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The private university system is potentially facing its end under the current policies, said the experts at a conference about private universities held in Hanoi on September 26.

According to the expert changes in the university entrance exams and the grading system are biggest threats.

With the same scores from university entrance exam, students are likely to choose the schools that charge less. However, many experts said private universities should be allowed to recruit students who have scores lower than those taken by public schools. There are many universities that have available slots and students who want to study but who cannot because of low marks. 

As a result, those students often choose to study abroad if they can afford it. Meanwhile, domestic private universities are in need of students and their fees in order to upgrade the school and attract good lecturers.

Dr Ngo Tu Lap from Vietnam National University in Hanoi said, "When the government allowed the establishment of private universities they were made into a commercial market. Yet the university entrance exam and its passing marks have prevented private universities from accepting students. Without students, the universities cannot survive. Every student should be allowed to use their money to study and the entrance exam is violating this right."

Headmaster of Hoa Binh University said, "Rich students choose foreign universities, students that have good marks choose public universities so only students with low abilities come to private universities."

According to Tran Hong Quan, president of the association of private universities, in 83 private universities, only 15 universities are having great difficulties. "We won't protect universities that violate regulations, however, there are facilities that suffer from difficulties because of various other problems and they need help. Private universities can't be blamed for the quality of Vietnam higher education. The Ministry of Education and Training should ask the question why the enrollment rates at private universities is so low."

Quan went on to say that in the past 20 years, the government has issued two regulations about operation of schools that have established by organisations and three about schools that have been established by individuals. However, Quan said these two models of private schools are not understood thoroughly.

In addition, there are many policies that sound attractive but in fact, they are impractical. Several private schools complained that they even have had to pay income taxes as if they were enterprises.