This is part of the Party’s Resolution No 19 on upgrading the operational efficiency of state-owned units.

After the Customs Finance Junior College merged with the HCM City Finance and Marketing University, An Giang University became a member school of the HCM City National University.

In another move, the Vinh Long Economics and Finance Junior College has become a branch of the HCM City Economics University. In Binh Phuoc province, the local authorities appointed the rector of Binh Phuoc Junior College after merging the Pedagogical College, the Medical College into the Binh Phuoc Vocational College.

At present, there are 29 pedagogical schools (3-year training) under the management of provincial people’s committees. However, only some pedagogical junior colleges belong to provincial authorities, while the remaining belong to local education and training departments.

At present, there are 29 pedagogical schools (3-year training) under the management of provincial people’s committees. However, only some pedagogical junior colleges belong to provincial authorities, while the remaining belong to local education and training departments.

Poor enrollment is the common characteristic of most junior colleges, including pedagogical schools in localities.

Therefore, education experts believe that merging schools to cut budget’s expenses is a necessity. Of 29 pedagogical junior colleges, 13 schools have approval from appropriate agencies for their merger plans, while the other 16 still don’t have detailed plans.

Thai Nguyen Pedagogical College would merge with Thai Nguyen Economics – Finance College; while Dien Bien College of Education and Dien Bien Economics and Technical College would merge to become Dien Bien University.

Vinh Long College of Education would merge with Vinh Long Community College; while the Medical School and School of Arts and Culture would merge to become Vinh Long College.

Implementing Resolution No 19, higher education and vocational education establishments belonging to the Ministry of Education and Training and Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs are stepping up the restructuring and merger.

Experts noted that there are three major tendencies of restructuring. First, junior colleges merge with universities to become a branch of universities in localities. Second, new universities are established on the basis of merged junior colleges. Third, vocational schools (2-year training) and junior colleges in the same localities merge with each other to form up multidisciplinary junior colleges.

Though believing that restructuring and merging is a must, experts warned that there will be a lot of problems that need to be solved, including the personnel, standardization process and material facilities.

According to Hua Minh Tuan, vice rector of the HCM City Finance and Marketing University, there is no legal document that guides the merger and dissolution of schools, so involved parties have to do everything on the basis of the agreements between the parties.

Thanh Lich 

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