Besides IDP, the British Council also illegally issued over 90,000 IELTS and Aptis certificates.

IELTS test takers at the British Council Vietnam - Photo: BC

The Ministry of Education and Training has just concluded an inspection regarding the collaboration between British Council Vietnam Co., Ltd. and other foreign companies in organizing and issuing foreign language proficiency certificates in Vietnam.

The inspection report from the Ministry of Education and Training concluded that from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, the British Council collaborated in organizing and issuing 45,679 Aptis English certificates and 58,414 IELTS English certificates nationwide.

Specifically, during the period from January 1, 2022 to September 9, 2022, before the Ministry of Education and Training approved the joint exam organization, the British Council organized 343 joint exams, issuing 31,871 Aptis English certificates, and 393 paper-based IELTS exams, issuing 33,196 certificates, and 589 computer-based IELTS exams, issuing 11,149 certificates.

A total of 76,216 English certificates, including Aptis and IELTS, were issued by the British Council during this period. The Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training affirmed: "From January 1, 2022 to September 9, 2022, British Council Limited's activities in organizing and issuing Aptis and IELTS certificates in Vietnam violated the regulations in Articles 21, 22, and 23 of Government Decree 86/2018/ND-CP dated June 6, 2018. "

Subsequently, from September 10th until the date the British Council received approval from the Ministry of Education and Training to partner in organizing English language certificate exams, the British Council continued to partner in organizing exams for 6,046 Aptis certificates (before November 10th) and 8,219 IELTS certificates (before November 17th). The total for both types is 14,265 certificates.

The Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training concluded: "From September 10, 2022, until the date of permission granted by the Ministry of Education and Training, British Council Co., Ltd.'s activities in organizing and issuing Aptis and IELTS certificates in Vietnam violated the regulations stipulated in Circular No. 11/2022/TT-BGDĐT dated July 26, 2022, of the Ministry of Education and Training and Article 21 of Decree 86/2018/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2018, of the Government."

In total, across both periods from January 1, 2022 to November 10, 2022 (for Aptis certificates) and November 17, 2022 (for IELTS certificates), the British Council improperly issued 90,481 certificates, including 52,564 IELTS certificates.

The Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training has requested the British Council to review and report to the Department of Quality Management, proposing a course of action regarding the number of foreign language certificates that the company had issued in collaboration with foreign language proficiency testing organizations in Vietnam without the permission of the competent state management agency.

Are certificates issued by the British Council that were issued improperly valid?

Previously, on May 8th, the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training announced the conclusions of its inspection regarding the collaboration with foreign language proficiency testing and certification agencies in Vietnam by IDP Vietnam Education Co., Ltd. According to the report, IDP issued 56,000 certificates without proper authorization to collaborate in organizing these exams.

On the afternoon of May 9th, the Quality Management Department of the Ministry of Education and Training officially announced the plan to handle over 56,000 IELTS certificates issued by IDP for exams held in Vietnam without proper authorization.

Accordingly, foreign language proficiency certificates issued by affiliated testing organizations, when meeting quality assurance conditions, will continue to be used normally according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training on examinations, admissions, and training, without affecting the rights of certificate holders.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ngoai-idp-hoi-dong-anh-cung-cap-sai-phep-hon-90-000-chung-chi-ielts-aptis-20240510202738308.htm