The education ministry’s latest circular brings a major shift to secondary education in Vietnam. By allowing schools to use computers for periodic assessments and to store results digitally, the policy aims to modernise testing and record‑keeping for students and teachers.

Lower and upper secondary schools may conduct computer‑based assessments only if they meet the ministry’s standards for physical facilities, IT infrastructure, software and exam administration. These requirements ensure that the digital environment is safe and reliable for all participants.

From December 1, digital academic records become an official part of each student’s assessment file. Subject teachers must digitally sign their results, and homeroom teachers must digitally sign the class records, making the process traceable and secure.

Standardised computer tests will be offered for selected subjects at the end of the first semester for Grade 5 and at the end of both semesters for Grades 9 and 12. The ministry states that, provided data integrity, authentication, security, storage and retrieval rules are followed, the electronic results have the same legal validity as paper‑based exams.

Schools must provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities during computer‑based assessments. If a student still cannot take the test, the school must offer a paper‑based or other format with the same legal validity.

In short, Vietnam’s new policy makes computer‑based exams and digital records a legal part of secondary education, while guaranteeing equal access for students with disabilities. Schools must follow the technical rules and provide alternative formats when needed, ensuring fair assessment for everyone.