The 2026 national high school graduation examination in Tuyen Quang Province has become one of Vietnam's biggest education scandals after authorities charged 19 people in connection with an alleged scheme that resulted in 147 perfect scores in the mathematics exam. Investigators say the initial motive was the pursuit of academic achievement.

Police in Tuyen Quang recently announced that 15 additional suspects have been charged with abusing positions and powers while performing official duties in connection with irregularities at the examination site of Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted during the 2026 national graduation examination.

The latest charges follow the earlier prosecution of four suspects, including exam site chief Tran Thi Thu Hang, teacher Nguyen Ha Duy and two other individuals.

The controversy first emerged in early July, when social media users raised questions over an unusually high number of perfect mathematics scores recorded at Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted.

Across the province, 154 candidates achieved a perfect score of 10 in mathematics out of more than 17,000 examinees. Of those, 147 perfect scores - more than 95 percent of the province's total - were concentrated within a narrow range of candidate identification numbers, from 080163xx to 080166xx, covering 328 examinees.

Following an investigation, the Tuyen Quang Provincial Party Committee held a press conference to disclose findings related to violations during the 2026 national graduation examination. The investigation gradually revealed what allegedly took place inside examination rooms at the specialized high school.

According to Senior Colonel Tran Anh Tuan, Chief of the Staff Division of the Tuyen Quang Provincial Police, Tran Thi Thu Hang, vice principal of Nguyen Van Huyen High School, had been appointed chief supervisor of the examination site at Tuyen Quang High School for the Gifted.

Although she was responsible for overseeing all examination activities at the site, investigators allege that Hang instructed several invigilators to create favorable conditions that allowed candidates to complete the mathematics examination in violation of official examination regulations.

Police further allege that, acting under Hang's instructions, Nguyen Ha Duy entered examination rooms and directly guided certain candidates while they were taking the mathematics test.

Investigators say these actions seriously violated national examination regulations, undermined the objectivity, fairness and transparency of the examination, and generated widespread public concern.

"Our initial investigation indicates that the motive was the pursuit of academic achievement," Senior Colonel Tran Anh Tuan said.

With 19 suspects now facing prosecution, Tuyen Quang Provincial Police said investigators are continuing to gather evidence and strengthen the case as the investigation proceeds.

From a legal perspective, lawyer Nguyen Thanh Hai, Director of An Hoang Gia Law Firm and a member of the Hanoi Bar Association, said the decision to prosecute 19 individuals on charges of abusing official powers indicates that investigators have established preliminary evidence suggesting criminal conduct.

However, Hai noted that the case remains in the investigation stage, meaning the criminal liability of each suspect will continue to be determined based on the evidence collected.

Vietnam's 2015 Penal Code, as amended in 2017, provides multiple sentencing frameworks for the offense of abusing positions and powers while performing official duties. The specific penalty for each defendant will depend on factors including their individual role, the nature of the conduct, criminal intent, the consequences of the offense, and any aggravating or mitigating circumstances.

"Not all defendants will necessarily receive the same sentence simply because they have been charged with the same offense. In Nguyen Ha Duy's case, if investigators confirm that he entered examination rooms and instructed candidates in accordance with directions from his superiors, as stated by investigators, that will be an important factor in assessing the extent of his involvement and legal responsibility. The authorities will also determine who issued the instructions, who organized the misconduct, who directly carried it out, and the role of each individual throughout the violations," he said.

The lawyer also stressed that candidates themselves should be assessed individually.

If investigators establish that candidates knowingly participated in or agreed to the cheating, they may face consequences under examination regulations and other relevant laws. Conversely, if the misconduct was carried out solely by examination officials without the candidates' knowledge or participation, their legal responsibility should not automatically be presumed, and appropriate measures should be taken to protect their legitimate rights and interests.

"In my view, the most important objective is not only to punish those who violated the law but also to identify the underlying causes and conditions that allowed these violations to occur so similar incidents can be prevented in the future. A national examination can only maintain its credibility when it is built on honesty and fairness. Holding those responsible accountable, based on their individual conduct, will help restore public confidence in both the education system and the rule of law," lawyer Nguyen Thanh Hai said.

Duc Phong