IELTS, foreign language tests under inspection by MOET
The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) on November 10 ordered provincial/municipal Departments of Education and Training to strictly monitor and manage the organisation of foreign language proficiency tests.
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Ministry of Education andTraining (MOET) on November 10 ordered provincial/municipal Departments ofEducation and Training to strictly monitor and manage the organisation offoreign language proficiency tests.
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), one ofthe most popular English certifications in Vietnam, is among the tests underinspection.
According to the MOET, the lack of strict management of the organisationof these proficiency tests risked affecting the rights of test takers.
To enhance management and ensure the affiliation and organisationof foreign language tests, the MOET advised local authorities to strictlymonitor groups and individuals organising these tests, according to DecreeNo.86/2018/NĐ-CP.
The MOET also order local Departments of Education to alloworganisations and individuals to hold foreign language tests, only if they havepermission or renewal issued by the MOET.
Violations made by groups and individuals in organising thesetests will also be strictly punished.
On November 10 morning, the British Council, one of the twoorganisations licensed by the MOET to organise IELTS tests in Vietnam,announced that they will postpone all IELTS and Aptis tests in Vietnam fromNovember 10 until further notice.
"Unfortunately, the situation is beyond our control andaffects all foreign language tests. Resumption of testing is subject toapproval by the Ministry of Education and Training, with whom we are workingclosely to restore operations as soon as possible," announced BritishCouncil Vietnam in their public statement.
"We will be providing a free transfer to all affected testtakers, and we will reach out to all of you directly via email when the testsessions are allowed to resume," they added.
IDP, the other organisation, also followed suit later in theafternoon.
When the news broke, many people, especially students, haveexpressed concern on social media about how the delays will affect theircurrent study plans abroad.
An estimated number of 2 to 3 million people in the world take theIELTS annually. The system is comprised of four skill tests: Listening,Speaking, Reading and Writing, and is used for academic, professional andimmigration reasons. IELTS is recognised by over 11,000 educational facilitiesin over 140 countries.
In Vietnam, the price for taking an IELTS test is 4.6 million VND (185USD)./.
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