Accompanying Co Tu students before entering the 2025 high school graduation exam

From village to university

On the afternoon of June 25, more than 14,000 candidates in Da Nang came to the examination sites to complete procedures and listen to the regulations for the 2025 high school graduation exam. Among them, at Pham Phu Thu High School (Hoa Vang District), there are 6 12th grade students of the Co Tu ethnic group who are receiving special attention from theeducation sector and the school. The Department of Education and Training of Da Nang City and the school have supported them with funding, meals and the best review conditions to give them more confidence on their journey to conquer the important exam.

Đồng hành cùng sĩ tử Cơ Tu trước giờ bước vào kỳ thi tốt nghiệp THPT 2025 - Ảnh 1. — Ms. Le Thi Bich Thuan, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Da Nang City (standing), encouraged and gave gifts to Co Tu ethnic students before entering the 2025 high school graduation exam.

Inspecting the organization of the exam at Pham Phu Thu High School, Ms. Le Thi Bich Thuan, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Da Nang City, highly appreciated the careful preparation for the exam at the Pham Phu Thu High School exam site. Ms. Thuan especially encouraged teachers, police forces, and youth union members to accompany and provide comprehensive support to ethnic minority candidates throughout the 2025 high school graduation exam.

In a small classroom on campus, 6 Co Tu students study hard day and night, including Nguyen Thi Kim Nhu (Phu Tuc village, Hoa Phu commune), a 12/7 student who hopes to enter university at the University of Education - Da Nang University. Knowing that her weakness is math, Kim Nhu has focused on studying hard, thanks to the close support from the subject teachers.

Dinh Thi Hong Nhi (Gian Bi village, Hoa Bac commune) chose the combination of literature - history - economics and law to take the entrance exam to the University of Science - Hue University. Despite careful preparation, Hong Nhi still couldn't help but feel nervous before the important exam of her student life.

"Although we are far from home, thanks to the teachers' care for every meal and every study hour, we feel less homesick and have more motivation to review, ready to take the exam tomorrow (June 26)," Hong Nhi confided.

Đồng hành cùng sĩ tử Cơ Tu trước giờ bước vào kỳ thi tốt nghiệp THPT 2025 - Ảnh 2. — This afternoon, June 25, more than 14,000 candidates in Da Nang City went to the testing locations to complete procedures and listen to the dissemination of exam regulations.

Tran Thi Hang, a 12th grader, won third prize in the city-level literature competition and set her goal of entering the University of Education – Da Nang University. The time left for the first exam was only a matter of hours, making her even more nervous and anxious.

"This exam is the beginning of many new opportunities. I will try my best to not let down my teachers and family," Hang said.

Teachers are a strong 'rear'

In the last days of June, when many schools have closed the school year, at Pham Phu Thu High School, teachers still regularly come to class to support students. Teacher Nguyen Thi The, history teacher at Pham Phu Thu High School, said that in the days leading up to the exam, teachers almost "ate and sleep" at school to accompany the Co Tu students, teachers and students have tried their best to review most effectively in the "final" time.

Đồng hành cùng sĩ tử Cơ Tu trước giờ bước vào kỳ thi tốt nghiệp THPT 2025 - Ảnh 3. — Teacher Nguyen Thi The, history teacher, tries her best to review for Co Tu students.

Ms. The said that this year's exam structure has many changes, so in addition to systematizing grade 12 knowledge, teachers also have to review two grade 11 topics according to the 2018 General Education Program. The lessons mainly revolve around key content, practicing questions by topic, and instructing test-taking skills.

Regarding math, this is a "haunting" subject for many students. Ms. Pham Thi Tien, a math teacher at Pham Phu Thu High School, said that Ms. Tien has divided students into groups according to their abilities. For students who need to graduate, she focuses on basic knowledge, while students applying for university are trained in advanced knowledge and effective test-taking tips.

Đồng hành cùng sĩ tử Cơ Tu trước giờ bước vào kỳ thi tốt nghiệp THPT 2025 - Ảnh 4. — Ms. Pham Thi Tien, math teacher, helps students systematize their knowledge.

Unlike other large testing sites in the inner city, at Pham Phu Thu High School, 6 Co Tu students have their meals prepared daily by the school on campus, which is also where they stay in the dormitory.

Ms. Mai Thi Phuong Thao, Vice Principal of the school, said that to ensure the health of students, the kitchen still maintains its own operations instead of ordering meals from outside.

"Every day, students are supported with 80,000 VND/day, double the usual support level, to improve the quality of meals during the review week close to the exam," said Ms. Thao.

Đồng hành cùng sĩ tử Cơ Tu trước giờ bước vào kỳ thi tốt nghiệp THPT 2025 - Ảnh 5. — Teachers at Pham Phu Thu High School carefully prepare meals for Co Tu boarding students so that they have enough health to review and be ready for the important exam.

In addition to the budget, the school teachers also donated nearly 3 million VND to buy milk, fruit and snacks for the Co Tu students to eat when studying late at night.

For this year's high school graduation exam, the Da Nang Examination Council has 14,156 candidates registered to take the exam under the 2018 General Education Program at 30 examination sites with 593 examination rooms; 393 candidates registered to take the exam under the 2006 General Education Program at a separate examination site with 16 examination rooms. The city also prepared 2 backup examination sites with 32 examination rooms.

To prepare for the exam, the Da Nang education sector has mobilized nearly 2,000 officials, teachers and functional forces to ensure the exam is safe and serious. In addition, the "Supporting Exam Season" program of volunteer union members and students has also spread widely, from supporting drinking water, transportation to encouraging parents and students.