Is it really necessary to charge students for parking?

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - The issue of whether or not to charge for parking for students on school grounds has long been a controversial topic. This is not only a matter of human values ​​or finances, but also a problem of school operation.

"Is it necessary to charge students for parking on school grounds?" - a seemingly small question, but one that can reveal how a school operates and interacts with its students.

Currently, in many places, parking has become a paid service, often through bidding contracts, with prices varying from place to place. Parents and students are the ones who ultimately pay for this.

Many argue that charging for parking is inadvertently placing a financial barrier above basic needs, especially for disadvantaged students.

"For many families, a few tens of thousands of dong per month might not be a large sum of money. But for poor students, it's a real burden," reader Hoang Bao wrote, expressing his concern to Dan Tri newspaper .

Whether schools should charge students for parking is a question that has sparked much debate (Illustrative image: Huyen Nguyen).

In fact, free parking for students has already been implemented in some places. Nguyen Thi Minh Khai High School (Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi ) is one of the schools that does not charge for parking. Students who ride their bikes to school have a separate parking area, they don't lock their bikes, and no parking tickets are required.

Principal Nguyen Hai Son stated that the responsibility for guarding the vehicles of students, teachers, and staff belongs to the security team. When signing employment contracts with the school, security guards are required to take on this responsibility. Their salaries are drawn from the school's regular operating budget.

"The school has been doing this for a long time and there have never been any security incidents," said teacher Nguyen Hai Son.

However, from another perspective, some argue that not all schools have similar conditions. A high school principal in Ho Chi Minh City shared: "Labor costs in the city are high, and managing and guarding hundreds of vehicles each day requires 2-3 people with high concentration during peak hours."

Meanwhile, the salaries of security guards and janitors are a significant expense from regular operations, and not all schools have the financial means to fully cover this additional cost.

Another reason is that schools have limited land area, making it difficult to arrange parking spaces, not to mention the cost of investing in shelters to protect against sun and rain. This cost is usually not covered by the regular budget and requires self-funding.

The principal also shared more about the legal responsibilities, stating that when providing parking services, the school faces the risk of loss, damage, and liability for compensation.

"If no fees are collected and loss or damage occurs, who will be responsible for compensation?" the principal asked.

The principal stated that, according to regulations, schools are not allowed to provide paid parking services; therefore, students must either arrange their own parking or bring in a service company.

"Having a parking service is seen as a suitable option and a form of mutual responsibility, creating a contingency fund for unforeseen situations," said the leader of a school in Ho Chi Minh City.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the fee for parking vehicles on campus is 2,000 VND per visit.

Many schools have limited space, making it difficult to manage parking (Illustrative photo: Huyen Nguyen).

To strike a balance between humanitarian responsibility and practical burdens, Nguyen Tu, a former planning and investment specialist at a public university in Ho Chi Minh City, believes that a comprehensive policy solution is needed to reconcile these issues.

Firstly, regarding flexible budget allocation, higher-level education authorities need to review the regular operating budgets for schools, especially those in high-cost areas, to ensure they have sufficient resources to cover essential activities, including security and cleaning staff positions, without resorting to charging students fees.

Secondly, regarding spending priorities, the school should consider the cost of security (including parking) as an essential operating expense serving students, on par with electricity, water, and sanitation costs.

Thirdly, instead of increasing staff, schools can leverage technology and education to reduce management pressure by utilizing technology (installing cameras, smart vehicle management systems). This can be combined with educational measures to promote self-management of vehicles, similar to what free-of-charge models have already done.

Fourth, there needs to be a policy of completely free tuition for disadvantaged students.

"To achieve the ultimate goal of providing free parking for students, the school needs flexibility in its operations. While the conditions are not yet fully met, it is necessary to explain the actual operating procedures to parents and students to avoid any unfortunate accusations of 'excessive fees'," Mr. Nguyen Tu shared.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/co-nhat-thiet-phai-thu-phi-giu-xe-cua-hoc-sinh-20251008085306813.htm