Education

Vietnam to eliminate secondary school diploma in 2026

Vietnam is fundamentally reforming its education system by abolishing the formal secondary school diploma in 2026, shifting the credential to a principal-certified transcript that emphasizes skill mastery over a standardized exit exam. This strategic move is coupled with a significant policy to provide completely free tuition and textbooks through public high school, substantially reducing financial barriers to education. The combined effect positions Vietnam to cultivate a more agile, competency-based workforce by decoupling advancement from a single high-stakes qualification while promoting greater equity. This represents