Conference on implementing primary school admission, high school graduation exam and evaluating the implementation of Circular 29

On March 28, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) held a conference to deploy the work of enrolling students at the beginning of the school year, organizing high school graduation exams and evaluating the implementation of Circular 29/2024/TT-BGDDT regulating extra teaching and learning. The conference was organized in a combination of in-person and online formats with 63 Departments of Education and Training nationwide. Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong chaired the conference.

Conference scene

Ensure exams take place safely and with quality

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong said: This is an annual task that must be done regularly. The 2024-2025 school year is the first year that exams are organized according to the 2018 General Education Program, while candidates are still taking the exam according to the 2006 General Education Program. In the context that units are preparing for the arrangement of the government apparatus according to the direction of the Party and the State, the Ministry of Education and Training also needs to have timely direction and early, remote preparation to ensure that the exams take place safely and with quality.

Recently, the issuance and implementation of Circular 29 has received the attention of the whole society. After more than 1 month of implementation, the Ministry of Education and Training organized a conference with the hope of having a comprehensive view of the advantages and difficulties when implementing Circular 29.

Reporting on the implementation of preparations for organizing the high school graduation exam, Deputy Director of the Department of Quality Management Nguyen Ngoc Ha said that on April 3, 2025, the Ministry of Education and Training will hold a training conference on the regulations and procedures for organizing the high school graduation exam in 2025.

Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong presided at the Ministry of Education and Training bridge point

In particular, the review content mainly focuses on grade 12, according to the requirements of the 2018 General Education Program so that students can study with peace of mind and teachers can proactively teach and review appropriately for students. The thinking level is 40% knowledge, 30% understanding and 30% application.

According to Deputy Director Nguyen Ngoc Ha, the 2025 High School Graduation Exam Regulations also clearly state that the graduation score includes 50% of the graduation exam score and 50% of the score calculated from the 3-year study process of students. This is a fundamental change compared to previous exams, in line with the 2018 General Education Program, many abilities and qualities of students are developed during the learning process. Therefore, teachers need to review for students to increase the connection and application of knowledge and skills with reality, especially with differentiated content to properly assess students' abilities.

Regarding some new points in the organization of the 2025 high school graduation exam, Deputy Director Nguyen Ngoc Ha said that the Ministry of Education and Training always gives the most convenience to candidates. The 2025 high school graduation exam will only be held in 3 exam sessions and the 3rd session will test both elective subjects. Candidates will be arranged in a single exam room, without having to move the exam room. The collection of papers will be by room without having to classify by subject. Keeping 24 candidates/exam room, 1 exam room can arrange up to 5 subjects. To ensure security, instead of only 24 exam codes for 24 students in 1 exam room as before, this year's exam increased the number of exam codes to 48 for 2 time frames of the 3rd exam session.

Deputy Director of the Department of Quality Management Nguyen Ngoc Ha reports on the organization of high school graduation exams.

This year's exam is organized simultaneously for students taking the 2006 General Education Program (those who have not graduated, or are taking the exam to get university admission scores) and students taking the 2018 General Education Program. Therefore, localities must comply with the regulations on organizing different exam sites for different programs. To avoid mistakes, it is necessary to arrange some separate exam sites for students taking the 2006 Program.

Currently, many localities have organized mock high school graduation exams. According to Deputy Director Nguyen Ngoc Ha, the organization needs to try to be similar to the organization of the official exam, from the structure, format and level of exam questions, exam time, exam room arrangement, etc.

Deputy Director Nguyen Ngoc Ha noted that to prepare well for the organization of the 2025 High School Graduation Exam, localities need to carefully prepare 5 groups of issues: facilities, human resources, security, propaganda and support for candidates, parents and incident prevention.

Implement Circular 29 synchronously and drastically to raise awareness throughout society

Reporting on the implementation of Circular 29, Director of the General Education Department Thai Van Tai said: The direction of the Ministry of Education and Training has been implemented resolutely and synchronously from the central to local levels. The Ministry of Education and Training has advised the Prime Minister to issue an Official Dispatch directing the provincial People's Committees to strengthen local direction of general education.

Localities have actively and promptly issued documents guiding and directing the implementation of the Circular. The entire political system has participated in order to effectively implement the Circular. In addition to the education sector and specialized management agencies, there is also the mobilization of local authorities at all levels, and other relevant departments and branches.

