Frustrated because the study program lasts nearly 5 years

Sharing with Thanh Nien Newspaper reporter, Cu Thi Bich Phuong, a final year nursing student at Van Lang University, said: "I officially enrolled on September 5, 2018, for the 2018-2022 school year. However, up to now, the faculty and the school have not supported me and my classmates to graduate even though I have not failed any subjects or owed subjects from previous courses."

According to Bich Phuong, the Covid-19 pandemic delayed the progress and the faculty said the program would be extended until December 2022. After that, the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Technology held a class meeting and announced that the program would end by the end of March 2023. However, by April 2023, students had not yet completed a theory subject and had not been promoted to take the graduation exam.

"Up to now, my friends and I have to study the 5th year even though the program has a 4-year training period. This has greatly affected my family's spirit and life for a long time. My parents are looking forward to me graduating and working to help the family, but now I cannot find a job in my major because I have not graduated yet," Phuong said.

It is known that Phuong has sent a complaint to the Ministry of Education and Training about Van Lang University's delay in scheduling classes and graduation exams for nursing students in the 2018-2022 course. Phuong mentioned cases of students in the same faculty (medical laboratory technology) of Van Lang University, as well as nursing students from other schools who all graduated on time despite being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

After receiving the student's petition, on April 19, the Ministry of Education and Training inspector sent an official dispatch to the principal of Van Lang University requesting consideration, resolution, response to the student and sending the results to the ministry inspector.

Graduation council meeting this weekend?

Speaking to Thanh Nien Newspaper reporter, Dr. Vo Van Tuan, Vice Principal of Van Lang University, said: "Immediately after receiving the official dispatch from the Ministry of Education and Training inspector, the school's leaders directly worked with the leaders of the Nursing and Medical Technology departments and related units to review and verify each issue that students reported. Next, the school assigned the head of the inspection supervision department to organize a meeting with student Bich Phuong to listen to opinions and answer the content that students reported, as well as discuss the training plan and time for reviewing and organizing graduation of the nursing major for the 2018-2022 course."

According to Dr. Tuan, the school has clearly explained to students the reason for the extension of the training plan. "Due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic lasting from 2020 to the end of 2021, the school had to adjust the training plan to respond to the epidemic situation. Nursing is a special field with many subjects requiring practical training, students must practice their profession directly at hospitals, and lecturers include many experts who are scientists, doctors, and nurses working at hospitals. However, due to the epidemic, many lecturers who are staff at hospitals must directly participate in epidemic prevention work and cannot participate in teaching according to the training plan," Dr. Tuan informed.

In addition, during and after the epidemic, hospitals were very strict with epidemic control, so they did not accept students for internships and practice. The school had to postpone students' internships and practice many times.

"Up to now, the hospital practice modules of the final semester and the final theory subject have been completed in May. By May 26, nursing students have completed the training program and can view their transcripts on the system. The graduation exam will be organized as planned and the results will be announced to students after 2 days of council meetings," Dr. Tuan shared.

The school also sent an official dispatch to the Ministry of Education and Training inspectorate to explain the complaints of student Cu Thi Bich Phuong.

According to Dr. Tuan, on June 16 (this weekend), Van Lang University will hold a graduation council meeting.