Sharing with VietNamNet reporter, NTTH student ( Thai Binh ) said that around June 2022, while still living and working in Japan, she decided to learn about distance learning programs with the hope that before returning home, she would have a college or university degree to make it easier to find a job.

At that time, on social networking sites, information about the distance learning program of Hanoi College of Economics and Technology was widely advertised. After learning about it, she was given detailed advice about the roadmap, content, and curriculum.

“I learned that in previous years, the school had many students who graduated and received degrees. Because of my trust, I decided to register for the distance learning program in Japanese Language,” said Ms. H.

However, in December 2024, when she was about to complete the program, Ms. H. suddenly received a call from Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Vuong, Vice Principal of Hanoi College of Economics and Technology, informing her that the school was involved in a scandal and was being inspected, so classes were forced to be suspended and degrees might not be granted.

Ms. Vuong also suggested introducing another school, but students would have to pay and start over. Ms. H. did not agree with this solution.

“We have paid 25 million VND, there is only one more semester left to finish the program, some of our students have even finished their studies and completed their graduation thesis. We do not want our efforts and money to be wasted like that,” said Ms. H.

After that, the group of distance learning students contacted the school's leadership to request a solution. At that time, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tan, the school's principal, replied that he "did not know about the existence of this group of students because the program was recruited and managed by Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Vuong herself."

After students repeatedly came to the school to urge for a solution, Mr. Tan promised to find a way to support. However, to this day, the students are still uncertain about their fate. Ms. H. said that this incident has left many students stunned because they have missed out on their studies and lost job opportunities in the context of a fiercely competitive labor market.

Hanoi College of Economics and Technology.jpeg
Hanoi College of Economics and Technology. Photo: Thuy Nga

NTTD student, Information Technology class also shares the same fate when she was supposed to graduate in 2024. However, up to now, she has had to stop studying indefinitely without receiving any action from the school.

Ms. D. said that some students in her class had gone to the school to pay tuition directly and were instructed by the academic department to pay the money into the personal account of Vice Principal Nguyen Thi Bich Vuong. The students still received receipts with the school's stamp and signature, Ms. Vuong was only the person collecting the money.

“At that time, we didn’t think anything of it because she was the vice principal, so everyone believed her and paid directly into her personal account. However, later, the principal said that those receipts were not up to standard, did not have the signature of the chief accountant, so they were not legal,” said Ms. D.

After that, the student contacted Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Vuong many times but received no response.

According to Ms. D, during the learning process, students felt that there were many unusual things such as no teachers teaching or supervising, the whole semester students did not have to attend class, students studied completely on their own, no one reminded them.

Students only need to watch a series of pre-recorded online lectures and watch all the videos to be eligible to take the exam. The exam is also conducted online, with online supervision. “When students had questions, Ms. Vuong said they were ‘young and lacked knowledge’, then turned off the group messaging mode,” Ms. D. said.

Having already paid the tuition, most students do not want to drop out and try to complete the program.

The principal suddenly resigned.

When reporters contacted Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Vuong - former Vice Principal, who was directly in charge of organizing distance learning at Hanoi College of Economics and Technology, Ms. Vuong said that she is no longer working at the school. She has also handed over all her work and refused to answer any related questions.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tan, the school's principal, also suddenly wrote a resignation letter and it was approved on May 26.

Regarding the resolution of existing problems in distance learning at Hanoi College of Economics and Technology, Mr. Dang Xuan Hung, Head of General Administration Department, said that the school has decided to establish a working group to resolve these problems. In which, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Vuong is also one of the members of the working group.

The settlement will be made after the school completes its leadership structure.

The Department of Vocational Education and Continuing Education (Ministry of Education and Training) said it had received the feedback and was assigning the relevant units to review and inspect the incident, and at the same time requesting the school to provide a specific report.

Vocational schools blame universities for attracting average students, Ministry of Education and Training says 'we must review ourselves' Responding to the opinion that "universities attract average students, there are too many teachers and not enough workers", the Deputy Minister of Education and Training said vocational schools need to review themselves, first of all they must change their thinking, show students the benefits, future jobs, and future salaries.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/hang-tram-sinh-vien-sung-so-vi-bi-cho-dung-hoc-dot-ngot-2405279.html