What do we have to do to make Vietnam’s education system integrate into the region and the world? Many educators have pondered the question. One of the ways to develop the education system is to renovate management skills, and teaching methods, said member of the National Education Council, Professor Pham Phu in an exclusive interview granted to VOVNews reporter.

VOVNews: What benefits can the education sector expect from Vietnam’s admission to the World Trade Organisation?

Prof Pham Phu: When Vietnam joins the WTO, the education sector will have many opportunities to develop. At first, the state and universities will enjoy opportunities of increasing investment in the education sector. In addition, universities may provide high-quality education programmes. WTO admission also offers an opportunity for the country to change its management methods in education.

In the process of international integration, Vietnam’s education sector should improve its competitive edge and the quality of teaching, as well as education facilities by using all resources and investment capital inside and outside of the country.

Vietnam’s admission to the WTO will also benefit students. They will have a lot of choices in studying at schools and universities at home which match international standards. Besides, when joining the WTO, many foreign enterprises will invest and work in Vietnam. Therefore, Vietnamese students will have plenty of opportunities to get good jobs.

VOVNews: When Vietnam becomes a member of the WTO, the sector will need to renovate itself to compete with the education systems from many foreign countries. What challenges does Vietnam have to overcome?

Prof Pham Phu:  The education sector has to face a lot of challenges when joining the WTO. Market factors will affect the state and universities’ role of management, leading to brain drain and impacts on traditional cultural identities. Therefore, the sector will need to improve its quality to compete with other countries.

Vietnam’s joining the WTO may also increase educational inequality in the society. For example, a foreign university can cooperate with a Vietnamese counterpart to offer a high university fee of US$5,000-7,000 a year. Consequently, a large number of students cannot afford a university education.

There is also a concern about the quality of the cooperation between foreign and Vietnamese universities because it is learners who will suffer from such poor cooperation and ill management. Learners will be cheated both in money and quality. It is possible that foreign education programmes which do not match regulations from the Vietnam’s education sector are applied or the quality of foreign education programmes is lower than it was first registered in Vietnam.

VOVNews: What will the education sector do to help Vietnam better integrate into the region and the world?

Prof Pham Phu: I think there are two things to be done now. First, it is necessary to disseminate education-related staff about multilateral agreements on trade and services relating to education sector as well as Vietnam’s commitments to the WTO. Second, Vietnam should build regulations on protecting learners. The fact is that a couple of foreign education establishments have come to Vietnam and cheated learners. After Vietnam becomes a WTO member, the country will cooperate with other countries in terms of education and training. Therefore, maintaining the interest of learners, both Vietnamese and foreigners studying in the country, is one of the priorities for the education sector.

As a veteran in the education sector, I think the sector should improve teaching and learning methods to compete with foreign education establishments in the wake of Vietnam’s joining the WTO. To this end, it is necessary to develop a self-finance mechanism for each school and university as well as strong management in the education sector.

VOVNews: Thank you.