For the first time, sovereignty over seas and islands is included in the high school graduation exam in History.

For the first time, sovereignty over seas and islands was mentioned and specified in a number of questions in the 2025 high school graduation exam in History.

Accordingly, in the 2025 high school graduation exam questions on History, there have been innovations when mentioning the content of the country's sovereignty over seas and islands.

Specifically, this content appears in question 7 of test code 0811; question 22 of test code 0827, question 4 of test code 0810,... History subject of this year's high school graduation exam.

Speaking with VietNamNet , Mr. Tran Trung Hieu, a History teacher at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, Nghe An , said: "From the perspective of a high school History teacher, I think that the important knowledge in the current curriculum and textbooks is the legal basis for basic knowledge about Vietnam's sovereignty over seas and islands to be specified in some questions at the level of recognition in the 2025 high school graduation exam in History.

This is basic, important but extremely necessary historical knowledge that high school students need to know, have the right to know and have the opportunity to express their understanding and awareness of the country's history in a graduation exam.

Mr. Hieu believes that, among the subjects in high school, History is a compulsory subject and also an advantageous subject, playing a key role ineducating students about patriotism, national pride, historical traditions and national culture.

“Therefore, the exam questions with these contents aim to deepen core knowledge, train students in historical awareness; further, apply historical lessons of our ancestors in the past to solve basic problems of real life, develop vision, contribute to forming and developing the qualities of Vietnamese citizens,” said Mr. Hieu.

Dr. Ngo Thi Huong, lecturer at Hanoi Pedagogical University 2, said that the presence of “Truong Sa” and “Hoang Sa” in the 2025 high school graduation exam shows that sovereignty over seas and islands has been concretized and realized in assessing the correct awareness of students - the young generation, the future of the country.

“Questions about sovereignty over seas and islands in the History exam are not only a part of knowledge but also a profound educational content about patriotism and civic awareness. Through studying and taking the exam, students will not only master historical knowledge about the process of establishing and protecting Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, but also raise their awareness and civic responsibility,” said Dr. Huong.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Duc Cuong, President of the Vietnam Historical Science Association, said he welcomed the high school graduation exam which has both scientific value and political significance. “I am very happy that this year’s high school graduation exam in History includes content on Vietnam’s sovereignty over its seas and islands. This helps students pay more attention to one of the very basic knowledge about Vietnamese history, which is the process of determining and protecting the national sovereignty and territory of our nation.”

Professor Vu Duong Ninh (Lecturer of the History Department of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU) also believes that including the issue of sovereignty over islands in textbooks and high school graduation exams is correct and appropriate. “I think we should gradually increase the quantity and flow of knowledge in teaching and let students learn about islands. When students understand and perceive better, we can completely upgrade the level of thinking for exam questions in this field,” Professor Ninh shared.

Mr. Tran Trung Hieu (History teacher at Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted (Nghe An) visited the memorial temple for martyrs on Truong Sa Lon Island, part of Truong Sa archipelago in May 2025. Photo: NVCC.

Sharing more with VietNamNet , teacher Tran Trung Hieu said that one of the limitations of the 2006 General Education Program and previous History textbooks was that there was not a single line about Vietnam's sovereignty over the islands in the East Sea. To overcome the shortcomings of the old program, the 2018 General Education Program and all three sets of History textbooks have devoted a large amount and circulation to providing knowledge about sovereignty over islands with a fairly basic and complete design and presentation in History books for grades 11 and 12.

Specifically, the 11th grade History Textbook, Topic 6, titled "History of protecting sovereignty, rights and legitimate interests of Vietnam in the East Sea" includes 2 lessons: Lesson 12 - Location and importance of the East Sea and Lesson 13 - Vietnam and the East Sea.

In the History Textbook for Grade 12, there is Lesson 9 - "The struggle to protect the Fatherland from April 1975 to present. Some historical lessons of the resistance war to protect the Fatherland from 1975 to present".

Accordingly, the content of knowledge in the written channel about the East Sea and Vietnam's sovereignty over islands in the East Sea is also mentioned as: 'island', 'archipelago', 'platform', 'Hoang Sa', 'Truong Sa', 'Gac Ma', 'exploration', 'establishment', 'protection', 'sovereignty', 'legitimate rights and interests', 'fishery control ship', 'Vietnam People's Navy',...

“One of the most basic and important messages that the current History textbook wants to convey and remind high school students is the knowledge and awareness of the East Sea and Vietnam's sovereignty over seas and islands,” said Mr. Hieu.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/lan-dau-tien-chu-quyen-bien-dao-co-trong-de-thi-tot-nghiep-thpt-mon-su-2416080.html