Students study electrical programme at a vocational training centre. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Colleges and universities found to have violated enrolment regulations will face the fines of up to VNĐ100 million (US$4,340) and be forced to stop all enrolment activities, according to a new decree.

The Government’s decree, which was issued on January 22, stipulates that institutes found to enrol students exceeding their capacities or failing to follow regulated enrolment procedures will be fined between VNĐ20-30 million ($868-1,302).   

Institutes failing to report the threshold of required majors to management offices and candidates will be fined between VNĐ30-40 million ($1,302-1,730).

Those found to enrol students for unlicensed foreign education programmes will face the fines of VNĐ60 million ($2,605).

Under the decree, the highest fines for violations on wrongly enrolling students for university and college degrees will be VNĐ100 million ($4,340)

These institutes will also be required to return school fees for students and forced to stop enrolment activities.

After the decree was issued, representatives of colleges and universities complained about the fines. Most said the fines were not strict enough and universities would happily pay the fines to enrol more students than regulated.

Đỗ Văn Dũng, head of HCM City University of Technology and Education told Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper that the highest fines could cause certain concerns for public institutes, but not private facilities.

“A fine of VNĐ100 million is equivalent to the tuition fee of two years of study at private universities. Many are willing to pay that fine to enrol students exceeding their capacity,” he said.

Phùng Quán, a representative of the Vietnam National University’s University of Science, said the fine was too small compared to the tuition fees collected.

The fine must be based on the percentage of excessive enrollment and calculated for the total school fees collected over four years, he said.

In addition, all enrolment activities must be postponed until they return the money to students, he added.

The decree will take effect since this March. — VNS