What did the Deputy Minister of Education and Training say about the 2024 high school graduation exam?

Dear Deputy Minister, the 2024 high school graduation exam marks an important milestone in general education - this is the exam for the last generation of students studying under the 2006 general education program. So is there anything different about this year's exam compared to previous years' exams?

- Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong: In terms of scale and nature, the 2024 high school graduation exam is completely no different from previous years' exams. The exam is still held nationwide with more than one million candidates taking the exam at the same time and with the same exam questions. In terms of organization, the 2024 high school graduation exam will basically remain stable as in the 2020-2023 period.

The purpose of the exam remains unchanged. The exam results serve the purpose of high school graduation, serve as a basis for university and college admissions, and evaluate the quality of management, teaching and learning at educational institutions. Similar to every year, with its important, complex and sensitive nature, the exam always receives great attention from society.

Every year, the units and individuals assigned to organize the high school graduation exam make every effort to organize the exam safely, seriously, thoughtfully and effectively. This year, all levels, sectors, localities and each personnel assigned to conduct the exam have been making the same effort. The best conditions are being provided for the candidates so that they can confidently participate in the exam.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong, head of the national steering committee for the 2024 high school graduation exam. Photo: Ministry of Education and Training

Up to now, how have the preparations for the 2024 high school graduation exam been carried out by the Ministry of Education and Training, ministries, branches and localities, Mr. Deputy Minister?

- 2024 is the year that preparations for the high school graduation exam will not only be early but also very proactive. Compared to previous years, the system of documents guiding the 2024 exam such as the Prime Minister 's Directive, plans, regulations, and instructions of the Ministry of Education and Training and relevant ministries, branches, and agencies will be issued earlier. This is the basis for provinces/cities to proactively deploy preparation work locally.

Through actual inspection, localities have prepared for the exam early and remotely, specifically demonstrated in the following 6 groups of work: First, localities have proactively issued a system of directive and guidance documents. Some localities have issued the Provincial People's Committee's Directive on the exam very early.

Second, in addition to the provincial-level Steering Committee for the exam, the locality also established a district-level Steering Committee for the exam, demonstrating the locality's interest in this exam.

Third, the Steering Committee promptly assigned and clarified responsibilities, conducted inspections and checks in the spirit of reviewing and resolving problems, and being proactive in work.

Fourth, the People's Committees at provincial and district levels proactively strengthen facilities and equipment to best ensure the exam.

Fifth, be proactive in professional and technical work; especially training work is seriously implemented with the spirit that all officers participating in the exam must be trained.

Sixth, localities are also very proactive in communication work, communicating correctly, sufficiently and promptly.

2024 is the next year that the Ministry of Education and Training will deploy the online exam registration software system. In the 9 days of opening the Online Exam Registration Portal, more than 1 million candidates successfully registered without any difficulties or errors. This is a great effort and result not only of the Ministry of Education and Training but also of localities and schools in guiding and supporting candidates in both information and technology.

Also through the actual inspection at the local level, one of the things that the localities and schools have done very well is to support the candidates. Not only supporting them in reviewing and consolidating their knowledge to achieve the desired results in the exam, but the care also includes small things such as collecting the phone numbers of many people in the candidate's family so that in case the candidate arrives late, there will be a plan to pick them up or to know each candidate who lives far away to support the pick-up and drop-off to the exam site.

Especially for candidates with difficult circumstances and disadvantaged candidates, localities have plans to support them both materially and spiritually so that they can confidently participate in the exam.

When checking in localities, I always emphasize: The more carefully prepared, the more thoughtful the implementation will be. And up to this point, it can be affirmed that the preparation for the 2024 high school graduation exam has been carried out carefully, thoroughly, closely and comprehensively by the Ministry of Education and Training, ministries, branches and localities. The whole country is ready to organize a safe, serious and regulated exam.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong works in localities. Photo: Ministry of Education and Training

One of the issues that has been mentioned a lot in recent years and continues to be mentioned many times this year is the prevention of exam cheating, especially with high-tech devices. Does the Deputy Minister have any advice for the Examination Councils of 63 provinces/cities on this issue?

- We all know that in the context of today's technological development, it is inevitable that more and more sophisticated devices will appear - not only for exam cheating but also for many other activities. Our problem is to do a good job of prevention.

