National exam fraud: Quảng Trị center director denies accusations amid investigation

Reports of possible irregularities in a crucial national exam in Vietnam prompted swift action by authorities. After information about alleged fraud circulated on social media, involving Trường THPT Lê Trực during the 2026 National High School Completion Examination, the police and the education agency of Quảng Trị province began an investigation. This exam is of paramount importance for Vietnamese students, serving as a gateway to higher education, and the integrity of its results is fundamental to public confidence in the educational system. Amid the investigation, the director of the testing center, Phạm Ngọc Hưng, defended the fairness of the process, awarding high grades to students with superior performance.

Investigation by authorities into allegations of irregularities

On Friday, July 10, 2026, journalists visited Trường THPT Lê Trực, a place that became the center of attention following the allegations.

Despite the summer break, the school campus saw intense movement of staff and teachers, some of whom confirmed the presence of authorities verifying the information.

The Education and Training Bureau (GD&ĐT) of Quảng Trị Province quickly issued a report on the incident and requested guidance from the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee and the head of the National Examination Steering Committee.

A special task force was set up, involving the Provincial Police and other functional units, to inspect and review the entire organizational process and test results at Trường THPT Lê Trực. The objective is to identify any irregularity or fraudulent conduct.

The Quảng Trị Department of Education and Training assures that it will carry out a complete and rigorous review of all stages of the exam in all parts of the province, with a special focus on locations that have raised suspicions.

The local education sector has assured that, if violations are discovered, appropriate legal measures will be applied without cover-up, guaranteeing the legitimate rights of affected students.

Exam center director defends compliance with procedures

In an interview, Phạm Ngọc Hưng, deputy director of Trường THPT Nguyễn Trãi and director of the examination center at Trường THPT Lê Trực during the 2026 edition, confirmed that he is fully cooperating with the authorities in the verification.

Hưng reiterated that the race organization strictly followed all regulations. He stated that he was not afraid of inspection, as both he and his team acted in accordance with the established guidelines.

Regarding allegations circulating on social media regarding a specific room at Trường THPT Lê Trực having obtained high scores in mathematics, with many candidates between 8 and 9.5 points without reaching a grade of 10, Hưng downplayed the situation. He explained: “That class are excellent students, there’s nothing to worry about.”

Department of education awaits the results of the investigation

A leader from the Education and Training Department of Quảng Trị province reported that the investigation is being carried out urgently, impartially and comprehensively. In parallel, the secretariat is reevaluating the results of the 2026 National High School Completion Examination throughout the province, following a directive from the Ministry of Education and Training.

The Quảng Trị Education and Training Bureau guarantees that the verification results will be released transparently as soon as there is an official conclusion. “If violations are identified by groups or individuals, they will be severely punished in accordance with the law; if there is evidence of a crime, the case will be referred to the investigative authorities for criminal prosecution”, highlighted a representative of the agency.

To date, the accusations disseminated on online platforms remain under investigation, and the competent authorities have not yet issued a final opinion on the case.