Parents complain about school application proccess

Amid the heightened competition among parents to secure places for their children in the best universities and vocational schools in the lead-up to the 2007-2008 academic year, complaints have surfaced relating to the lack of transparency in the school applications process.

These complaints were reported at a national education administration meeting held in Xieng Khuang province several weeks ago, and related mainly to the fact that many parents were using their connections to get their children into their chosen schools.

It was reported that some parents had offered to pay for high scores or exam information, to ensure their children were admitted to universities or vocational schools, even if they weren't high-performing students.

Each year, the number of students graduating from upper secondary schools has increased, while vocational schools and universities have limited space and resources to accommodate the rising numbers, leading parents to take extreme measures to ensure their children are secured a place.

The Director General of the Higher Technical and Vocational Education Department, Associate Professor Dr Kongsy Sengmany, confirmed to Vientiane Times that in previous years, parents had hired negotiators to organise enrolments for their children.

He added some offenders had been arrested for violating the regulations and making the system unfair for others.

But Dr Kongsy said that in some cases, it had been very difficult to verify the facts, due to a lack of evidence.

Deputy Education Minister Mr Lytou Bouapao told Vientiane Times on Friday that his ministry planned to limit the quota of places for children whose parents were teachers, as one way of addressing the problem.

This is because teachers who are childless have been known to “sell” their quotas to parents.

Mr Lytou said quotas would still be established for teachers running evening courses, but such parents would still be required to pay the same fees as others.

In addition, the ministry will add measures to the monitoring process to minimise those gaps in the entry process that have caused these complaints by local people.

He said education administrators would re-evaluate the system each year as a way of determining problem areas and minimising complaints.

It has become accepted among families in the cities that education is essential for young people, and a number of parents have been quick to point out that they would be happy to pay extra to ensure their children could study at the best possible institutions.

But those parents who do not have the money to choose where to send their children are the ones complaining.

This year, 44,000 students graduated from secondary schools, 4,000 more than last year. However, only 30,000 of them will have a place in a vocational school or university in the 2007-2008 academic year.

Today, there are six higher vocational schools and about 15 training centres in Laos . There are also 68 colleges that offer bachelor degrees in computer skills, English, business and administration.

The universities include the National University of Laos in Vientiane , Champassak University in Champassak province, and Souphanouvong University in Luang Prabang province.

BySomsack Pongkhao
Vientianetimes