Education
Universities to be allowed greater autonomy
  • | Tuoi tre | December 10, 2011 11:11 PM
From next year, vocational schools and higher education institutions can decide their own levels of enrollment, said a circular recently issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

 
Applicants walk inside the campus of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Science where an admission exam was held in early July to enroll high school graduates for undergraduate courses. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Up until now, the ministry has decided enrollment quotas for each school. Yet, the ministry has hardly punished schools that exceed quotas.

According to the circular, the ministry will also ban higher education institutions from offering vocational courses as of next school year.

Many vocational schools have complained they cannot enroll enough students given fierce competition by higher education institutions.

Nguyen Duc Nghia, vice Director of the Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, said this was the right move from the ministry.

It is meant to gradually grant autonomy to junior colleges and universities, Nghia said.

According to Bui Duy Cam, President of the Hanoi University of Science, schools may not increase their enrollment suddenly in order to ensure quality, for which they will be held fully responsible once they are given autonomy.

All in all, this is “a revolution in education,” Nguyen Van Ang, a ministry official, said.

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