the popularity of hanoi's short-lived tonkin free school suggested that broad reform was possible. in 1910, the colonial school system adopted a "franco-vietnamese curriculum," which emphasized french and alphabetic vietnamese. the teaching of sino-vietnamese characters was discontinued in 1917. on december 28, 1918, king khai dinh declared that the traditional writing system no longer had official status. the civil service exam was given for the last time at the imperial capital of hue on january 4, 1919. this exam tested knowledge of chinese. the examination system, and the education system based on it, had been in effect for almost 900 years. china itself abandoned classical chinese soon afterward as part of the may fourth movement.