of the exams. Students should focus on their own tests, not think about filming other people.”

Associate Prof. Van Nhu Cuong, Principle of Luong The Vinh High School said he found some contradictory contents in the regulation as it allows students to bring tape-recorders and cameras into exams but bans them from distributing the evidence.

“If students who have evidences of exam cheating send them to the exam organisers but not the press or other relevant agencies, I’m afraid that the cases won’t be brought to light. Regarding the case at Doi Ngo High School in Bac Giang Province, if the video of students cheating hadn’t been distributed through online forums and the issue was discussed in newspapers, I wonder if the MoET would have even thought about a solution,” Cuong commented.

The regulation that forces evidence providers to be held accountable for the reliability of the information may have discouraged people from raising their voices, he added.

Dr. Nguyen Tung Lam, principal of Dinh Tien Hoang High School said the tight management of evidence related to exam cheating was irrational.

“If the evidence isn’t sent to press agencies, then who will scrutinise the implementation of the policy?”, Lam said.

He is worried that it could be a bit dangerous for students to film their classmates as it may result in conflicts with the exam cheats.