Director of the General Education Department Thai Van Tai reports on primary school enrollment and assessment of the implementation of Circular 29

The work of disseminating and communicating the contents of the Circular has been carried out promptly, diversely, and widely to all subjects affected by the Circular.

Inspection and examination work was carried out promptly and urgently, mobilizing many forces to coordinate with the education sector to implement and strengthen supervision of the entire population.

Therefore, Circular No. 29 has received high consensus and special attention from society, so it should be grasped quickly and implemented promptly, meeting the expectations of society. Localities, schools, teachers, and parents are more aware of the consequences and harmful effects of widespread DTHT on students, parents, schools, and the whole society.

The team of managers and teachers have a fuller and clearer awareness of the responsibility and importance of formal teaching, the responsibility in supporting students to ensure the quality of education; the responsibility and importance of equipping students with the awareness of self-study, autonomy, and self-awareness in educational activities.

Authorities at all levels have raised awareness of their roles and responsibilities in managing extra-curricular teaching and learning activities in the area, promptly issued instructions to implement regulations on extra-curricular teaching; gradually brought these activities into order, discipline, in accordance with the law and avoided waste; initially issued plans and established inspection teams to implement the provisions of Circular 29.

Parents clearly recognize the role of family in coordinating management and education of students.

In particular, in recent times, the Ministry of Education and Training has received comments sent through the media from parents, scientists, teachers and staff showing great support for the provisions of the Circular, stating that the Ministry of Education and Training has listened receptively and is highly determined to bring the country's education system in line with the educational guidelines set out by the Party and the State, opening up opportunities for the young generation to develop comprehensively, contributing to the country with high-quality, dynamic and creative citizens.

Prepare thoroughly, no surprises, no confusion

Regarding the work of primary school enrollment, in the past time, the Ministry of Education and Training has directed and urged localities, guided schools and general education institutions to seriously implement Circular 30, strengthen information and propaganda work on enrollment. Answer and thoroughly resolve the problems of some localities regarding the direct enrollment regime, and enrollment in grade 10 of specialized high schools.

Representatives of the Department of Education and Training exchanged at the online configuration point.

Speaking at the conference, Director of Nghe An Department of Education and Training Thai Van Thanh said: "The regulation prohibiting extra teaching and learning at primary schools in Nghe An province has been directed before, but it was not until Circular No. 29 and the drastic direction of the Ministry of Education and Training were they thoroughly implemented." Appreciating the humanity of Circular 29, Mr. Thai Van Thanh said that the Circular brings fair rights to learners and honors the position and image of teachers.

Director of Hanoi Department of Education and Training Tran The Cuong said: Hanoi Department of Education and Training strictly implements the instructions of the Ministry of Education and Training on primary school enrollment, high school graduation exams and implementation of Circular 29. In particular, for Circular No. 29, Hanoi city leaders have directed localities to implement it resolutely, proactively and effectively. 100% of educational institutions signed a commitment to strictly implement this Circular. At the same time, implementing solutions to apply information technology to learning to ensure that in remote and isolated areas, students can still review and improve their self-study spirit.

As a locality with a large number of candidates for primary school admission and high school graduation exams, Hanoi is always proactive in preparing and implementing in accordance with the instructions and guidance of the Ministry of Education and Training. Hanoi continues to be determined to "no longer have queuing in primary school admission by 2025".

Also regarding the entrance exam for primary school, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Bao Quoc said that the locality has implemented the spirit of the Ministry of Education and Training's direction, implementing early and closely to ensure stability. In particular, 100% of the registration for primary school admission is online, based on the map to choose a suitable place for students, convenient for parents and students to go to school, creating peace of mind, trust and consensus.

Regarding the preparation for the 2025 High School Graduation Exam - the first exam for candidates taking the exam under the 2018 General Education Program, Ho Chi Minh City and many other localities have proactively prepared early for the exam, ready for all situations, ensuring compliance with the general direction of the Ministry of Education and Training so that students can confidently and securely participate in the exam.

Ending extra teaching and learning must become an industry-wide order.

In his concluding remarks at the conference, Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong pointed out three major features of this year's High School Graduation Exam. Firstly, the entrance exam and graduation exam will be conducted according to the 2018 General Education Program.

Second, the impact of Circular 29 on extra teaching and learning. Schools have long been providing extra teaching and learning as a regular activity, but there are periods when schools stop this activity, so it will be more or less affected.

Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong delivered a concluding speech at the conference.

