On the issue of abolishing the lower secondary diploma, Huy agreed, noting that the certificate is largely symbolic, confirming completion of the nine-year compulsory education already recorded in student transcripts. Still, he acknowledged that in rural and disadvantaged areas, the diploma is seen as a crucial credential for employment or proving educational attainment. Abrupt removal, he warned, could cause psychological disruption. He proposed replacing it with an official confirmation system - either paper certificates or digital records.

Deputy Tran Van Lam (Bac Giang) emphasized that deciding on the exam requires thorough analysis of each option’s pros and cons to ensure informed decision-making. "The key is to set clear goals and ensure the exam enhances educational quality and effectiveness," he said.

Minister Nguyen Kim Son reaffirmed the exam’s necessity, highlighting its specific objectives: assessing learners’ competencies under the general education program, determining high school graduation eligibility, and providing reliable data for evaluating teaching quality and education management.

"The exam not only supplies credible data for higher education and vocational training institutions in their admissions processes, but also serves as a national dataset for research and policy adjustments. It reflects educational quality across regions," the minister added.

Addressing the shortage of preschool teachers in ethnic minority areas, the minister noted that current mechanisms already allow local teacher training colleges to recruit based on application review instead of competitive exams, giving priority to ethnic minority candidates. He stressed that this mechanism will continue under existing admission regulations without needing inclusion in the law.

The drafting committee pledged to consider all opinions carefully, further refine the draft law, and provide detailed written responses to issues raised by deputies before submission to upcoming National Assembly sessions.

Tran Thuong