Going to school still have to pay for "extracurricular" classes

On February 25, all classes at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Primary School (Hung Nguyen District) held an extraordinary parent-teacher meeting to return money to parents. This was the fee for extracurricular classes proposed by the school but met with fierce opposition from parents.

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Primary School currently has more than 900 students. Photo: Song Hoang

A parent who asked to remain anonymous said that according to the regulations of the education sector, every week primary school students will have one afternoon off for teachers to provide professional training. "But here, almost every week the children study for the entire week. At the same time, the organization collects extra tuition fees without the agreement of the parents. Regarding the tuition fee for 2 sessions/day, although according to the document of the Provincial People's Committee, schools can only implement it from December 10, 2018. But here, the school collects according to the actual study time (5 months), starting from September with the fee of 100,000 VND/student/month," said this parent.

Students of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Primary School. Photo: Song Hoang

According to the reporter's investigation, parents reacted to this situation after the school announced it at the parent meeting at the end of the first semester. Before that, normally at the beginning of the school year, schools would hold parent meetings to announce the content of the school year, but Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Primary School did not organize one. Therefore, all teacher fees were collected through students.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan - Principal of the school admitted to reporters that the school charged each student 200,000 VND for 12 lessons before the new school year started. "After the first day of school, the school organized life skills education and group integration (grade 1) for students. From grade 2 onwards, students study the VNEN program, so they are required to have special characteristics such as group management skills and interactions between teachers and friends. In addition, students must have skills to ensure safety...", Mr. Tuan said.

Class time of students at Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Primary School - Hung Nguyen. Photo: Song Hoang

According to the principal, these activities (teaching life skills) are "acceptable and there is no time to prepare other than before the school year. Therefore, the school has organized a campaign to mobilize parents to support 200,000 VND/child to support teachers. However, the teachers directly collect the above amount and the school does not manage it."

Although the collection is voluntary, in reality, the collection of money by this school is not in accordance with the spirit of the new school year guidance of the Department of Education and Training.

Because according to Decision 3207/QD - UBND on the school year schedule for preschool education, general education and continuing education issued by Nghe An Provincial People's Committee on July 26, 2018, it is clearly stated: "In the 2018 - 2019 school year, the first day of school for preschool education, general education and continuing education is August 20, 2018". Also in the document, the Provincial People's Committee also requires that schools have at least 2 weeks (before September 5, 2018) to prepare for the new school year.

With this document, it can also be understood that from August 20, students going to school and schools having to organize teaching and implementing activities are normal before each new school year and that is also a mandatory professional task according to the province's regulations. In that context, the school with nearly 1,000 students collecting money to support teachers is not in accordance with regulations and contrary to the guiding documents.

In addition, it is not reasonable to equate the preparation of conditions for the new school year with teaching life skills. Because this is just a simple activity that is regularly organized before each school year. For students preparing to enter grade 1, the study time before the start of school is called week 0. The task of week 0 is to help students get used to the environment, learning routine, and school regulations. In addition, to help them get used to learning conventions to facilitate the teaching and learning of teachers and students during the school year.

The reporter also contacted the leaders of the Department of Education and Training of Hung Nguyen district to learn about the incident but has not received a response.