The Prime Minister has issued a directive to ensure the smooth organization of the 2025 national high school graduation exams and university admissions. The 2025 exams are particularly significant, as they will be the first under the new 2018 general education curriculum.

The directive, signed by the Prime Minister on October 7, emphasized reducing pressure and costs for students, families, and society. The government aims to ensure that the exams remain reliable, transparent, and reflective of students’ true abilities, while also providing useful data for universities and vocational schools in their admissions processes.

The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) to issue exam regulations, organize exam schedules, and provide clear guidance to localities. It is crucial that the preparation and implementation of the exams are well-coordinated, ensuring that students and educators are not caught off-guard.

Additionally, the MoET is tasked with developing a stable set of sample exam questions to help teachers and students better prepare for the exam. The ministry must also ensure the security and quality of the test questions and improve the system for handling exam results. Localities must ensure that grading is fair, accurate, and transparent.

The directive also highlighted the need for a revamped admissions process that promotes transparency and fairness while providing students with a wide range of choices. The admissions process should help students select fields of study that align with their abilities and future career goals, based on the new general education curriculum.

Looking toward the future, the MoET is urged to prepare early for the introduction of computer-based testing for multiple-choice exams, as part of the 2025-2030 plan. Necessary resources in terms of personnel, finances, and infrastructure must be secured well in advance.

In addition, the Prime Minister called for increased inspections to prevent cheating and ensure that the exam and admissions processes remain fair and transparent.

Provincial and city governments are also required to take full responsibility for organizing the exams in their localities. They must direct local education departments to ensure the quality of teaching, tutoring, and assessments in line with the 2018 curriculum.

Thanh Hung