Along with that is the impact of the context of streamlining the apparatus, arranging administrative units and government organizations, so the education sector needs solutions to cope with the new context.

From there, the Deputy Minister requested the Departments of Education and Training to thoroughly grasp and absolutely not let it affect the quality of teaching and learning, as well as the examination and enrollment work; teaching and management work must be regular, continuous and uninterrupted.

Emphasizing the requirement of doing everything for the students, absolutely not loosening the training and tutoring work for the three groups of students as stipulated in Circular 29, the Deputy Minister also requested the Departments of Education and Training to organize mock graduation exams, make real assessments, and grade the correct results and students' abilities to gain experience in organizing the exams.

The Deputy Minister requested that the entrance exam and high school graduation exam should have appropriate questions according to what has been announced, according to the program output standards, suitable to the students' abilities and the exam's objectives in the spirit of the Prime Minister's Resolution 29 and Conclusion 91, which is to reduce pressure and costs while still ensuring quality, within the students' capacity, with the goal that students do not have to take extra classes and teachers do not have to teach extra classes.

After more than 1 month of implementing Circular 29 regulating extra teaching and learning nationwide, the Deputy Minister emphasized 6 outstanding results.

Firstly, the communication and dissemination of Circular 29 is carried out at central and local levels and schools to explain to the people, create a public forum, and provide a multi-dimensional and objective view of the Circular's content.

Second, creating a spirit of unity, consensus and high action. “Because understanding leads to unity, understanding Circular 29 brings good, humane values ​​to education and training, to students, teachers and our education system. And that creates high action, creates models, diversifies group learning and develops self-study. High action is also shown in inspection and supervision,” said the Deputy Minister.

Third, Circular 29 creates a clear, transparent and strong legal corridor within the authority of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Fourth, through the reflection of press agencies, opinions of experts, and multi-dimensional views of the Circular, it helps to better understand the consequences of extra teaching and learning.

Stating the fifth result, to end the situation of extra teaching and learning, the Deputy Minister noted that it is necessary to synchronously implement solutions, affirming that "one Circular cannot solve all specific problems".

Finally, some concerns and difficulties in the implementation of Circular 29 of the Departments of Education and Training have been explained to achieve the desired results.

In the coming time, to effectively implement Circular 29 as well as improve the quality of education, the Deputy Minister suggested the need to synchronize solutions, emphasizing the need to continue to promote the Circular.

Regarding expertise, the Deputy Minister requested the need to innovate teachers' teaching methods, testing and assessment methods, test making methods, guide students to self-study, guide the application of information technology in management, teaching, and application of artificial intelligence (AI)... so that students are the beneficiaries.

Regarding strengthening facilities, the Deputy Minister said this is a long-term issue, both an advisory responsibility and a basis for localities to arrange state budgets, implement socialization, strengthen schools, and ensure uniform school quality so that there are no different choices, leading to competition and pressure.

Affirming that the Ministry of Education and Training will persistently implement the "5 no's" and "4 promote" viewpoints, Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong said that the Ministry of Education and Training will synthesize opinions, absorb them, and in May will issue guidelines to replace the old document on teaching the second session of the day, thereby effectively implementing regulations on extra study and teaching.

The Deputy Minister also said that the Ministry of Education and Training has a channel to receive feedback on the disguised forms of extra learning and tutoring for verification and handling.

Welcoming the units and Departments of Education and Training for their determination, in the spirit of not beating the drum and giving up, working resolutely and regularly, the Deputy Minister requested the Departments of Education and Training to advise the Provincial People's Committee to soon issue regulations on managing extra teaching and learning according to the spirit and responsibility of the locality.

"Ending extra teaching and learning is no longer a command, but must become a command of our entire industry," emphasizing this, the Deputy Minister shared: It is a command of responsibility, a command for the quality of students, a command to educate students to develop comprehensively, a command to implement the 2018 General Education Program, according to the direction of the Party and the State to bring education back to the principles of inherent education, giving back childhood to students.

“This work requires great perseverance and persistence. There will be many difficulties ahead, so we must regularly inform and update, have a clear viewpoint, have appropriate working methods, be reasonable and sympathetic, be determined, and not be satisfied with the results achieved, but continue to listen and continue to coordinate with the Departments and the Ministry to take good care of this work,” said the Deputy Minister.

Source: https://moet.gov.vn/tintuc/Pages/tin-tong-hop.aspx?ItemID=10411