Even though the needs for higher education has sharply surged after some cities and provinces in the Mekong Delta revealed incentives for degrees holders, the management and education quality of such courses are still being debated.

Can Tho University grants master degrees to sutdents

The Mekong Delta region has 17 universities across 10 provinces, with seven universities providing higher education courses. Last year, the authorities of Can Tho City started a new programme to attract better qualified people for the 2015-2020 period.

Doctors and professors will receive VND150m (USD6,800) if they decide to move to Can Tho City to work for at least 36 months. Associate professors will get VND130m and medical specialists VND65m.

In early 2015, Kien Giang Province also issued subsidies of VND20m for master degrees holders and specialists when they move to the province for work. As a result, a huge number of students, mostly unable to find suitable jobs, decided to continue studying.

Tran Thi Cam Tu from Hau Giang Province said, "I think I probably would need a master degree in the future anyway so I'm studying for one right after finishing my bachelor’s degree."

However, the high enrolment numbers are exposing weaknesses in education quality and management.

Vo Trong Huu, head of the Department of Culture and Social Affairs said, "Some universities that don't meet requirements to open higher education courses and are creating affiliate programmes with other universities capitalise on this."

Mai Van Nam from Can Tho University complained that the required credit hours in Vietnam were much higher than other countries but the quality was worse, saying that foreign programmes put more emphasis on independent research.

Vice rector of Can Tho University Do Van Xe agreed and said authorities should have been stricter when universities asked to let them open such courses. They must also carry out inspections to ensure the education quality.

Dtinews