Universities suffering difficulties enrolling students are blaming required entrance standards set by Ministry of Education and Training (MOET)

For Nguyen Huu Kieu, head of the training division at the Luong The Vinh University, the MOET-set minimum standard is proving to be difficult to work with.

He explains: “Everything went smoothly in the last four years. We enrolled 1,700 students following 2,000 initial registrations. But it is so difficult to enroll students this year. We are still hundreds short.”

Luong The Vinh is not alone, many others are facing similar problems.

The problems appear to be due to the fact that many students cannot apply to study at universities because their entrance exam marks are lower than the required standard set by MOET.

Educators are saying questions in the 2009 university entrance exams were more difficult than in previous years. However MOET still requires the same pass score.

It’s believed that 32 percent of total examinees of A-group, who take mathematics, physics and chemistry exams, last year had marks equal or higher than the minimum mark.  This year the figure is just 27 percent.

Meanwhile, for the B-group, who take mathematics, chemistry and biology,  the figures are 54 percent for last year and 37 percent for 2009.

Nguyen Quoc Hop, head of the training division at Van Hien University also blames MOET for licensing too many universities

She said: “We still have no final figure about the number of applications yet, but it’s estimated we have only 1100 while we need 1500. Last year we needed 1,800 applications and received 3,800.

Hop says MOET has allowed too many universities to operate forcing them to compete with each other in the scramble for students.

She also highlights the many state-owned universities who, this year, have also opened training courses for students who are not receiving government study grants.

This has proved attractive to students and led to even lower interest in non-state funded leaving schools.

Nguyen Mai Binh, head of the training division at Hung Vuong University says the number of students looking to enrol is very limited

He explains: “By the end of September 30, 2009, Hung Vuong had 850 applications, while we planned to enroll 950 students. We hope we will get some more applications which will come through the post office.
“But, it is more difficult to enroll students this year which was anticipated when state-owned universities announced the required marks for students who registered to study under the “first choice” scheme.

“In previous years, top tier universities set very high required marks and did not enroll students who named it as a second choice. However, they’ve set lower required marks for this year and allowed students to name them as second choice.

“It’s a reflection of the fact that even famous universities lack students. Of course, it’s easier for state owned universities with long traditions and respected brand to attract better students.”