Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung accepted responsibility for letting several sub-standard universities open recently, but he did not absolve the education ministry and the rest of government from blame either.

“We shouldn’t deny the achievements we’ve made in higher education due to shortcomings found at a few schools,” Dung said.

Dung said poor state management had hampered performance at several universities, adding that he had made the point to university and college directors at a recent meeting with them.

The decision charging the National Assembly with overseeing the quality of higher education from next year was a good one, said the prime minister.

Also at the session, representatives took turns asking Dung questions about other matters such as inspections at hydropower reservoirs accused of worsening recent floods with the improper discharge of water.

Dung said climate change was the main reason for the severe losses brought about by recent floods and storms, but he also said he had ordered an evaluation of the zoning of hydropower plant projects based on updated climate and hydrography data.

In response to a question from representative Le Van Cuong from the north-central province of Thanh Hoa about the government’s inefficient anti-graft measures, the prime minister stressed the need for “patience, determination and cooperation” between all sectors of society in dealing with corruption.

Source: Thanh Nien, Tuoi Tre