Normal things at school and in class become unique and strange?

Illustration: TTO archives

Dear all types of collectors

The Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at the class and school level is established with the purpose of bridging the gap between the school and parents, resolving issues that are beyond the school's authority.

To be fair, parent-teacher associations have made significant contributions in bridging the gap between teachers, the school, and students both at school and at home. Some parent-teacher associations have done a good job.

However, in reality, many schools and classes "rely" on the parent-teacher association to collect additional fees beyond the regulations, under the guise of school or class support funds. Many parents, not wanting to offend the homeroom teachers or the school, try to contribute.

Stories about the "dark side" of parent-teacher associations have been circulating for many years. In many places, these associations have become a "legitimizing" mechanism, an "extension" of teachers and schools, for excessive fee collection, even under the guise of "socialization."

Parents with limited financial resources often prefer to choose public schools for their children to save on tuition fees.

However, tuition fees (which are sometimes waived or reduced) are minimal, while unofficial fees of all kinds, such as school funds, scholarship funds, class funds, etc., force parents to bear all sorts of additional costs, several times the regulated tuition fees.

Many parent-teacher associations, whether intentionally or unintentionally, fail to distinguish between their responsibilities and those of the teachers and the school.

It's called a voluntary contribution, but not paying is unavoidable, and even paying a small amount is difficult. Few parents are brave enough to raise their hand or speak up to say they disagree. Many parents dread receiving invitations to parent-teacher meetings, even though they only happen twice a year, fearing the "autumn season," the time when all sorts of fees are collected.

When will normal things cease to be strange or unusual?

According to Tuoi Tre Online, for the 2024-2025 school year, Hoa Phu Primary School (Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province) will not collect any additional fees, other than the 99,000 VND sanitation fee for the entire school year. The principal has also eliminated the class fund, much to the relief of many parents.

Meanwhile, parents at Vo Truong Toan Primary School (District 10, Ho Chi Minh City) were delighted after the homeroom teacher announced that no class fund, school fund, or other collective contributions would be collected.

What was once considered normal has become extraordinary, something "unique and unusual," with many parents even likening it to a real-life fairy tale.

Reading this only brings a sense of sadness.

For well-off families, collecting school or class funds is often insignificant. But for the majority of working-class, farming, and trading families, it becomes a burden along with many other worries in life.

Many opinions suggest that the parent-teacher association should operate according to regulations, be independent, and be elected by parents themselves, not nominated or suggested by teachers or the school. Homeroom teachers should not attend parent-teacher meetings.

I agree with this proposal, and the immediate priority is to reform the operations of the parent-teacher association.

Once, a Korean friend, who had a PhD in Vietnamese history, asked me: "There are many articles praising the examples of parents carrying their children or friends to school for years, but why is there no mention of the fundraising efforts of parent-teacher associations in these cases?"

I think these are very meaningful things that the parent-teacher association should take the initiative to campaign for and raise funds for, working together with society to care for the children, instead of just focusing on collecting contributions to school and class funds.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chuyen-binh-thuong-o-truong-o-lop-lai-tro-thanh-doc-la-20241008091836862.htm