Non-public schools in Nghe An are 'thirsty' for candidates

Many private schools suffer from "death"

At this time, students across the province are in the process of applying for admission to grade 10. However, for Nguyen Hue High School (Vinh city), which school students apply to and what their wishes are does not have much impact on the school because for many years now, the school only needs to have grade 9 students apply to be admitted.

Although the enrollment mechanism has been "open" to all students, since 2014 the school has continuously failed to enroll enough students even though the school's quota is only one class (45 students) per year.

An English review session of students at Nguyen Van Troi Secondary School (Do Luong). Photo: Duc Anh

“Our school has three grades 10, 11, and 12, but each grade has only one class and each class has only 20 students (50% of the target). This year, the Department of Education and Training assigned the school a target of one class, but at this rate, enrollment is still difficult.”

Teacher Tran Hoang Ha - Principal of Nguyen Hue High School

Due to the lack of students enrolling in the school, for many years now, the lives of the 20 staff and teachers in the whole school have faced many difficulties. The teachers themselves do not receive monthly salaries because there are too few students, but only receive salaries per period, with an amount of about 50,000 - 60,000 VND/period (after deducting insurance).

The school's leaders also admitted: "For many years now, we have had to make up for the losses because there are too few students and the tuition fees have not been adjusted for nearly 10 years. However, the school still does not have the heart to close the school because it feels sorry for the teachers, many of whom have been with the school for nearly 20 years. Increasing tuition fees is difficult because in reality, low tuition fees are already difficult to attract students to study..."

The division of secondary school students and a significant portion of students into vocational training makes it even more difficult for non-public schools to recruit students. Photo: My Ha

Previously, during the stable period, there were up to 5 non-public high schools in Vinh city. However, currently, apart from Hermann Gmeiner High School and Nguyen Truong To High School, which are still quite favorable in recruiting students, the rest are operating poorly and dying. Le Quy Don High School has almost been "erased" and is no longer operating. This reality seems to have been predicted because in recent years, the source of students for non-public schools has been decreasing. Meanwhile, the enrollment mechanism for non-public schools is "open", so students often tend to choose schools with large scale, large number of students or schools with relatively stable input.

Difficulties are also weighing on the Vocational Education and Training Centers or Vocational Education and Training Centers, although these units are operating under the support of the state. The latest statistics from the Department of Education and Training show that, among the 20 Vocational Education and Training Centers located in 20 districts, cities and towns of the province, there are quite a few centers with the number of students only being counted on the fingers. Specifically, at the Vocational Education and Training Center of Tuong Duong district, there are currently only 3 classes in 3 grades with only 30 students. Or at the Vocational Education and Training Center of Quy Chau district, there are only 3 classes with 33 students, and for grade 12 alone, there is only 1 class with 5 students. The number of students in districts such as Con Cuong and Que Phong is also modest, with less than 100 students.

“Students are the backbone of the centers and without students, there is no school. However, like many other mountainous districts, enrollment in continuing education centers is still facing many difficulties because currently, in addition to competing with public schools, the centers also have to compete with vocational schools and the unit wishes to be linked with many vocational schools to make enrollment easier.”

Mr. Le Van Hoa - Director of Ky Son Vocational Education and Continuing Education Center

Struggling to find a solution

Because they operate on the principle of voluntary capital contribution, financial autonomy, and self-balancing of revenues and expenditures, for many years now, non-public high schools have relied mainly on tuition fees to pay teachers' salaries. Therefore, in the current context of difficult enrollment, maintaining the operation of non-public schools is extremely difficult. This also forces schools to mobilize themselves to come up with many solutions to attract students to their schools.

At Mai Hac De High School (Nam Dan), last year the school had 180 students but in reality only recruited 160 students. This year, the school's quota remains unchanged but recruitment will be more difficult because the number of 9th graders in the whole district has decreased but public schools have increased their class quota and each class is approved to have 1 more student.

Teachers from non-public schools go to recruit students in Yen Thanh district. Photo: My Ha

In the context of decreasing enrollment, this year's enrollment season, the school decided to award 30 scholarships instead of 10 scholarships like previous years to encourage students with high academic scores (for admission consideration) or candidates who register their first choice to enter the school.

“Compared to public schools, the enrollment of non-public schools is much more difficult. Therefore, in addition to preferential policies, the school will focus on investing in facilities, purchasing equipment and promoting joint ventures with units to train students to go abroad. Currently, we have installed air conditioners in all classrooms to help students study conveniently.”

Teacher Ha Thi Hang - Principal of Mai Hac De High School

Among the non-public schools, Ngo Tri Hoa High School (Dien Chau) is the school with a large number of students with more than 700 students and 17 classes. However, this number is still quite modest compared to the peak period of 40 classes. Currently, in Dien Chau district, there are 4 non-public schools and 1 continuing education center, so to maintain this enrollment result, the school must do a good job in enrollment such as ensuring the quality and learning discipline, and strengthening supervision of students at school and at home.

Class time of students at Ngo Tri Hoa High School. Photo: Duc Anh

“Currently, all classrooms at the school are equipped with cameras to monitor students. When students are absent without permission, the homeroom teacher must call the parents directly to grasp the situation. In addition, we also have to do a good job of career guidance, connecting with reputable units to advise students to study abroad.”

Teacher Le Van Cuc - Principal of Ngo Tri Hoa High School

In addition, in recent years, the Department has allowed schools to enroll new students in grade 9 without having to take an entrance exam for grade 10. For vocational education and continuing education centers, from this school year, the Department will be flexible in approving enrollment so that schools can "take the lead" in expanding the number of students studying at vocational schools under the joint program, and encourage schools to teach both general education and vocational training...

With these efforts, it is hoped that in the coming years, the enrollment of these units will be more positive, especially when it is forecasted that in the coming years, the enrollment source will increase many times compared to present.