Non-state universities too expensive for students
The high tuition fee levels announced by non-state universities prove to have influenced decisions by students on which universities to register to enter.
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Students seek information about universities |
The Ministry of Education and Training has reported a decrease in the number of registrations for non-state universities.
The Thang Long People Founded University received approximately 9,000 registrations for the 2008-2009 school year. Meanwhile, it has received 5,000 registrations for this school year.
The Phuong Dong People Founded University has received 4,900 registrations for this year, just a little lower than the number for last year.
Thang Long University President Phan Huy Phu said that there are many reasons behind the decreases in numbers of registrations.
The number of ‘virtual’ registrations is lower this year, which means a decrease in the number of registrations for all universities in general. Moreover, Thang Long always requires higher marks on university entrance exams than other non-state universities.
However, the main reason that fewer students are registering to take exams to get into Thang Long University is that it announced high tuition fee levels before students submitted applications.
“Last year, we set the tuition level at VND10 million per annum, and students did not know about the tuition level until after they passed the university exams. Meanwhile, in 2009, students were informed about the tuition levels before they made registrations, as the Ministry of Education and Training asked universities to announce the tuition levels,” Phu said.
However, he said that the decrease in the number of registrations does not worry him, because Thang Long plans to enroll only 20% of the students who take exams to get into the university directly.
As students are avoiding non-state universities, the number of registrations for state-owned universities has increased.
Hanoi Open University has seen the number of registrations increase by 10% over last year, the Hanoi University of Industries by 23,000 registrations, while the Trade University 11,000.
Nguyen Hoang, Head of the Training Division under the Open University said that tuition fees prove to be an important factor in students’ choices.
“It is understandable to see students target state-owned universities when the tuition fees set by non-state universities have increased,” Hoang said.
A paradox could arise that state-owned universities, though requiring lower tuition fees, will require higher marks on entrance exams. Students will have two choices: Either they have more opportunities and pay higher tuition fees, or have fewer opportunities to be enrolled in university and pay lower fees.
Cam Quyen
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