HCM CITY — Provinces nationwide are offering assistance to students during the three-day national high school examination which kicks off today.

In HCM City alone, more than 20,000 volunteers are are taking part in the city’s annual “Tiếp Sức Mùa Thi” (Assistance during Exam Season) Programme.

HCM City has 78,000 students registered for the examination.

The city’s Tiếp Sức Mùa Thi programme is organised by the Việt Nam Student Association’s HCM City chapter and the HCM City Student Assistance Centre, with support from government agencies.

The volunteers have received training to offer assistance to candidates and their relatives.

The city has provided VNĐ200 million ($8,700) to support disadvantaged students in the city and other provinces across the country.

With the participation of around 20,000 volunteers, the programme consists of two phases.

In the first phase, about 8,000 volunteers are assisting candidates sitting the high school graduation examination from June 16- 27.

They work in groups at 124 testing locations, providing candidates with information related to the exam, resolving emergencies, ensuring security and helping regulate traffic near testing locations.

In the second phase, about 12,000 volunteers are helping candidates apply to colleges and universities in the city from August 1-12.

They are working in groups at Miền Đông, Miền Tây, An Sương and Chợ Lớn bus stations to help students and their relatives from provinces find their way to universities and colleges in the city.

Nationwide support

The Ministry of Public Security has told Hà Nội’s Education and Training Department to closely monitor cheating via high-tech devices on the exam, while the education ministry has asked more than 20 universities in HCM city, in collaboration with other provinces, to handle organizing procedures for the national high school examination at localities.

The HCM City University of Technology and Education has sent nearly 470 staff to the central province of Bình Định, and 70 student volunteers to the central coastal province of Phú Yên to support organisation of the exam.

Phạm Văn Cường, director of the Phú Yên Province’s Education and Training Department, said more than 10,000 students had registered for the exam at 25 testing locations in the province.

Over 17,800 candidates have completed registration for the national high school examination this year, according to the Bình Định Province’s Department of Education and Training.

The Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union in Bình Định Province has launched an examination assistance campaign with 500 volunteers.

The volunteers were divided into small groups, providing 200 free accommodations, 1,000 accommodations with reasonable price, 10,000 litres of water, and other items for needy candidates.

The central province of Bình Thuận has received about 400 university staff from HCM City Open University.

The school has provided financial support to 251 disadvantaged students living in the province’s Phú Quý Island, with a travelling cost of VNĐ250,000 ($11) each.

Tây Ninh Province has received 450 staff and 50 student volunteers from the HCM City University of Food Industry.

Phạm Thái Sơn, director of the school’s Entrepreneurship Support Centre, said: “The school provides candidates all information related to recruitment and industry orientation, and other support in case of need during the exam.”

In addition, the volunteers also support travel and accommodation needs for students and their relatives, he said.

In the cities and provinces of the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta, the number of students participating in this year’s national high school exam has increased significantly, with an increase of 1,000-3000 registered candidates compared to last year.

Nguyễn Thị Minh Giang, director of the Kiên Giang Province’s Training and Education Department, said more than 13,500 students have registered for the exam this year. Of that number, 630 candidates will take the exam at three testing locations on Phú Quốc Island.

The province’s exam assistance programme has provided VNĐ158 million ($6,900) and 6,000 free meals for candidates this year, Giang said. — VNS