On December 4, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave its opinion on the explanation, acceptance and revision of group 5 draft: Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Education; Law on Higher Education (amended); Law on Vocational Education (amended);
The National Assembly Resolution stipulates specific mechanisms for a number of policies and guidelines in Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2025 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development; Resolution on investment policy for the national target program to modernize and improve the quality of education and training for the period 2026-2035.
In the report on receiving and explaining the opinions of National Assembly deputies, the Government said that the Draft Law on Vocational Education (amended) has revised Clause 3, Article 7 in the direction of only stipulating that higher education institutions are allowed to provide college-level training for specific fields (art, sports; teacher training; national defense, security); so that higher education and vocational education institutions operate in accordance with their functions and tasks according to the provisions of current law and in accordance with the training orientation and goals, specifically as follows:
b) Higher education institutions that are training in specific majors or groups of majors in the fields of arts and sports at university level shall conduct college, intermediate level training programs, high school vocational education programs in the same major or group of majors.
c) Higher education institutions that are training a group of majors in teacher training at university level implement the same college-level training program as the group of majors.
d) Higher education institutions of the People's Armed Forces implementing college and intermediate training programs for majors and occupations in the fields of national defense and security".
Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Committee Phan Van Mai said that he agreed with the opinion of the examining agency on allowing some universities to open colleges, not just pedagogical majors.
He emphasized that industry opening needs to be managed with specific criteria and standards. In addition to college training, universities with quality general schools should also be considered for permission to implement this model.
He cited that in some specific fields such as music, training institutions such as music conservatories have to enroll students from a very early age, even from kindergarten or primary school. Similarly, many other professions also need to detect and nurture talent early.
According to him, if universities have potential in terms of human resources and facilities, it is necessary to create conditions for them to prepare input talent.
"We should "open to a certain level", manage by a system of criteria and standards to promote the effectiveness and strengths of training institutions" - Mr. Mai proposed.
Regarding the fact that universities can train at college level, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said that in the planning of universities, colleges, and the upcoming pedagogical college system, there will be only 3-4 schools, the trend of pedagogical colleges will join pedagogical universities. In the pedagogical university, there will be training for preschool teachers at the college level.
"In my opinion, we need to include a principle in the law that universities can be allowed to organize college training in some specialized, specific, in-depth fields and special fields according to the country's human resources requirements, so in my opinion, we need to include a principle in the law that universities can be allowed to organize college training in universities" - the Minister expressed his opinion.
However, the Minister also stated that how and what is required for training requires separate and specific regulations to avoid universities "massively enrolling at college level" causing inactivation and reducing the enrollment capacity of colleges.
"The law cannot detail these contents too much. The law determines a principle of "can be opened", "as long as anyone can, how can, the Government will regulate" - the Minister said.
