A teacher in Thanh Hoa downloaded the semester exam set from school and provided it to a group of students attending extra classes at a language center for reference and review.

On June 4, information from the leadership of the Sao Vang Commune People’s Committee, Thanh Hoa province, stated that the commune’s working group had reported the results of an inspection and verification in response to a citizen’s petition regarding suspicions of a teacher leaking the second-semester exam for the 2025-2026 school year at Tho Lam Secondary School.

According to the verification report, after receiving the second-semester exam papers for subjects in the social sciences group, including English, Ms. T.T.Nh., head of the social sciences group at Tho Lam Secondary School, posted the entire exam set on the professional group’s Zalo chat for teachers to review and check before approval and forwarding to the administrative office for printing.

In this group was Mr. Nguyen Huu Thanh, a contracted English teacher at the school.

On May 2, Mr. Thanh downloaded the English exam to his personal computer and provided it to a group of students attending classes at a language center he organized in Xuan Hoa commune for reference and review.

Among the students in the extra class was L.T.B.L., a student in class 8C at Tho Lam Secondary School.

Since the school did not discover the exam had been leaked, it still used this exam for the second-semester test held on May 5.

After discovering the incident, Tho Lam Secondary School used a backup exam to retest the students of class 8C and used the results of the backup test to ensure objectivity and fairness for the students.

A school representative said that starting September 2025, due to teaching needs, Tho Lam Secondary School signed a monthly English teaching contract with Mr. Thanh.

After reviewing the case, the school’s disciplinary committee determined that this teacher had violated professional regulations and the principle of exam confidentiality and decided to terminate the teaching contract effective May 19.

Regarding Ms. T.T.Nh., head of the social sciences group, the disciplinary committee determined that she failed to comply with regulations on exam security, indirectly creating a loophole that led to the exam being leaked before the test.

The school agreed to relieve her of her position as group head, not consider her for competitive honors, and review her level of task completion for the 2025-2026 school year.

Additionally, the vice principal in charge of academics must review and learn from the experience due to a lack of inspection and supervision in professional management, allowing violations to occur in their area of responsibility; the vice principal in charge of the school also bears joint responsibility as the head of the unit.

According to the Sao Vang Commune People’s Committee, besides the exam leak incident, in the petition sent to authorities, the family of L.T.B.L. also requested clarification on issues related to the male student’s death on May 7.

Tho Lam Secondary School

Tho Lam Secondary School is a historic educational institution located in Vietnam, known for its long-standing commitment to academic excellence and community development. Founded several decades ago, the school has played a key role in educating generations of students, particularly in rural areas, contributing to the region’s cultural and social growth. Its history reflects the broader educational advancements in Vietnam, with the school adapting over time to modern teaching methods while preserving traditional values.

Sao Vang commune

Sao Vang commune is a rural area located in Tho Xuan district, Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam, known for its agricultural landscape and traditional village culture. Historically, the commune has been part of the region’s development, with local communities engaged in farming and craft production for generations. Today, it reflects the enduring rural heritage of central Vietnam, though specific historical records are limited.

Thanh Hoa province

Thanh Hoa is a province in north-central Vietnam known for its rich history and cultural heritage. It was the birthplace of the famous Le Loi, who led a successful rebellion against Chinese Ming rule and later founded the Le Dynasty in the 15th century. Today, the province is home to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Ho Dynasty Citadel, a remarkable 14th-century stone fortress.

Xuan Hoa commune

Xuan Hoa commune is a rural area located in the Phuc Tho district of Hanoi, Vietnam. Historically, it has been an agricultural community, with its development closely tied to traditional farming and the Red River Delta’s cultural heritage. Today, it retains a peaceful, village-like atmosphere while gradually integrating modern infrastructure as part of Hanoi’s expanding suburban landscape.