# Vietnam education reform and exam integrity debates > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/vietnam-education-reform-and-exam-integrity-debates > Updated: 2026-09-05T00:00:37.000Z. Sources: 24. Developments: 7. Vietnam’s education sector continues to face scrutiny regarding exam integrity and curriculum reform. Education Minister Hoàng Minh Sơn has emphasized the need for “learn truly, test truly” to ensure assessments align with labor market demands, addressing concerns over cheating and “achievement-obsession” during the 2026 high-school graduation exams. To address security and integrity, the Ministry of Education and Training has proposed new technological measures for the national excellent student selection exam, including metal detectors, continuous surveillance on wired local networks, and the digitization of paper exams to anonymize student identities. As the sector enters a new academic year, structural governance reforms have led to a significant administrative shift. Nearly 19,000 public schools have been reduced through mergers, leaving approximately 18,575 institutions. This consolidation has created “super schools,” necessitating a transition from traditional management toward systemic governance driven by digital transformation and data-driven decision-making. Efforts to combat “achievement obsession” remain a priority, with authorities calling for a culture of honesty to prevent exam fraud and grade manipulation. The objective is to ensure academic results reflect actual competence and independent thinking rather than procedural compliance. Additionally, the Ministry is moving forward with plans to operate 100 boarding schools in border areas to support socio-economic development and improve literacy and ethnic leadership in those regions. ## Claims - The Ministry of Education and Training is seeking feedback on a draft regulation for the national excellent student selection exam. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Candidates will be checked with metal detectors before entering exam rooms. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Surveillance cameras will be installed in exam rooms, corridors, and exam storage areas. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Camera systems will use wired local area networks without wireless or internet connections to ensure data security. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Camera footage will be sealed and preserved for at least 9 months. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Paper exams will be digitized so graders can mark them directly on computers. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Hanoi plans to move toward using continuous assessment results for grade 10 admissions instead of traditional entrance exams. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Hanoi will implement periodic assessments for grades 10, 11, and 12 to prepare for the high school graduation exam. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Hanoi currently has 1,093 public schools and 600 private schools as of August 20, 2026. (single source) - The draft includes the addition of an Artificial Intelligence Olympic selection exam. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-05: Vietnam education sector targets governance reform and academic integrity Vietnam's education sector is implementing major reforms, including school mergers to create large-scale institutions and a push for academic integrity to eliminate achievement obsession. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-education-sector-targets-governance-reform-and-academic-integrity ### 2026-09-03: Vietnam Ministry of Education cuts administrative burdens and school competitions Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training is cutting unnecessary administrative tasks, meetings, and school-level student competitions to reduce teacher workload and focus on teaching quality. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-ministry-of-education-cuts-administrative-burdens-and-school-competitions ### 2026-08-28: Vietnam Ministry of Education proposes new security for national student exams Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training proposes using metal detectors, surveillance cameras, and digital grading to enhance security and transparency for the national excellent student exam. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-ministry-of-education-proposes-new-security-for-national-student-exams ### 2026-08-24: Vietnam Ministry of Education proposes major curriculum and exam reforms Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training is proposing reforms including computer-based testing, reducing high school entrance exam subjects to two, and making English mandatory from Grade 1. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-ministry-of-education-proposes-major-curriculum-and-exam-reforms ### 2026-08-17: Vietnam implements major educational reforms and admission changes Vietnam implements educational reforms, including Hanoi's potential shift to record-based grade 10 admissions, stricter university entrance standards for 2026, and making English compulsory from grade 1 by 2028 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/hanoi-education-department-plans-reform-for-grade-10-admissions ### 2026-08-15: Vietnam education reform sparks debate over exam integrity and subject requirements Vietnam faces debates over education reform, focusing on improving assessment integrity and a controversial proposal to reduce Grade 10 entrance exams to only Mathematics and Literature. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-education-reform-sparks-debate-over-exam-integrity-and-subject-requirements ### 2026-07-31: Vietnam Education Minister Hoang Minh Son Urges Authentic Learning and Testing Vietnam’s Education Minister Hoàng Minh Sơn urged “learn truly, test truly,” linking school quality to labour‑market needs and calling for ethical reforms ahead of the 2026 exam. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vietnam-education-minister-hoang-minh-son-urges-authentic-learning-and-testing --- Cite as: Vietnam education reform and exam integrity debates. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/vietnam-education-reform-and-exam-integrity-debates