Parents' Association 'overcharges': The school is being 'begged' too much!

When the “voluntary” donations through the Parents’ Association were met with backlash, most school leaders “blamed” the responsibility on the Parents’ Association. More humorously, many administrators complained that they were being “forced” too much!

Anyone can guess the answer of the school leaders when there is a case related to "overcharging" of the Parents' Representative Board (PBO). School management often "washes it off" and thinks that it is the parents' job, they themselves propose, call for and carry out projects in the school with the hope that their children will have better learning conditions.

There are even managers who bluntly say that the school has nothing to do with it. Even though the actions of the Parents' Association in many cases can be said to be a brutal intervention in the school. It could be chiseling, painting, assembling... changing the structure of the classroom and the school.

The draft calling on parents to pay up to 46 fees with a total of 332 million of the Parents' Association of a primary school in Ho Chi Minh City has shocked many people.

No less humorous, many principals even complained that they could not refuse, the parents were too enthusiastic. It was as if the school was also "forced" to accept.

At the beginning of this school year, the Parents' Association of a first grade class at Le Van Sy Primary School, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, carried out a project to "renovate" the classroom with many items such as repainting the classroom, replacing tables and chairs, installing air conditioners, buying a TV and re-flooring... with a budget of more than 100 million VND.

Many parents were upset, the normal classroom structure was completely changed. But the school principal "innocently" replied that this was not the school's proposal but the Parent Teacher Association's proposal. The school did not agree to many items such as flooring, replacing new desks and chairs... but the parents begged so much that the school could not refuse.

The answer that the school is not involved, that is the job of the Parents' Council is extremely humorous and ridiculous. In fact, almost all the works carried out by the Parents' Council, instead of being truly for the students, are closely related to all activities and festivals of the school.

Unrelated but parents' projects always hit the right spots in the school that only the people in the know know where the "lice" are.

Not related to the school, but a real concern for parents is that if they do not contribute, their children will easily be "discriminated against" by teachers and the school.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ngai, former Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, shared that the school is like a house, the principal has the greatest responsibility there. Like his house, if he does not propose or agree, who can paint, chisel, or repair it?

Talking about the school's "innocence" in the "overcharging" of the Parents' Council, Ms. Hoang Lan, a teacher in Ho Chi Minh City, frankly said that the Parents' Council should still exist but should not be related to finances or any revenue or expenditure. Especially revenue and expenditure related to "renovations" in the school.

According to Ms. Lan, the current focus of the Board of Directors on financial matters is due to the school and teachers. How could the Board of Directors know that the school has a toilet that needs to be repaired, how could they know that this room lacks a projector, that room lacks this or that... They don't know but are "fed"!

Furthermore, if the school and teachers refuse to receive any money from the BDD, who can “force” them? Ms. Lan also believes that if the school’s facilities do not meet the requirements for safety or teaching, the principal has the responsibility to make a recommendation to the leadership. That is their duty and cannot be put on the students.

Parents waiting to pay tuition for their children. Illustration photo.

In the current conditions, the contribution of parents and society to the school is necessary. However, for school projects, instead of using the "screen" of the Parents' Association, the school should clearly demonstrate its responsibility.

As the father Vo Quoc Binh - who has just submitted a petition to the Government to dissolve the Parents' Association - if the school directly mobilizes and has a clear document, he will consider contributing according to his ability. But through the Parents' Association, he flatly refuses to contribute to "construction" in the school. This is also the thinking of many parents.

A leader working at the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, the school is transparent about how much budget is allocated. For things that the budget is not enough, cannot cover everything, the school leaders can propose to the parents. The parents can contribute as much as they can, then invest within that amount and clearly disclose the income and expenditure...

The fact that the Parents' Association calls for excessive collection and expenditure in schools is very offensive, causing suffering for parents and creating a dirty school environment.

According to Dantri