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 granting of foreign language proficiency certificates in Vietnam for IDP Vietnam Education Company Limited (IDP Company) headquartered 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 has just issued decisions allowing IDP Company and Vietnamese parties to cooperate with IELTS Australia Pty Ltd to organize exams at the exam locations as decided since November 17, 2022. However, from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, this company has cooperated to organize IELTS Test Report Form for 67,195 people and has issued 66,153 IELTS certificates.

During the period from January 1, 2022 to September 9, 2022 (the effective date of Circular No. 11/2022/TT-BGDDT on joint organization of foreign language proficiency certification exams), IDP organized 458 exams in 31 provinces and cities nationwide and issued a total of 46,643 certificates.

From September 10, 2022 to November 16, 2022 (before the Ministry of Education and Training allowed IDP to cooperate), 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.

From November 17, 2022 to December 31, 2022, at this time IDP Company has been allowed to associate, the company has decided to establish two examination councils in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang with the number of certificates issued being 9,923.

Thus, IDP organized exams and issued 56,230 certificates before the time the company was allowed to cooperate by the Ministry of Education and Training.

On June 15, 2023, the Department of Quality Management (Ministry of Education and Training) sent an official dispatch to the Departments of Education and Training nationwide regarding the use of certificates to exempt from the foreign language test in the 2023 high school graduation exam. The official dispatch clearly states that candidates who have registered to take the 2023 high school graduation exam can use foreign language proficiency certificates issued after September 10, 2022 to consider exemption from the foreign language test according to regulations.

Regarding the above violations, 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/idp-cap-sai-quy-dinh-hon-56000-chung-chi-ielts-196240508190130195.htm