VietNamNet Bridge - Raising tuition is necessary for state-owned universities that are operating autonomously in order to have enough funds to cover expenses and rid themselves of reliance on the state budget.  However, there is resistance to such increases.

Many students are shocked about the latest decision by the Hanoi Economics University to raise tuition by 30 percent commencing in the 2016-2017 academic year. 

With the decision, the highest tuition level is VND17 million, while the lowest is VND12 million, which, according to deputy head of the training division Le Viet Thuy, is "not too high and is reasonable compared with the training costs". 

However, the decision still has raised strong opposition from parents and students. Many students have threatened to give up study if the school implements its plan to raise tuition.

Meanwhile, some educators warned that high tuition will keep good students away from universities.

Raising tuition is necessary for state-owned universities that are operating autonomously in order to have enough funds to cover expenses and rid themselves of reliance on the state budget.

Commenting about the students’ reaction to the school’s decision, Tran Tho Dat, rector of the Hanoi Economics University, said the school made a mistake as it did not carry out public relations campaigns to inform students about the tuition increase roadmap and policies to support poor students.

While affirming that raising tuition is required, Dat said that several policies will be applied to ensure that no student stays away from university just because of lack of money.

The Hanoi Economics University has joined forces with businesses and former students to set up a scholarship fund worth VND50 billion, which will be disbursed in 2016.

The school also runs a student support program which helps poor students find jobs to get money to fund their study.

Bui Anh Tuan, rector of the Hanoi Foreign Trade University (FTU), one of 14 universities with autonomy, also affirmed that raising tuition is necessary, but the school is taking small increases first.   FTU’s annual tuition increase is no more than 10 percent and is lower than the allowed level.

The difficult task of these universities is that they need to weigh the students’ payment capability and the expenses needed to carry out training activities, as they cannot receive financial support from the State.

Only 14 of over 400 universities and junior colleges throughout the country operate under the autonomy policy. However, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said at a conference held on August 5 that all schools will have to apply the policy in the future, though the time for application will vary among schools because of different capabilities.


ANTD