Nguyen Thien Nhan, Minister of Education and Training

Tuition must reflect the socio-economic status of the various regions. Fees should be determined by city and provincial People’s Committees and based on local people’s average income. However, there will be a policy on rate reductions and exemptions offered to poor families. Figures show that each city and province nationwide has an average of 20 per cent of the population benefiting from reduction and exemption policies.

In regions with higher average incomes, the State should reduce investment and subsidies so as to put money where it is needed most. The State should spend more money in poorer areas to equally make a good education available.

Many high-income families can afford higher tuition for better schools so their children can receive better education quality. The cities or provinces will be allowed to open high-quality institutions for the children of wealthy families. However, these schools must be outnumbered by public schools so as to ensure a place for low and middle-income children.

Prof. Dao Trong Thi, Chairman of the National Assembly Culture and Education Commission

In my opinion, increasing tuition fees is an issue that must be carefully considered. First, tuition must be relative with income level. Second, tuition is a way for universities and colleges to improve the quality of education. Appropriately raising fees is a necessity but the two factors must be carefully considered before doing so. Considering Viet Nam’s economic situation, tuition fees should not be sharply increased.

Moreover, fees should not increase in all areas. Rate rises should depend on the demand. This means tuition fees should be increased in high-quality education institutions. In public education institutions, tuition fees should stay at a moderate rate.

Moreover, the State should assess how tuition fees are being used by educational institutions to determine appropriate rates.

According to a report by the National Assembly’s Finance and Budget Commission, some educational institution spending does not comply with State regulations.

If tuition fees are not properly put to work, any increase will not go over well with people.

Prof. Hoang Tuy, former director of Mathematics Institute

People ask does inadequate funding result in low educational quality? And, will increased tuition improve education’s quality?

Currently, the State spends 20 per cent of the Budget on education. But I think if that was upped to 25-30 per cent, even 40 per cent, it would not be effective without a reform of education methods.

In fact, low quality education is not due to insufficient funding. Since 1998, the State’s education investments have increased 6 times (from VND11.7 trillion to 67 trillion), not to mention foreign loans of US$1.1 billion, despite the number of students staying nearly the same. It cannot be argued that tuition rates must be raised because they have not changed over the last 10 years.

In my opinion, a more appropriate scholarship policy is needed.

First of all, compulsory education must be free.

And for higher education, scholarships should be given to poor students. Tuition must match the various income levels of the country’s differing regions.

In rich countries, family or individual tuition responsibility is only 20 per cent while in Viet Nam it is over 40 per cent.

In fact, Vietnamese people are now facing many difficulties in their daily life. Increasing tuition will be a burden for people.

I petition the Government and National Assembly to delay the increase to ease the concerns of the poor.

Prof. Van Nhu Cuong, Principal of people founded Luong The Vinh Senior Secondary School

Tuition is not a monthly payment but the total educational investment for a child to be put through school.

Fees include contributing to school facilities, buying textbooks, donations, and many others.

So, the actual amount is quite big.

For secondary education, the average monthly cost is VND180,000 and university students need VND700,000-1 million a month.

Therefore, the State should understand in real terms the amount of money that a family spends on educating their children.

The State should carefully consider the tuition increase and I absolutely think that compulsory education should be free.

The State Budget for education should be focused on the poorer regions such as remote and mountainous areas to reduce poverty and eliminate illiteracy.

Also, the State should invest in vocational training, there is always a need for skilled labourers.

There is a recent policy that offers students a VND800,000 loan every month. But I really do not trust this. It is because settling the debt is very difficult, especially considering the high rate of unemployment among new graduates.

Allow me a simple calculation. A student can borrow VND50 million for his or her 5 years in university. After graduating, if she or he is lucky, they might find a job with a monthly salary between VND1-1.5 million which is just enough for daily life. So, how and when can they settle the debt?

The State should carefully consider a tuition increase and work towards more effectively using the current fees.

Prof. Pham Phu of HCM City University of Technology

The essence of education is quality, effects and social equality.

Increasing tuition fees aims at ensuring a minimum financial basis for improving educational quality. It is a common trend all around the world as secondary education has become more standard and popular.

However, every country has established a policy to finance secondary education. It breaks down financial contribution ratios among the government, students and community, maps out methods to effectively use of financial resources and draws out plans to ensure equal opportunities for students to access university education within the framework of social equality.

Therefore, the plan to increase tuition has to deal with the financial contribution ratio on the levels of socio-economic status .

Many countries provide loans and grants to students. This is aimed at reducing the Government’s education financial responsibility.

Viet Nam has recently introduced a programme providing loans for students.

I think loan programmes should target opportunities for poor students and reducing an equal and appropriate amount of financial pressure on the State budget and students.

Source: VNECONOMY.