Prompted by media stories on under performing Universities, students are finally speaking out – but why has it taken them so long?

After the Vietnamese media posted a series of stories about problems with universities, including sky high fees, poor facilities and bad training - VietNamNet received over 800 emails from students.

Most came from the Hanoi and HCM City Industry Universities with the consistent message that thanks to the stories, they have the chance to share their dissatisfaction.

Meanwhile, president of the Hanoi Industry University, who is also the chairman of the Students’ Association, said he had never heard students mention the problems before. 

Meanwhile, president of the HCM City Banking Academy, in an open discussion with 500 students recently, said he cannot help settle student problems, because students only talk to the press and not the management board.

“Students can talk about problems and they can do that through organisations such as the youth union or students’ association, where opinions are collected by voting,” said Nguyen Thien Nhan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training.

However, a quick survey conducted by VietNamNet’s reporters on 20 students from universities in Hanoi showed six had never heard of the association, 14 knew the association but had never taken part in its activities.  Two of those students said they once petitioned the association but had not got a reply.

N.N.H, a student of the Hanoi Industry University, said that he participated in many meetings of the university’s Youth Union’s committee and students’ association.

“There is lively discussion only when people talk about music performances and sports competitions. However, they keep quiet when issues, like tuition, are tabled,” he said.

“In fact, they (secretaries of youth union) promised to convey students’ opinions to university leaders. However, we have never see any changes,” he said

Do Minh Hien, chairman of the Students’ Association of the Hanoi Industry University, said that he has never heard any complaints from students about high tuition fees.

Meanwhile, students across many universities say they had heard about the existence of the association, but do not know how to join.

“Universities set sky high tuitions. Owners of boarding houses set overly high rents. Students are living in insecurity, lacking healthy playing fields and facing bureaucracy in administration,” said a student of the Hanoi Industry University.

“We need help from students’ association. But we are alone,” he said.

(Source: VietNamNet)