In recent days, public opinion has been stirred up by the story of Thu Dau Mot University (a public university under the People's Committee of Binh Duong province) paying 37 billion VND to the state budget (contributing to the public fund). This is the amount of money that the State Audit determined that the school had collected in excess of the prescribed level in 2 school years.
On October 20, speaking with reporters, the leader of Thu Dau Mot University said that there is still no official plan to resolve the amount of 37 billion VND.
Currently, Thu Dau Mot University is still reviewing the data to make a decision. However, the direction of handling is to consider and research to return the money to students.
The Binh Duong provincial leaders also said that the case is being carefully reviewed because it is related to the budget and the conclusion of the State Audit. However, the important thing is to protect the rights of students.
Previously, Lao Dong Newspaper reported that the State Audit pointed out that Thu Dau Mot University collected tuition fees not in accordance with regulations for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years. The school collected about 1.5 times higher than the prescribed level and the total amount found to have been collected incorrectly was about 37 billion VND.
The State Audit then issued an official dispatch requesting Thu Dau Mot University to refund to students (in case of failure to refund, it must be paid to the budget) the tuition fees collected in excess of the prescribed level.
Dr. Doan Ngoc Xuan - Principal of Thu Dau Mot University - confirmed that the school has paid the excess revenue to the budget in accordance with the recommendation of the State Audit.
Regarding the collection of tuition fees higher than the prescribed level, Thu Dau Mot University explained that in the period of 2020-2022, the school was not financially autonomous, the declaration of teaching practice credits was much higher than theory credits, the Board of Directors reported to the School Council to propose that the collection rate for practice credits be 1.5 times higher than that for theory credits. The social sciences and economics block is 490,500 VND/credit and the natural sciences and engineering block is 585,000 VND. The above collection rate compared to Decree 86/2015/ND-CP is not suitable.
The school determined the cause was due to a lack of consistency in understanding and applying State regulations in calculating tuition fees for credits.
