Vietnam's 2026 high‑school exam question on 'Steve Jobs Vietnam' fuels online debate
The social‑essay portion of Vietnam's 2026 high‑school graduation literature exam asks students, “Làm thế nào để có những ‘Steve Jobs Việt Nam’?” The open‑ended prompt quickly became a hot topic on social media. Beauty queen Đoàn Thiên Ân questioned the wording on Threads, prompting a flood of reactions about whether the question seeks to create Vietnamese tech innovators or merely copies foreign figures.
Education experts highlighted that the exam cites Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk as “technology inventors,” a description they argue is inaccurate. One commentator noted, “Steve Jobs không phát minh ra chuột máy tính hay giao diện đồ họa,” while another added that Elon Musk “không phát minh ra xe điện hay pin lithium‑ion.” The specialists suggest the term “phát minh” should be used more loosely, emphasizing the vision and ecosystem‑building role of these leaders rather than literal invention. The debate reflects broader concerns over how Vietnam’s education system frames innovation and the relevance of global tech icons for domestic students.