Huỳnh Văn Chương, head of the Quality Management Department under the Ministry of Education and Training, delivers a speech at the conference on Thursday in Đà Nẵng City. — VNA/VNS Photo Khoa Chương

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Education and Training has proposed installing surveillance cameras in all examination rooms, tightening selection criteria for invigilators and reviewing venue arrangements for the 2027 National High School Graduation Exam following serious cases of cheating this year.

The proposals were announced at a conference reviewing the organisation of the 2026 examinations, held by the ministry on Thursday at the University of Education under the University of Đà Nẵng in the central city.

The ministry said camera footage would support supervision, post-examination reviews and investigations into violations.

It also plans to strengthen the selection, training and management of examination personnel, improve inspection procedures and take strict action against those who breach regulations.

Another proposal under consideration is to require candidates from different schools to sit examinations at the same venue.

Provincial and municipal departments of education and training currently arrange venues according to local conditions to reduce candidates’ travel time.

Where it is not possible to assign candidates from different schools to the same examination venue, local authorities would have to seek approval from the provincial examination steering committee.

Other measures include strengthening education in law and ethics for students, improving teachers’ professional accountability and publishing examination results for public scrutiny.

In preparation for the 2027 exam, the ministry plans to refine regulations, clarify inspection responsibilities and gradually digitise inspection activities, evidence management and progress tracking.

It will also work with the Ministry of Public Security and specialist agencies to update guidance on identifying high-tech cheating devices, provide practical training and standardise procedures for handling violations.

Local authorities have been instructed to review examination arrangements, maintain inter-agency cooperation and strengthen controls over examination personnel, transmitting and receiving devices and the security of examination papers.

Higher education institutions must ensure that staff assigned to examination duties have the necessary qualifications, integrity and experience.

More violations

Data released at the conference showed that more than 1.2 million candidates registered for the 2026 high school graduation examinations, an increase of 61,642 from 2025 and the highest figure on record.

All registrations were completed online.

The number of candidates suspended for breaching examination regulations rose from 41 in 2025 to 89 in 2026. Three invigilators were also found to have violated regulations, compared with none the previous year.

The ministry said increasingly sophisticated technology-assisted cheating requires stronger preventive measures beyond awareness campaigns.

Investigations into complaints after the examinations uncovered 14 cases of candidates using mobile phones to cheat in Khánh Hòa, Đắk Lắk, Đồng Nai, Cà Mau and Ninh Bình provinces. Their results were annulled in accordance with regulations.

The most serious violations occurred at Tuyên Quang High School for Gifted Students in the mountainous northern province of Tuyên Quang, prompting the ministry to annul the results of examinations held on June 11 and 12 and organise a retake on August 14 and 15.

Addressing the conference, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Phạm Ngọc Thưởng called for a frank assessment of the shortcomings and violations, clearly identifying the causes and establishing the responsibilities of the organisations and individuals involved.

He said the incidents had undermined the reputation of the examinations and public confidence in their fairness and objectivity.

Thưởng stressed the need to review the entire examination process, identify risks and strengthen supervision, particularly at stages vulnerable to misconduct. While technology, surveillance cameras and security screening equipment could help prevent cheating, he said, human factors remained decisive.

He also called for professional errors to be distinguished from deliberate violations, with offenders dealt with strictly under the law and without cover-ups or evasion of responsibility.

Local authorities were urged to carry out the Prime Minister’s Directive 37/CT-TTg, dated October 20, on preventing and combating cheating in examinations and educational assessment, and to prepare thoroughly for the 2027 exam.

Huỳnh Văn Chương, head of the ministry’s Quality Management Department, said the violations highlighted the need to draw lessons and introduce corrective measures before the next examination period.

The 2027 national high school graduation exams are expected to take place on June 11 and 12. —VNS