A remarkable breakthrough

In the 2025 exam, all 104 twelfth-grade students at Nậm Pồ Ethnic Minority Boarding High School took the test - and all 104 passed. The school’s average score reached 6.68, an increase of 0.25 points compared to 2024. This jump lifted the school from ninth place last year to third place in Điện Biên province, trailing only two schools with longstanding academic traditions: Lê Quý Đôn Gifted High School (7.11 points) and the provincial Ethnic Minority Boarding School (6.97 points). Nậm Pồ is one of the few educational institutions in the province to achieve both a rise in average scores and a significant jump in rankings,  a rare and commendable feat.

Beyond rankings alone, Nậm Pồ Ethnic Minority Boarding High School achieved remarkable individual results: two perfect scores of 10 and seven scores of 9.75. Over 70% of students scored at least 21 points across their three university entrance subjects, with nearly 30% reaching 24 points or higher, and the top score hitting 28 points.

Proudly reflecting on the school’s success, Principal Nguyễn Văn Tập shared: “This year’s results exceeded all expectations. Teachers and students alike are overjoyed.”

Among the top-performing students is Lường Thị Ngọc Tình, a 12C1 student who still vividly recalls the moment of pure joy when she saw her results. Her C00 combination (Literature, History, and Geography) recorded an 8.75 in Literature, 8.75 in History, and 9.5 in Geography. “The results are almost exactly what I predicted after the exams. My literature score even surpassed my expectations and previous mock test results,” she added. With this score, Ngọc Tình feels confident applying to Hanoi National University of Education, bringing her a step closer to her dream of becoming a teacher in the highlands.

These achievements, both individual and collective, are the result of three years of consistent dedication from students and teachers. “While the leap in rankings is impressive, it didn’t come as a surprise to us”, Principal Tập explained. “We had a strong sense this would be a successful year, thanks to our thorough and carefully planned preparation. Each mock exam showed steady improvement. In the final provincial-level mock exam, the school ranked fourth in the province.” The school’s “secret formula” lies in a fierce exam preparation season and a nurturing environment built on love and responsibility.

A strategic formula for academic growth

The 2025 national high school graduation exam marked the first year under the new 2018 general education program, which brought significant changes in exam structure, including new types of questions. From the start of the academic year, the school focused on solid mastery of each subject and applied differentiated review strategies tailored to students’ abilities. Priority was placed on subject combinations where students had a natural advantage, helping them maximize their scores effectively.

The school launched and actively implemented the “70-day breakthrough - Conquer the exam” plan from the beginning of April, with a clearly structured study schedule planned weekly and by phase. Students focused intensely on exam subjects and key topics while getting familiar with test formats aligned with the new orientation from the Ministry of Education and Training.

History was one of the elective subjects with the highest number of student registrations and the highest average scores at the school. The average history score reached 7.75, a remarkable increase of 1.27 points compared to the previous year, ranking second in the entire province. In the previous academic year, the school’s average history score was 6.48. This year, the exam followed a new curriculum for the first time, and some question formats differed from before, with unclear trends and difficulty levels. Therefore, at first, the school only set a target average score of 6.5 for the history subject. The final result far exceeded expectations.

To achieve such scores, Hoàng Thị Huệ, the history teacher directly in charge of exam preparation, shared: “The first factor is the students’ dedication to studying. Most of them were diligent, proactive in self-studying, and fully completed all the tasks I assigned. As for the teachers, we continuously explored and learned, thoroughly studied the content and structure of the exam questions to provide practical and properly guided instruction. From that, we built detailed teaching plans and methods that aligned with students’ capabilities and exam directions.”

From the beginning of the school year, Huệ focused on tightly integrating theory with practice, ensuring that each topic came with corresponding practice exercises. She designed the questions and tasks based on actual exam formats, categorized by academic performance groups to assign appropriate tasks. She then checked their completion and promptly addressed any difficulties to help students master the core knowledge.

In addition to equipping students with solid academic knowledge, Huệ and the other teachers involved in exam preparation, along with the school in general, also had effective and positive ways to encourage and support students, helping them confidently enter the exam with their best efforts.

Timely encouragement: The emotional boost that matters

One of the school’s defining traits is its unique “culture of encouragement”, a philosophy that doesn’t wait for outstanding results to offer praise, but instead recognizes every step of progress, especially among struggling students.

Throughout the school year, and especially during the critical final weeks of exam prep, teachers and school leaders routinely visited classrooms and dormitories to check in, offer encouragement, and even reward students for improvement. “Some students raised their scores from a 3 to a 5. We still praised them publicly”, said Principal Tập. “We want students to understand that every bit of effort is worth acknowledging.”

In the days leading up to the exam, the principal personally sent a heartfelt letter to all graduating students, offering words of reassurance and strength: “I know you’re carrying hopes, worries, pressure, and expectations right now. But I want you to take a deep breath, steady yourself, and say: I’ve tried my bes, and I can do this. Use the time you have left wisely. Don’t waste it on doubt or comparison. Each of you is a unique star, with your own path to shine.”

Speaking of her teachers, Lường Thị Ngọc Tình expressed deep gratitude and appreciation. Her home is 60 kilometers from the school. Since the April 30 holiday, she had stayed at school until the end of the exam period, where teachers took care of her and encouraged her like family during this crucial time. “Every day in class, our teachers motivated us to keep up our revision. Every few days, members of the school leadership came directly to our classrooms to check in, show their care, and remind us to stay healthy and confident. That really pushed me to try harder and aim for high scores”, said Tình.

But the encouragement from the teachers at Nậm Pồ Ethnic Minority Boarding High School wasn’t just words. They personally contributed money from their own pockets to offer cash rewards for students who scored highly in the graduation exam, ranging from several hundred thousand to VND 1 million depending on the score. The principal even pledged to donate more than half a month’s salary, promising to reward VND 1 million for each perfect 10, and VND 700,000 for a score of 9.75. These were not merely material gifts, but timely recognition of the students’ efforts, fueling motivation not only for the current cohort but also for those who follow.

As a boarding school located in a remote border area with many economic hardships, the teachers at Nậm Pồ Ethnic Minority Boarding High School take on the role of guardians, caring for each student’s meals, sleep, and closely supporting them in both academics and daily life. Even after graduation, the school continues to assign teachers to provide counseling and guidance, helping students adjust their university applications based on their results.

The 2025 high school graduation exam marked a major milestone, showcasing the remarkable progress in educational quality at Nậm Pồ Ethnic Minority Boarding High School, a young institution that has been operating for just seven years, with five graduating cohorts. Yet, the pride extends beyond the numbers. It is also a source of inspiration and hope, igniting the ambitions of ethnic minority students in border regions. From remote villages, their dreams are beginning to soar.