Ministry of Education Considers Proposed Changes to Upcoming Graduation Exams
Major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City call for adjustments amid impending administrative changes.
On March 18, 2025, the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) responded to various proposals aimed at adjusting the schedule for the upcoming high school graduation and 10th-grade enrollment exams. Notably, Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Deputy Director of the Department of Quality Management at MoET, emphasized the Ministry's commitment to flexible arrangements dependent on external conditions.
At the recent Career Counseling and Admissions Day, Ha confirmed, "At this time, the Ministry has no information about any changes. The high school graduation exam is always prepared early and must occur simultaneously nationwide across all 63 provinces." This statement reinforces the idea of uniformity, asserting there won't be different local schedules for these exams.
The call for adjustments has gained traction with several local agencies. The Department of Education and Training (DoET) of Nghe An has requested permission to finish teaching for grades 9 and 12 by May 10, 2025, and advance the entrance exam for 10th grade to May 25 and 26. These dates are significantly earlier than the Ministry's previously announced schedule, which set graduation exams for June 9 and 10.
Thai Van Thanh, Director of Nghe An’s DoET, pointed out the need for these changes due to significant upcoming administrative alterations, including the merging of some provincial-level administrative units and the potential abolition of district-level authorities. He stated, "This requires us to push the exam schedule earlier to provide reassurance to students and guarantee their rights as well as the quality of their education."
The urgency was echoed by the DoET of Hanoi, which submitted document number 786/SGDDT-QTL to MoET before the March 17 deadline, also advocating for adjustments to the graduation exam schedule. Hanoi holds the largest number of students nationwide, with nearly 130,000 eligible for high school graduation, which accounts for about one-tenth of the total students taking the exam across the country.
"Given the scale of our student population and the complexity involved, we are seeking to adjust the schedule for the high school graduation exam to allow ample time for all necessary preparations and processes," stated the representative from Hanoi’s DoET, emphasizing the need for careful orchestration.
Similar proposals have emanated from Ho Chi Minh City and Ninh Binh, with administrators arguing for earlier exam schedules too. The Ho Chi Minh City DoET has proposed shifting the graduation exam to occur between June 7 and 10. This aligns with their desire for clear guidance and organization, particularly as the country moves toward significant political and administrative restructuring.
According to Nguyen Ngoc Ha, any potential changes to scheduled exams would be calculated very carefully to minimize disruption. He noted, "The Ministry of Education and Training always prepares various scenarios to accommodate changes. The graduation exam is organized nationally and needs coherence among all localities involved." If alterations to the schedule are implemented, they will be applied uniformly to all areas.
The Deputy Director also emphasized the importance of thorough preparation on local levels. "Because exam preparation has been decentralized, we need to carefully evaluate how any schedule shifts could affect the entire educational ecosystem, especially students at risk of disruption during this transition phase."
There are multiple factors at play concerning the overall academic approach this examination year. For the 2025 high school graduation exams, the assessment will factor both the exam results and overall academic performance at the high school level, contributing to 50% of the final grade. This means students need to maintain consistent academic performance throughout the year.
"The exam structure will closely mirror the 12th-grade curriculum, incorporating elements from previous years but with increased emphasis on reasoning and practical application," added Ha. Students will need to be well-prepared for questions requiring practical problem-solving, echoing the MoET's direction for aligning testing with real-world scenarios.
It's also imperative this year for schools employing transcript-based admission processes to comply with new regulations. This means utilizing complete academic year results from 12th grade. Previous practices only considered performance up until the first semester, posing challenges for students who previously relied on earlier assessments.
While engagement and diligence during the second semester are stressed, particularly for 12th graders, the results of the 2025 exam will critically influence graduation recognition and inform higher education institutions and vocational programs for future enrollments, indicating its significance cannot be overstated.
With the timeline moving closer and preparations ramping up, it remains to be seen how these potential changes will impact educational stakeholders across Vietnam. The calls for earlier examinations represent more than just logistical adjustments; they signify broader changes within the educational framework, reflecting the country's shifting administrative structure and its ripple effects on students.
