VIETNAM: Decline in university applications

The number of applicants for university admission this year has fallen across Vietnam, with many of last year's unsuccessful candidates reportedly opting for vocational schools instead of another crack at university entrance exams, reports Viet Nam News.

Also, unlike previous years, most candidates applied to universities and colleges near their hometowns instead of in big cities and provinces.

Applicant numbers fell by up to half in some provinces, preliminary figures released by local education departments show. Thanh Hoa province's Department of Education and Training said it received 90,000 applications - 2,000 less than last year. In Hai Duong province the number plunged by nearly 50%. Nguyen Van Xung, head of the local education department's vocational office, said many candidates who failed to get into universities and colleges last year joined vocational schools, leading to a dramatic fall in applications.
Full report on the Viet Nam News site