VietNamNet Bridge - Studying abroad is the choice of many well-off families as employers often prefer graduates of foreign schools. However, many foreign school graduates are finding it tough to get a job.

Phan Tinh, a reader using the name phantinh0212, wrote an email to VietNamNet, saying that she needs to begin thinking about her 1-yr-old son’s education right now and wants to consult with parents who have experience in the matter.

An analyst said that Tinh could find many parents to talk to. They also  believe that only foreign schools can provide the best education.

Thanh Van, a parent in Hanoi, said her son began dreaming of studying abroad when he was small, and Van thinks she needs to begin saving money to fund the boy’s overseas study in several years.

Nguyen Cong Hien, another VietNamNet reader, did not want to compare Vietnamese and foreign education but said he felt satisfied with how his two children had grown up with US education.

“They turned out to be more dynamic and independent. I believe they will grow up into useful people for family and society,” Hien said.

Cao Minh Tuan, a businessman, said he plans to send his son to high school in the US. After high school, he will attend a university in the US.

“He must study at a foreign school, not a Vietnamese one,”  Tuan said. “Foreign school graduates will be preferred by employers.”

However, bachelor’s degrees granted by foreign schools are not necessarily admission cards to agencies or businesses in Vietnam.

A labor expert noted that employers are becoming more cautious about candidates with foreign degrees.

“They (employers) will look to see if candidates funded their studies overseas themselves, or if they studied with a scholarship granted by schools or the government,” he noted.

Ho Lam Hung, a VietNamNet reader, said he did not think studying abroad was the best choice for his children.

“If I have VND1 billion, I will spend VND300-400 million to fund my children’s studies at domestic schools. The remaining money will be spent on other training courses on computing skills and foreign languages,” Hung said.

“Tens of candidates, including those who graduated from overseas schools, have failed the 2015 civil service exams to state agencies in Hanoi. I hope the information will make Vietnamese parents rethink,” he added.

A report shows Vietnamese spend $1.5 billion a year on studying overseas, which, in the eyes of analysts, is a reflection on the poor education at local schools.

In 2013, the amount of money Vietnamese parents spent to fund their children’s studies overseas for the first time exceeded $1 billion. The figure rose to $1.5 billion in 2014.

The Ministry of Finance confirmed that roughly $1 billion is remitted abroad every year by Vietnamese to fund their children’s education.

Nguyen Hien