The students of the HCM City Industry University are moaning about the penalty they bear for the late tuition payment. They have been forced to pay double and repeat the study of the subjects.

In a letter to the Giao duc Vietnam’s editorial board, a student of the HCM City University said that the school’s students, who were late in paying tuitions, have been banned from taking exams and told to pay double for every subject.

“We have lodged a complaint to the school, but the board of management has refused to listen to us,” the student wrote.

“If the situation persists, I think that poor students would not have the opportunities to go to school. Please help us, the poor students who are despaired and do not know whom to ask for help,” the letter reads.

Also according to the student, the school released a notice in the third semester of the 2011-2012 academic year that the students, who registered to study, but did not pay tuition, would be listed as failing the exams. The students would be able to register the study for the next semester only after they pay tuition which is double the normal rate.

Some days ago, the information that FPT University forced students to pay the penalty of 100 dollars for late tuition payment stunned the public. However, it seems that the punishment inflicted by the HCM City Industry University is even heavier: students would have to both pay double for the tuition and wait for their turn to repeat study. This means that the students would graduate the school later than their friends.

“We have to register to study. However, due to many problems we meet when registering study subjects, we find it hard to arrange the time for paying tuitions on schedule,” a student complained.

“Even when we paid tuitions already, we were still informed that we have to pay tuition once again and wait,” she continued.

“What is the HCM City Industry University interested in most, profit or training quality?”, “Does the school just run for profit?” – a lot of questions have been raised for the school with criticism.

Thousands of readers have emailed to the editorial board, expressing their sympathy with the students of the HCM City Industry University. These included the letter from a mother, who wrote that she has persuaded the son not to register to study at the HCM City Industry University, though the boy dreams of becoming a student of the electricity faculty of the school.

“We are poor, and we are afraid that we may have to delay the tuition payment one day. If so, what will happen with my son?” the mother wrote.

Dr Trinh Hoa Binh, a well-known sociologist in Vietnam, has commented that if considering the matter from the viewpoint that it’s necessary to create opportunities for the youth to access high education, the heavy punishment is extravagant and ridiculous.

The State conveys a strong message that Vietnamese students will not be let to be absent from school just because they lack money. Meanwhile, it seems that schools do not follow the principle.

Meanwhile, Dr Pham Van Bong, Head of the Training Division of the Hanoi Industry University, which, like the HCM City Industry University, belongs to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, believes that the HCM City Industry University has the right to impose punishment on students for their tardiness in paying tuitions.

“It’s unacceptable that you order a ration of pho (noodle soup) and then you do not want it any more. If you registered study, you have to pay for the study, no matter you attend the lessons or not,” Bong said.

Source: Giao duc VN/ VNN