Regarding the quality of human resources, citizens raised the problem that graduates are still finding it hard to get suitable jobs that utilise their skills and knowledge.

Minister Luan said the ministry has instructed universities to adjust their training programmes to better meet the society's needs.

First, the ministry required all universities to perform self-assessments and take responsibility for corrective action. However, small schools with few lecturers and a limited capacity must be assessed by experienced universities entrusted by the ministry, he said.

He added that under the draft education law, assessment of education quality will be compulsory for all universities.

Last year, the ministry inspected the operation of universities and colleges that have been established over the past 10 years and suspended enrolment in four universities found with violations.

The ministry is also inspecting additional 80 universities.

"The ministry has issued higher standards for universities to conduct masters’ training and has increased the number of inspections. Last year, it revoked licenses of more than 100 educational establishments that were not qualified to grant master's or PhD degrees," Luan said.

In another move, the ministry encouraged educational institutions to expand their relations with businesses and other universities both inside and outside the country, in order to improve their curricula and training methods.

Luan also addressed the imbalance in training, saying that the ministry has adopted policies to encourage teachers' engagement in less attractive industries such as agro-forestry, fisheries and education. It will provide each teacher with an allowance of between 25 to 45 percent of minimum wage depending on his or her education level.

"In particular, teachers in disadvantaged, remote, mountainous and ethnic minority-inhabited areas will receive an allowance rate of up to 70 percent of the minimum wage," he said.

University students will be exempt from tuition fees, the minister said.

Tuition fees for agro-forestry and fisheries education are the lowest among higher training.

Concerning schools in remote and disadvantaged areas, particularly classrooms and houses for teachers, the minister said the Government decided to earmark around VND1.6 trillion (US$76.8 million) for a programme to upgrade education facilities this year.

Luan admitted that there is still a dire shortage of pre-schools which forces parents to queue for hours in order to secure a seat for their children at public schools.

"The ministry has worked with localities nationwide to adopt a common standard for all schools, teachers and education managers, hoping to reduce the quality difference among education establishments," Luan said.

He responded to questions about the plan to move a number of universities to the suburbs of Hanoi and HCM City, saying that the ministry will work with target universities and the municipal authorities on this issue.

The ministry has already established criteria for the universities that will be reallocated and will report to the Prime Minister in the near future.

However, Luan admitted that it is no easy task because it will require a huge investment of capital. In addition to moving universities, education facilities will have to be built in new areas and the former city locations will have to be transformed into public sites such as parks.