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The draft Circular promulgating the Regulations for the 2025 High School Graduation Examination, currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Education and Training, contains several noteworthy new points, including the removal of the provision for adding points for vocational training in the high school graduation assessment.

The Ministry of Education and Training is currently seeking feedback on the draft Circular promulgating the Regulations for the 2025 High School Graduation Examination. The draft contains many new points, including notable changes such as the removal of the provision for adding points for vocational training in the high school graduation assessment.

Current regulations regarding bonus points for high school graduation examinations.

Bonus points for high school graduation recognition are stipulated in Article 40 of the 2024 High School Graduation Examination Regulations and those of previous years as follows:

1. Students who participate in the following competitions and activities will receive bonus points towards their high school graduation eligibility:

• Winning individual prizes in the 12th grade cultural subject gifted student selection exam: First, second, or third prize in the national exam or first prize at the provincial level will receive 2.0 points; honorable mention in the national exam or second prize at the provincial level will receive 1.5 points; third prize at the provincial level will receive 1.0 point;
• Winning individual and team awards in practical experiment competitions in physics, chemistry, and biology; arts and culture competitions; physical education and sports competitions; national defense education sports competitions; science and technology competitions; and international letter writing competitions organized by the education sector in coordination with specialized sectors from the provincial level upwards at the high school level.

For individual awards: First, second, or third place at the national level, or first place at the provincial level, or a gold medal will add 2.0 points; a national honorable mention, or fourth place in the national science and technology competition, or second place at the provincial level, or a silver medal will add 1.5 points; third place at the provincial level or a bronze medal will add 1.0 point.

For team competitions: Points are only awarded for national-level competitions; the number of players, athletes, and performers in team competitions is subject to the specific regulations of the organizing committee of each competition; the bonus points awarded to individuals in team competitions are calculated as for individual competitions as stipulated in this section.

2. High school students, continuing education students whose conduct is being assessed, and continuing education students simultaneously participating in a vocational training program combined with a general education program at the high school level, who possess a vocational certificate or vocational diploma issued by the Department of Education and Training, vocational training institutions, or vocational education institutions during their high school studies, will receive bonus points based on the assessment stated in their vocational certificate or vocational diploma as follows:

• A "good" rating for vocational certificates, and "excellent" or "good" ratings for intermediate diplomas will add 2.0 points.
• A "fair" rating for vocational certificates, and "fair" or "average" ratings for intermediate-level diplomas will earn 1.5 points.
• The average category receives 1.0 point.

3. Students in continuing education programs who possess a foreign language or computer skills certificate issued according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training during their high school studies will receive 1.0 point for each certificate.

The draft Circular promulgating the Regulations for the 2025 High School Graduation Examination does not mention awarding bonus points to students pursuing vocational training or continuing education.

Vocational training points will no longer be awarded in the Draft Regulations for the 2025 High School Graduation Exam.

The draft Circular promulgating the Regulations for the 2025 High School Graduation Examination, currently being reviewed by the Ministry of Education and Training, will undergo significant changes regarding bonus points.

Specifically, the draft Circular on the Regulations for the High School Graduation Examination, applicable from 2025, will retain the bonus points for case 1 as currently stipulated. However, the "vocational training" bonus point system will be removed, meaning bonus points will no longer be awarded based on the classification of the vocational certificate. Furthermore, students in continuing education programs who possess foreign language or computer skills certificates issued by the Ministry of Education and Training during their high school studies will also no longer receive bonus points as currently stipulated.

Removing bonus points for vocational training will make it difficult to encourage students to pursue vocational courses.

According to Master Tran Phuong, Principal of Viet Giao Vocational School, the fact that the draft regulations for this year's high school graduation exam do not mention bonus points for students pursuing vocational training or continuing education is a noteworthy change and is causing much debate.

"If the Ministry of Education and Training maintains the system of awarding bonus points to students pursuing vocational training or continuing education, it will create motivation for students and parents when choosing to study at vocational and continuing education institutions. In addition, vocational training institutions will have an easier time recruiting and retaining students to complete their courses, preventing dropouts," shared Ms. Phuong.

According to Master Do Minh Hoang, Director of Chu Van An Continuing Education Center (in Ho Chi Minh City), in recent years, the center's graduation rate has fluctuated between 97-98%, and in some years it was close to 99%. Among these, some students met the high school graduation requirements thanks to bonus points (for having a vocational certificate or computer skills certificate), but this percentage is not high.

According to Master Hoang, in the past, students aspired to study the general education program and vocational training so that they would receive bonus points on their high school graduation exams. "If the Ministry of Education and Training abolishes the bonus points system, it would be very regrettable; it would cause some concern for parents and students when registering for vocational training or continuing education programs," Master Hoang shared.

Master Hoang added that it is still unclear whether the draft will remove the bonus points for continuing education students or if the Ministry of Education and Training will implement the bonus points for continuing education students in a separate document. The Ministry of Education and Training may still need to consider and issue an official regulation in the near future.

Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Vocational Education Association, said that vocational education and career guidance are currently being implemented for junior and senior high school students. In reality, the demand for human resources in the digital age is increasing. Therefore, it is essential for junior and senior high schools to encourage students to pursue vocational certification programs, take vocational competency exams, and develop skills.

Removing bonus points for students pursuing vocational training would contradict the goal of promoting vocational education and career guidance; it risks reducing the number of students enrolling in vocational programs, thereby hindering career guidance and vocational education efforts.

According to Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, the Ministry of Education and Training should consider continuing to maintain the bonus points system for vocational students and continuing education students for a further period.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bo-cong-diem-hoc-nghe-xet-tot-nghiep-thpt-co-di-nguoc-voi-khuyen-khich-phan-luong-185241027095439947.htm