For many years, the prevention of cheating in exams using high-tech devices has been considered by the Steering Committee for High School Graduation Exams at all levels as one of the important tasks that must be carefully implemented from the preparation stage. In particular, the active coordination role of the police force has been very effective.

In order to detect and prevent cheating devices, the Ministry of Education and Training has coordinated with the functional units of the Ministry of Public Security to train all exam staff. Next, the police of provinces and cities continue to train the team of teachers and staff working on exams in localities on identifying high-tech devices and the risks that candidates may use them.

We identify prevention, identification, and containment as the main tasks. In particular, we continue to emphasize human work. No matter how widespread high-tech devices for cheating purposes are nowadays, the most important thing is still choosing people. At the same time, we need to do a good job of communication so that candidates understand the seriousness of being discovered cheating and strictly handle cases of intentional violations.

Currently, the Ministry of Public Security and the Public Security of 63 provinces and cities are closely coordinating with the Education sector to do a good job of preventing cheating in exams using high-tech devices in this year's high school graduation exam.

With only a few days left until the 2024 high school graduation exam, what other notes does the Deputy Minister have to make so that the exam is organized in the spirit that he directed in the recent online meeting between the National Examination Steering Committee and the Examination Steering Committees of 63 provinces/cities, which is "safe, serious, effective, in accordance with regulations, thoughtful and friendly"?

- Up to this point, localities have prepared very carefully and responsibly for the exam. However, with a large-scale exam, which is complex and sensitive like the high school graduation exam, I hope that localities will thoroughly grasp the spirit of not being negligent, subjective, and using experience to perform tasks better. Relying only on experience can easily lead to subjectivity and mistakes. Continue to carefully review the conditions, content, tasks and especially have a backup scenario, so that in any situation, you will not be passive.

From now until the exam day, we request that localities continue to carefully review the exam conditions of candidates, especially candidates with difficult circumstances, disadvantaged candidates, candidates living far from the exam location... The highest principle that we have agreed on is not to let any candidate, due to economic difficulties or transportation difficulties, not be able to take the exam. We must create the most favorable conditions for candidates to take the exam; in remote areas affected by storms and rains, there should be a plan to bring candidates to the exam location in advance.

I would like to reiterate the spirit of "4 rights - 3 no's" that has been thoroughly implemented since the 2023 exam and will continue to be noted in this year's exam. "4 rights" are: Correct exam regulations and instructions; correct and complete procedures; correct assigned positions, responsibilities and tasks; correct timing to promptly handle unusual situations and incidents. "3 no's" are: Do not be negligent or subjective; do not be overly stressed or pressured; do not arbitrarily handle unusual situations and incidents.

Finally, I would like to pay attention to the communication work. This work must be carried out proactively and promptly; communicate correctly and sufficiently so that society can understand, agree, and see the nature, scale, and pressure of the exam. During the communication process, I hope that media agencies from central to local levels will accurately reflect the spirit of the exam; communicate to raise awareness, prevent negativity, promote positive aspects, and avoid confusion and pressure from public opinion and candidates.

This year's exam meets the criteria of "safety, seriousness, efficiency, compliance with regulations, thoughtfulness and friendliness". Photo: Ministry of Education and Training

Regarding the exam of the last batch of students studying under the 2006 general education program, what would the Deputy Minister like to share with the students and the team of officials and teachers working on the exam for the 2024 high school graduation exam?

- For every student, the high school graduation exam is always very important when finishing the high school journey, opening up the career journey and higher. In the past few days, when checking the reality in the localities, I have witnessed many efforts of teachers and students to review in the "sprint" stage with the hope of having good results in this exam.

There are only a few days left for the official exam. We wish all students good health and confidence to take the exam with the best results. The Government, the Ministry of Education and Training, along with other ministries, branches and localities, have been preparing the best conditions for you to confidently take the exam. Please pay attention to reviewing according to the teachers' instructions and following the exam regulations to achieve the desired results.

For the staff and teachers on duty at the 2024 high school graduation exam, I hope that you will properly and fully implement the content that has been trained and instructed. The task of creating a safe, serious, fair, friendly and humane exam is being placed on the shoulders of the teachers, I hope that you will do your best in this task.

Thank you very much, Deputy Minister!

Source: https://danviet.vn/thu-truong-gddt-noi-gi-ve-ky-thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-2024-ky-thi-cuoi-cung-cua-chuong-trinh-cua-20240624090350734.htm