56,200 "incorrect" IELTS certificates are used normally

On the afternoon of May 9, regarding the joint organization of foreign language proficiency exams in Vietnam, the Ministry of Education and Training said that foreign language proficiency certificates issued by joint exam organizations, when meeting quality assurance conditions, will continue to be used normally according to the Ministry of Education and Training's regulations on exams, enrollment and training. This will not affect the rights of those who are granted certificates.

The Ministry of Education and Training said that 56,200 IELTS certificates issued by IDP "in violation of regulations" are still being used normally.

The Ministry of Education and Training added that, in performing the function of state management of education and training, the Ministry has been strengthening inspection and examination of the joint organization of foreign language proficiency exams to ensure compliance with legal regulations, ensure the quality of exams and the rights of test takers.

The Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training has concluded an inspection of a number of units that jointly organize foreign language proficiency exams in Vietnam. According to the inspection results, before being licensed by the Ministry of Education and Training to jointly organize foreign language proficiency exams in Vietnam, these units had jointly organized foreign language proficiency exams without permission, violating the provisions of Decree No. 86/2018/ND-CP of the Government and Circular No. 11/2022/TT-BGDDT of the Minister of Education and Training.

In 2023, the Department of Quality Management issued Official Dispatch No. 889/QLCL-QLVBCC dated June 9, 2023 on instructions for verifying foreign language proficiency certificates and Official Dispatch No. 999/QLCL-QLVBCC dated June 15, 2023 on using certificates to exempt foreign language exams in the 2023 High School Graduation Exam.

In the coming time, the Department of Quality Management will coordinate with relevant agencies to continue to strengthen the inspection and supervision of the activities of units and organizations that conduct training, joint training, organize exams and issue foreign language certificates. Timely detect, handle or recommend handling of violations (if any), ensuring the legitimate rights of learners and test takers, in accordance with the provisions of law.

Previously, as reported by Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, according to the conclusion of the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training, although the Ministry of Education and Training has just issued decisions allowing IDP Company and Vietnamese parties to cooperate with IELTS Australia Pty Ltd to organize exams at the exam locations according to the decision since November 17, 2022. However, from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, this company has cooperated to organize IELTS Test Report Form exams for 67,195 people and has issued 66,153 IELTS certificates. This unit has organized exams and issued 56,230 certificates before the time the company was allowed to cooperate by the Ministry of Education and Training.

The Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training concluded that IDP violated Decree 04/2021/ND-CP dated January 22, 2021 regulating administrative sanctions in the field of education, the responsibility belongs to the Director of IDP Education Company Limited.

However, at the time of inspection, the statute of limitations for administrative sanctions had expired according to the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations. Therefore, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training recommended and requested IDP Company to review all of the company's foreign language proficiency certification activities in Vietnam and to comply with the permission decision of the Ministry of Education and Training.

At the same time, it is recommended that the Ministry of Education and Training assign the Department of Quality Management to guide the company in handling the number of foreign language certificates that the company has jointly organized exams and issued foreign language proficiency certificates in Vietnam without permission from the competent state management agency.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/bo-gd-dt-56200-chung-chi-ielts-sai-quy-dinh-duoc-su-dung-binh-thuong-196240509172601597.htm