The Higher Education Law must not contradict the principles of the Amended Education Law

The Prime Minister emphasized that the Ministry of Education’s explanatory report needs to clearly illustrate the amendments and supplements in the Higher Education Law that do not contradict the Amended Education Law.

The Prime Minister has assigned Ministers and heads of ministerial-level agencies to study and review the conclusions of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on perfecting a few articles of the Law Project.

Regarding the draft Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Higher Education Law, the Prime Minister has given the responsibility to the Ministry of Education and Training to work with the Standing Committee of the National Assembly Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents, and Children, along with other relevant ministries and agencies to research and gather opinions from National Assembly deputies from the September 2018 session of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee, and to seek opinions from National Assembly delegations, the Ethnic Council, and the committees of the National Assembly before submitting the draft Law to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at its 6th session of the 14th National Assembly.

This Law Project should note the following issues: Regarding the responsibility of the government, it is necessary to clarify the requirement to enhance the government’s responsibility for various types of higher education institutions, including investment and management responsibilities.

On university autonomy, it is important to promote the role, status, decision-making authority, and supervision of the University Council.

The Chairman of the University Council and its members must truly be reputable, competent individuals capable of ensuring internal unity, correct political orientation, and control of power within the institution.

The structure of the University Council, and its members, will be guided appropriately for each type of institution.

Regarding tuition fees, it is suggested to base them on the principle of valuing quality, emphasizing the responsibility of each institution; to promoting autonomy by allowing institutions to decide and report to the competent government authorities.

When it comes to collaborating with foreign educational institutions, it is important that the explanatory report explicitly outlines the Government’s responsibility. Schools and branches that have foreign affiliations must adhere to Vietnamese laws and regulations. Additionally, their lecturers must meet the standards set by Vietnamese law to obtain a license to operate.

Tax issues and research positions should be regulated in specialized laws; regulations on lecturer standards, age, and working duration should ensure compliance with the regulations of the Civil Servants Law, and the Public Employees Law.

The explanatory report needs to clearly explain the articles and clauses that are amended and supplemented in the Higher Education Law to ensure they do not contradict the principles in the draft Education Law (amendment).

Nhat Minh

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