IDP issued more than 56,000 IELTS certificates in violation of regulations

The Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has just concluded an inspection of the joint organization of exams and issuance of foreign language proficiency certificates in Vietnam for IDP Vietnam Education Company Limited (IDP Company) with headquarters located at 161-161A, Hai Ba Trung Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

IDP issued more than 56,000 IELTS certificates in violation of regulations

In conclusion, although the Ministry of Education and Training only issued decisions on November 17, 2022, allowing IDP and other Vietnamese partners in partnership with IELTS Australia Pty Ltd to organize exams at designated testing locations, from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, this company had already organized IELTS Test Report Form exams for 67,195 people and issued 66,153 IELTS certificates.

Between January 1, 2022, and September 9, 2022 (the effective date of Circular No. 11/2022/TT-BGDĐT regulating the collaboration in organizing foreign language proficiency certificate exams), IDP organized 458 exam sessions in 31 provinces and cities nationwide and issued a total of 46,643 certificates.

Between September 10, 2022, and November 16, 2022 (before the Ministry of Education and Training authorized IDP's partnership), IDP organized 97 test sessions in 16 provinces and cities. In addition, the computer-based IELTS test was held daily in Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, with 9,587 IELTS certificates issued during this period.

A random check of exam records on September 15, 2022 in Tien Giang showed that the Tien Giang Department of Education and Training had an official dispatch signed on September 12, 2022 allowing IDP Company to coordinate in organizing IELTS certification exams, with a record of supervising the IELTS certification exam council.

In other localities, the Department of Education and Training did not have an official dispatch agreeing to let the company coordinate in organizing IELTS certification exams in the area.

During the period from November 17, 2022 to December 31, 2022, IDP Company was authorized to establish partnerships and decided to set up examination boards for two rounds in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, issuing 9,923 certificates.

Thus, IDP had organized exams and issued 56,230 certificates before the company was authorized by the Ministry of Education and Training to establish partnerships.

On June 15, 2023, the Quality Management Department (Ministry of Education and Training) sent a document to all Departments of Education and Training nationwide regarding the use of certificates to exempt candidates from the foreign language exam in the 2023 high school graduation exam. The document clearly states that candidates who have registered for the 2023 high school graduation exam may use foreign language proficiency certificates issued after September 10, 2022, to be considered for exemption from the foreign language exam, as per regulations.

In light of the aforementioned violations, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training concluded that IDP had violated Decree 04/2021/ND-CP dated January 22, 2021, regulating administrative penalties in the field of education, and the responsibility lies with the Director of IDP Education Co., Ltd.

However, by the time of the inspection, the statute of limitations for penalties under the Law on Handling Administrative Violations had expired. Therefore, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training recommends that IDP Company review all its activities related to conducting foreign language proficiency certificate exams in Vietnam and comply with the permit issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

At the same time, we recommend that the Ministry of Education and Training instruct the Quality Management Department to guide the company in handling the foreign language certificates that the company had jointly organized exams for and issued in Vietnam without the permission of the competent state management agency.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/idp-cap-sai-quy-dinh-hon-56000-chung-chi-ielts-196240508190130195.htm