An English center in Vinh city stops operating 'abnormally'

Speaking with Nghe An Newspaper on the afternoon of October 29, Mr. Nguyen Manh Ha - Head of Vocational Education - Continuing Education Department -Department of Education and Trainingsaid: The Department of Education and Training has just sent a document to AMERICAN Training Institute Company Limited located in Ward 7, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City reporting on the operation of an English center under the unit operating in Vinh City that suddenly stopped operating.

Previously, from January 2020 –English CenterSAS - under AMERICAN Training Institute Company Limited was established under Decision No. 49/QD - SGDĐT dated January 15, 2020 and permitted to operate under Decision No. 124/QD - SGDĐT dated February 19, 2020 of the Department of Education and Training of Nghe An at 74 - 76 Tran Phu Street, Vinh City.

The old address of SAS English Center is no longer in operation. Photo: MH

However, in the past few months, due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, the center has not been operating. Recently, on October 18, the Department of Education and Training inspected the center's operations at the registered address and discovered that the SAS Foreign Language Center sign had been removed. Instead, there was a sign of another business unit, and the facilities and equipment for foreign language teaching (desks, chairs, boards, televisions, projectors) had been dismantled and moved.

Regarding SAS English Center, it is known that there are over 70 centers located in many provinces and cities nationwide. However, recently a series of centers in provinces such as Tay Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City suddenly closed without notice, causing frustration for staff and teachers working at the center. Along with that, there are many students who have paid but have not completed the course.

In Nghe An, immediately after receiving this information, the Department asked the Company's director to report the incident and initially the company representative said that the temporary closure was due to the epidemic and that classes would resume after being permitted. However, when calling back recently, the company director's phone number was no longer available. Mr. Nguyen Manh Ha also added: We have contacted two English teachers at the center and learned that they have been absent for many months and have not been paid. Currently, the Department also asked the center for information on the number of students who have paid to study at the center but there are no final figures yet.

Regarding the operation of this center, a representative of the Department of Education and Training also said: We request the company to explain the suspension of operations before November 10, 2021. After the above time, if the company representative does not contact the Department, the Department will suspend operations and transfer the file to competent authorities for handling in accordance with the provisions of law.

Due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, initial statistics from the Department of Education and Training show that since the beginning of the year, the province has had 19 English centers temporarily suspend operations and are at risk of closing. Currently, the Department is reviewing and will issue a document suspending operations if the center does not operate in accordance with its operating license.

Recently, on October 22, the Department also decided to suspend the educational activities of the AMES English Center at 182 Nguyen Van Cu Street - Vinh City because the center has not completed the procedures to change the location of operation, and used personnel in violation of regulations (changed the Center Director but did not have a Decision to recognize the center director from the Department of Education and Training).