Suspected leak of 10th grade student exam data in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education suspects that student data has been leaked, causing many students to receive text messages inviting them to enroll even though the Department has not announced the admission scores.

Bao Chau, a student at Qui Duc Secondary School in Binh Chanh District, said that after knowing her 10th grade entrance exam results, she received three consecutive text messages announcing her admission and invitations to enroll from Hoa Lu High School, Viet Nhat High School, and the Continuing Education Center of Ho Chi Minh City University of Food Industry.

"I did not register or send my application to these schools, I don't know why they have my information," Bao Chau said. Some other candidates received messages from colleges and vocational schools.

Mr. Ho Tan Minh, Chief of Office of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said on the evening of June 22 that the Department had received many complaints about fake text messages announcing admission to public grade 10. Students were invited to enroll in private schools, colleges, and intermediate schools even though the admission scores had not been announced.

According to Mr. Minh, it is not wrong for private schools to send text messages inviting students to enroll, and they do so every year. The problem is how these schools get information, phone numbers, names, and grades of students. Therefore, it is likely that the data of students taking the 10th grade entrance exam has been leaked.

Mr. Minh said that student data is information that is strictly kept confidential by the education sector. All data specialists of the Department must sign a confidentiality agreement. Education departments and schools are required not to provide student information or data to partners, and not to publish student information to avoid being exploited by bad actors.

When announcing the 10th grade exam results, the Department transfers exam score data and other student information to education departments and schools to support students in searching and making statistics.

"The data has gone through many sources so it is not clear where it was leaked. The Department has transferred the information to the police to coordinate the investigation to see where and how the student data leaked out," said the Department's Chief of Staff. He reminded parents to be alert and carefully research the information when receiving text messages and phone calls announcing admission.

Candidates receive an invitation message from Far East College. Photo: Le Nguyen — Candidates receive an invitation message from Far East College. Photo: *Le Nguyen*

On June 20, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training announced the 10th grade entrance exam scores. Candidates who want to have their scores reviewed can submit their applications at their secondary schools until 11:00 a.m. on June 23. This year, out of nearly 96,000 candidates taking the exam, about 77,300 will be admitted to public 10th grade (80%).

On July 4, the Department will announce the admission scores for specialized and integrated grade 10 and the list of candidates admitted directly. The admission scores for regular grade 10 and the list of successful candidates will be announced on July 10.

Le Nguyen

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