Vietnamese boy is top A-level student in UK

A Vietnamese boy who could barely speak English until two years ago has been named A-level Student of the Year.

Chi Hieu Nguyen, 19, grew up in one of the poorest regions of central Vietnam.

His natural ability at maths soon brought him to the attention of top Vietnamese tutors and in 2002 he was offered a scholarship to continue his studies abroad.

Now - just two years since arriving in Croydon - he has won the top title in awards by the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), after achieving four A grades and the best results in the country in statistics.

When he came to the Cambridge Tutors College to study economics, maths, statistics and accountancy, Chi Hieu had never been abroad before.

But this summer's results made him one of 10 finalists for the AQA title. He was then judged top student in the maths section.

Chi Hieu, who as overall winner received a gold medal, a cheque for ?250 and a diploma in a ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, seemed shocked by his victory.

"I had never even been abroad before I came to England because my family could not afford it," he said.

"When I got the scholarship they thought it was fantastic - no one in my family had ever done anything like this before.

"They could not believe that I got this award - they were stunned into silence.

"Maths is not even my best subject. I am more inclined to history,

languages or geography. I cannot believe it."

Chi Hieu, who is now reading economics at the London School of Economics, wants to work for a major international organisation such as the World Trade Organisation or the World Bank before returning to Vietnam.

Meanwhile, a row over declining standards in British schools erupted today after an international league table revealed major concerns.

The league table - based on tests of 250,000 15-year-olds - showed declining standards in maths, science and reading.

But the Department for Education says the data is misleading as the findings from Britain are not comparable with other countries.

In three years the UK has dropped from fourth to 11th in science, seventh to 11th in reading and eighth to 18th in maths.

The figures, which come in a report by the Programme for International Student Assessment, follow a study of 250,000 15-year-olds in 41 countries.

It will make depressing reading for the Government, which had claimed recent exam results had vindicated its policies.

Finland came out top in reading and science and second in maths. Britain was also soundly beaten by South Korea, the Netherlands, Liechtenstein and Canada.

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