Use socialized funds appropriately and transparently.

(Baonghean.vn) -On the morning of October 25th, continuing their work program, the survey team...The Provincial People's Council, led by Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh An - Deputy Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Committee, visited several schools in Yen Thanh district to discuss tuition fee collection and other fees.

The survey team worked at Kim Thanh Kindergarten.

At Kim Thanh Kindergarten, after hearing the school representative's report, the working group proceeded to survey the relevant issues.

In the 2016-2017 school year, Kim Thanh Kindergarten had 266 students in 8 classes; the total number of teachers was 13, of which 10 were on the permanent staff. Located in a difficult mountainous area of ​​Yen Thanh district, the school had a relatively large number of students eligible for tuition fee exemptions: 119 students in the 2015-2016 school year and 85 students in the 2016-2017 school year.

The school's revenue for the 2016-2017 school year includes: tuition fees of 40,000 VND/month/student (40% allocated to salary reform and 60% to other activities); membership fees of 20,000 VND/child/year. Meal expenses are 12,000 VND/child/day. Childcare fees are 45,000 VND/child/month. Social fundraising for the 2015-2016 school year raised nearly 67 million VND, with an estimated 85 million VND for the 2016-2017 school year.

Kindergarten children at Kim Thanh Preschool during their lesson.

For Dong Thanh Secondary School, the 2016-2017 school year had 15 classes with 455 students. Tuition fees were collected as follows: 2014-2015 at 20,000 VND/month, totaling over 72 million VND; 2015-2016 at nearly 77 million VND; and 2016-2017 at over 75 million VND. 40% of tuition fees were used for salary reform, and the remaining 60% for teaching and learning activities within the school. Bicycle parking fees of 12,000 VND/month/student covered the cost of parking attendants and reinvestment in building the parking facility. Student association fees were 50,000 VND/student/year.

Social mobilization efforts in the 2014-2015 school year amounted to 113 million VND; in 2015-2016: 138 million VND; and in 2016-2017, the projected amount is 127 million VND. Fees for organized extra classes and tutoring are collected by agreement: in the 2014-2015 school year, 10,000 VND per student per session, and in the following two years, 12,000 VND per student per session.

During the meeting, representatives from the schools proposed adjusting tuition fees based on the region, in accordance with Decree 68/ND-CP, to suit local conditions and support the teaching and learning activities of the schools. They also requested increased funding for school infrastructure development, as fundraising efforts have been difficult; and suggested policies and benefits for those who provide cooking services in preschools.

Mr. Nguyen Canh Quang, representing the Parents' Association of Kim Thanh Kindergarten, suggested that the government establish a system for supporting school cooks to reduce student contributions.

Mr. Thai Van Thanh - Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Vice Rector of Vinh University, Member of the Culture and Social Affairs Committee - a member of the monitoring team, stated that socialization is the responsibility of the entire Party and the entire people to serve the cause of education, encompassing many factors, including contributions. In addition, it is necessary to identify expenditures that not only serve the construction of physical facilities but also support professional work and other activities within the school.

Therefore, schools need to be flexible in mobilizing the maximum responsibility and involvement of the entire society to improve the quality of teaching and learning in schools. However, to effectively mobilize resources, careful consideration and proper use of funds raised through social mobilization for education are necessary, along with transparency so that parents can see the positive results, thereby garnering public support.

During the working session, the delegation questioned several issues related to record-keeping and expenditure plans for socialized funding in schools; they promised to compile the schools' suggestions and proposals to submit to the competent authorities for consideration at the next session of the Provincial People's Council in the near future.

Hoai Thu