VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Education and Training’s (MOET) latest circular which sets limitations on university training has stirred controversy. However, many experts have defended the decision.

 


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Under the ministry’s Circular 32, the number of full-time students at universities belonging to Group VI (healthcare) must not be higher than 8,000. Meanwhile, the figure is 5,000 for schools belonging to Group II (arts schools) and 15,000 for the remaining groups.

Is 15,000 students too much or too little?

Some analysts have warned that the enrolment quota scheme would face strong opposition from training establishments because the number of students will determine the existence of the establishments. As tuition is one of the major sources of income of universities, they want to have as many students as possible.

Meanwhile, Le Truong Tung, president of FPT University, does not think the limitations set by MOET would cause problems.

He believes that 15,000 students is a high number, the maximum amount a school can have for full-time training. This means that the real number of students could be double that figure if counting the students following in-service training or joining training programs.

If a school can have 15,000 students at maximum, this means that it can enroll 5,000 students a year, if noting that the average training time is four years and some students would drop out every year.

The dropout rate after the first year in the US is 20 percent. There is no official report about the rate in Vietnam, but analysts think the figure must not be lower than 20 percent.

According to Tung, if not counting national universities (Hanoi & HCM City national universities) and regional universities (in Thai Nguyen province, Vinh, Hue, Da Nang and Can Tho Cities), only eight schools could meet the requirements to enroll 5,000 students and more in 2014.

In principle, a good policy is one which can harmonize the benefits of four involved parties – the nation, the schools, students and the labor market.

Under the ministry’s Circular 32, the number of full-time students at universities belonging to Group VI (healthcare) must not be higher than 8,000. Meanwhile, the figure is 5,000 for schools belonging to Group II (arts schools) and 15,000 for the remaining groups.
Meanwhile, Tung believes that the decision to set limits on the enrolment scale would 
have positive effects on all four areas. 

Le Viet Khuyen from the Vietnam Association of Universities and Junior Colleges also said he supports MOET’s decision on restricting the number of university students.

Khuyen warned that the implementation of MOET’s Circular 32 may cause big changes to the structure and working mechanism at universities. 

“Schools will have to adjust their enrolment plans, restructure the teaching staff and adjust workloads,” he said.

“However, making changes is a must,” he said.

In related news, a newly released report showed that 200,000 workers with bachelor’s and master’s degree are jobless.


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