Is it reasonable for a school to charge more than 7.6 million VND for national defense education tuition?

Many students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade reported that the tuition fee for national defense and security education is too high compared to other schools. How does the school explain this?

Students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade in a national defense and security education class - Photo: SON THAI

National defense and security education is a compulsory subject for students studying at universities. Currently, schools charge tuition fees for this subject at different levels.

Tuition for national defense education is determined by accumulated credits.

Many parents and students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade reported: "The school's tuition fee for national defense and security education at 7,615,000 VND is too high compared to other schools. It is unclear what the school bases its tuition fee on to determine such a high level?"

According to the school's tuition information, students are required to pay tuition for national defense and security education in 4 credits with 4 different levels (credit 1: 2,589,000 VND, credit 2: 1,726,000 VND, credit 3: 1,100,000 VND and credit 4: 2,200,000 VND, total 7,615,000 VND).

Talking to Tuoi Tre Online about this, MSc. Pham Thai Son - director of the admission and communication center of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade - said that national defense and security education is a compulsory subject for all full-time university students.

The school sets tuition fees for 1 school year and divides them by the average number of credits/school year, so each subject will be charged at the same unit price, with national defense and security being 8 credits.

"The school calculates based on accumulated credits, the school's tuition fee in 2024 is 863,000 VND/1 theoretical credit and 1.1 million VND/practical credit. This tuition fee was announced before candidates registered for admission to the school.

With the subject of national defense and security education with 4 modules, a total of 8 credits, including 3 practice credits and 5 theory credits.

The school has invested in the entire building for the defense education department to provide the best education for students. But the school calculates tuition for this subject by credit like other subjects, not at a higher rate," Mr. Son affirmed.

Each school has different tuition fees for national defense and security education.

The national defense and security education program in junior colleges, colleges of education and higher education institutions is stipulated in Circular 05/2020/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training, including 4 modules with a total duration of 165 periods, including: National defense and security guidelines of the Communist Party of Vietnam; National defense and security work; General military; Infantry combat techniques and tactics.

Currently, universities organize the teaching of national defense and security education in different ways (organizing their own training or sending students to specialized training units), and have completely different tuition fees.

Students of member schools of Ho Chi Minh City National University must go to the National Defense and Security Education Center of Ho Chi Minh City National University to study defense and security education. This unit regularly organizes monthly courses for students to register to study (or re-study).

According to the latest announcement from the National Defense and Security Education Center of Ho Chi Minh City National University, this unit collects tuition for all 4 courses: 1,350,000 VND. Study time is from February 5 to 28 (study directly at the center).

Meanwhile, students of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics also study defense and security education at the Center for Defense and Security Education of Ho Chi Minh City National University.

The school has just announced an adjustment to the tuition fee for national defense and security education for the 49th regular university course at 1.2 million VND/student (old level was 1.35 million VND/student).

In addition to tuition, students have to pay many other fees: 70,000 VND/day for meals; electricity, water, laundry and housekeeping; borrowing textbooks, notebooks and bags...

MSc. Le Phan Quoc - Deputy Head of Training Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Education - said that the school stipulates that the subject of national defense and security education has up to 11 credits (5 theoretical credits and 6 practical credits) with a tuition fee of 3,646,000 VND.

Hong Bang International University collects tuition fees for national defense and security education (8 credits, 640,000 VND/credit) which are included in the tuition fees for semester 1 of the 2024-2025 school year.

The tuition fee for this subject at Dong A University is 365,000 VND/credit, totaling 2,920,000 VND.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/truong-thu-hoc-phi-giao-duc-quoc-phong-hon-76-trieu-dong-co-hop-ly-20250106120423699.htm