Parents are not required to pay tuition fees via bank card.

"Exclusive" way to top up tuition fees via bank card?

Before the parent-teacher conference, many parents at Ha Huy Tap Secondary School (Vinh City) received a text message from the school asking them to install Sisap software to pay tuition fees for their children (on the condition that they already have a Vietcombank - VCB account). According to the school's announcement, this bank currently has a fee-free policy for tuition payments.

However, for parents who do not haveaccountof the above bank, will be supported by the bank to open an account. As for parents who have other bank accounts but do not need to open an additional account at VCB, they can still pay tuition fees but will not be exempted. The fee will be 0.08%/total of 1 item.

Messages from schools to parents about implementing tuition payment via bank. Photo: My Ha

Immediately after this message, at the parent meeting on Sunday morning (September 20), parents continued to be informed by teachers about the new regulations above. A parent whose child is in grade 6 at the school directly called the homeroom teacher and was told by the teacher that "from this school year, the school will pay tuition fees via bank card".

Frustrated by this new regulation, she said: It is not wrong for the school to encourage tuition fees to be paid via bank cards. However, paying tuition fees only via one bank is imposing. Moreover, paying tuition fees via banks is not suitable for all parents because many parents are not familiar with or do not have bank accounts.

Learn to know, not justHa Huy Tap Secondary SchoolSome other schools in Vinh city have also implemented this policy.

Parents of a kindergarten in Vinh City receive forms to open a bank account. Photo: My Ha

Ms. Nguyen Thi H, whose child is studying at a primary school in Ha Huy Tap ward, said: My school sent a text message to parents and said that this is the policy of the Department and the Department of Education and Training to speed up cashless payments in the education sector. Personally, I have always paid by card, so I support this policy. However, my agency is currently paying salaries through another bank, so having to change banks is quite inconvenient and time-consuming. Why doesn't the school set up an account for parents to transfer money to for simplicity?

Monopoly of one bank is not in line with the industry's policy.

Regarding this issue, social networks have received many conflicting opinions over the past two days. In particular, besides some opinions in agreement, many opinions are skeptical about whether or not the bank and the school are colluding to "force" parents. A parent said: For a long time, money has been deposited at the cashier. Not everyone knows how to use an account. For example, parents who sell vegetables do not use the card, and when they do, they have to ask for help, which is very inconvenient.

At Ha Huy Tap Secondary School, responding to this issue, teacher Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh - Principal of the school said: The implementation of tuition collection through the school's account is to implement the city's policy to encourage electronic payment.

Vinh City is currently only encouraging deposits via accounts to make it easier for schools to manage and for parents and students. (in photo: Students of Ha Huy Tap Secondary School). Photo: MH

The school also said that it chose VCB because for nearly 20 years the school has made school payments through this bank. In addition, if using VCB, the school will be supported by the bank to buy a software package for management with a value of 10 million VND, helping the school more conveniently in the financial management process.

It is known that after receiving comments from parents, the school sent an electronic message to parents to explain the school's policy more clearly that evening. Currently, the school principal also said that "the school has opened an account at VCB bank. However, parents can transfer money from other banks. In addition, parents can deposit directly at VCB bank or deposit directly at the school's cashier".

Regarding the above issue, speaking with Nghe An Newspaper, Ms. Hoang Thi Phuong Thao - Head ofVinh City Department of Education and Trainingalso affirmed: Immediately after receiving information that schools designated a bank to deposit tuition fees, the department directly instructed principals of all schools in the city not to impose banks on parents. The department's policy is to encourage depositing money through accounts but not necessarily a bank and if any school designates a bank, it is against the industry's policy.

Payment via bank is quite popular. Photo: Internet

The head of the city's Department of Education and Training also added: Schools can work with any bank and any service center. However, the Department requires that the choice of bank must be at the same time as the school management software and accounting software used to avoid waste.

In fact, the practice of parents depositing money through bank accounts has not only been implemented since this school year but has been implemented by a number of primary schools and kindergartens in the city since the previous school year. Objectively, this form is convenient for many parents. Besides, it is also convenient for schools in the management process and increases transparency. However, in order for the implementation process to be smooth, objective and receive the consent of parents, schools also need to clearly propagate so that parents understand the policy. At the same time, the initial implementation should be encouraged and not forced, causing misunderstandings or creating conflicting opinions among parents.

Limiting the use of cash is a policy of the Party and the State to limit risks and negativity and is applied to all agencies and units, not just the education sector.

However, in the process of implementation, some schools have implemented it in a non-flexible manner, creating mixed public opinion. On the part of the Department of Education and Training, there will be a directive document soon to implement this policy effectively and practically. In particular, the principal is the head with the authority to open an account at any bank and introduce parents to deposit money through that bank account according to the actual conditions of each family.

Mr. Thai Van Thanh -Director of Department of Education and Trainingsaid.