Ministry of Education withdraws nearly 750 billion VND project to innovate national high school exam
Considering the financial content is problematic, the Minister of Education directed to withdraw the project for further completion.
On May 22, the Ministry of Education and Training sent a notice clarifying information about the project.“Innovation in national high school exams and admission to full-time universities, colleges of education, and intermediate pedagogical schools in the 2018-2020 period”.
Accordingly, in response to the reflection on the budget of more than 749 billion VND, Minister Phung Xuan Nha directedCheck the content and decide to withdraw the project for further improvement.
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Candidates in Ho Chi Minh City take the 2017 national high school exam. Photo:Quynh Tran |
The Ministry explained that the figure of more than 749 billion VND is an estimate for three years from 2018 to 2020. The drafting department has included many indirect expenses for organizing the national high school exam and university and college admissions, for example, expenses from the National Foreign Language Project, the General Education Innovation Support Project (RGEP), and the Pedagogical College Development Program (ETEP).
"This method of calculation has led to inconsistency in understanding. It is necessary to study and adjust both the content and financial issues when drafting the Project. The Minister has directed the drafting department to seriously learn from experience in developing projects, especially when calculating finances," the Ministry's announcement stated.
Previously, the press reported on the project approved by the Ministry of Education on April 17. Accordingly, the total budget for three years of implementing the national high school exam is more than 749 billion VND, of which 344 billion VND will be spent in 2018, 203 billion VND in 2019 and 201.6 billion VND in 2020. This estimated budget is considered too high.
The 2018 National High School Exam consists of 5 tests: Math, Literature, Foreign Language, and a combination of Natural Sciences and Social Sciences. The exam plan is basically the same as last year, with no significant changes, except for preparing conditions to move towards computer-based exams from 2021.
Ministry of Education proposed to refund budget more than 53 billion VND
The project to train 23,000 PhDs failed to achieve its target, the State Audit recommended that the Ministry of Education recover and pay to the budget more than 53 billion VND.
