VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) plans this year to embark on an ambitious plan to change personnel at faculties of universities, colleges and other tertiary-level training schools.

At a two-day online conference that ended yesterday, Jan 23, Dr Bui Anh Tuan, head of the ministry's Tertiary Education Department, said that universities for teachers would have their enrollment quotas changed to comply with the country's actual demand.

The plan also calls for better qualified staff at universities.

Last year, the ministry reduced the number of faculties in accountancy, banking-finance and business administration, but encouraged the opening of faculties in technology, agriculture and environmental resources.

Twenty-three new universities opened last year, including Viet Bac University and Kinh Bac University.

According to Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan, one university in HCM City and another in Ha Noi will be chosen as the site of pilot projects that will focus on new training and teaching methodologies.

The ongoing training programme of lecturers with doctoral degrees will also be hastened.

The ministry has asked the government to devise new salaries for five levels of lecturers at universities.

The government should also encourage universities and colleges to have preferential policies for lecturers with high qualifications.

At the conference, Luan said that Decree 115, which called for local authorities to inspect schools on site, had been effective in solving problems.

Last year, the ministry worked with local authorities to inspect 62 universities and colleges nationwide.

Of that number, violations were found at five universities as well as 17 faculties at universities and colleges. The violations concerned student-lecturer ratios and quality of facilities. All of the universities and faculties had to cease enrollment of new students.

The ministry this year will continue to inspect universities and colleges and shut down enrollment at those who violate regulations.

Five faculties at Luong The Vinh and Chu Van An universities continue to be closed as both schools have not kept their lecturer-student ratios right.

In addition, many lecturers are teaching without master's or doctoral degrees.

Luan said this year many laws related to higher education would come into effect.

Schools will be allowed to submit their own enrollment plans to the ministry for approval.

At the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has asked the ministry to review and carry out 20 projects that are part of the education development strategy.

Twenty projects include one on land planning for education facilities by 2020, and the removal of universities out of the inner city of HCM City and Ha Noi.

Nhan also asked the ministry and local authorities to strictly punish schools that charge students and parents fees beyond the regulated amount.

Also, teachers who offer private classes at home will be penalised as well.

Source: VNS