How many similar classes are there?

Students of Hong Ha Primary School, Binh Thanh District, on September 28th.

Is this only for class 1/2 at Hong Ha Primary School?

Hundreds of comments from readers of Thanh Nien Newspaper followed each article about the case involving the collection and expenditure of 313 million VND in class funds, including over 225 million VND for repairing a classroom and tens of millions more for school staff, performing arts activities, internet access, etc.

Until late last night, when class 1/2 of Hong Ha Primary School held a parent-teacher meeting immediately after the decision of the Binh Thanh District Department of Education and Training to return the cash to the parents, reader interest in this case remained very high.

Many readers share the opinion that "criticizing only the homeroom teacher and the principal after this incident is a 'lenient' approach and not enough of a deterrent?" At the same time, many parents left comments such as: How many other classes like class 1/2 also have improper financial practices, but parents remain silent, allowing these exorbitant fees to continue?

A reader named dTLmom1e commented: "As far as I know, it's not just this one 1/2 class that collects such large sums of money. This needs to be clarified; it cannot be resolved by glossing over public opinion like this."

Parents held a meeting at class 1/2 of Hong Ha Primary School on the evening of September 28th, awaiting the return of improperly collected and spent funds.

Sharing this view, parent Nguyen Tuan commented: "If they had initially presented a detailed estimate of the amount to be paid, things wouldn't have turned out this way. During the meeting to vote on the classroom renovation, parents naturally agreed. But when it came time to pay, they were shocked to find out that each parent had to pay an amount equivalent to a month's salary, which is why some parents complained to the press. The violations are clear. The authorities need to send officials to re-evaluate this school to see if similar violations have occurred in previous years. Could it be that only class 1/2 has been affected?"

Reader Ha Nguyen wrote: "If parents hadn't complained and the media hadn't spoken out, would the Binh Thanh District Department of Education and Training, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, and the Ministry of Education and Training have known about this issue?"

Parent Anh Tuan Nguyen shared with the editorial office: "I urge the school administration to restore the dignity and respect that society, especially parents and students, has for the education sector. Stop excessive fee collection. Behind these contributions, parents discuss and exchange ideas within the family, and the children listen in silence without reacting. But step by step, this diminishes respect for teachers and leads to an increasing number of uneducational behaviors from the students."

The class fund income and expenditure statement shows over 313 million VND for class 1/2 of Hong Ha Primary School.

Is mere criticism too mild?

Many readers have expressed concern about the Bình Thạnh District Department of Education and Training's directive to the school to reprimand Ms. Huỳnh Ngọc Thủy, the homeroom teacher of class 1/2, for irregularities in revenue and expenditure; and the district's Department of Education and Training's written reprimand to Ms. Bùi Thị Hải Yến, the school principal, for failing to adequately perform her role in school management and for not following the correct procedures for fundraising and managing the Parent-Teacher Association's operating fund according to regulations.

Nguyen Tan Phong's account expressed: "I don't understand. The school is state property, but this principal tells parents they want to repair the classroom. My house (which is my property) only needs a truckload of sand dumped in front of it, and the local urban planning department comes to inquire."

Reader buingocthang758 argues that criticizing the homeroom teacher and principal is too lenient compared to the violations in the management of the parent-teacher association's fund for class 1/2, and that stronger disciplinary action is needed. "The principal's agreement to allow the parent-teacher association to renovate the classroom and to allow students from grades 1 to 5 to study in one classroom violates the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training. Secondly, the classroom is the property of the school, and is state property, so any large-scale renovations must be authorized by the governing body, including fundraising from parents. If the principal allows classes to renovate and invest in classrooms like hotels, then the classrooms will no longer be places of education and learning, and it will create envy and discrimination between children from rich and poor families," this parent stated.

Facilities inside Hong Ha Primary School

Emphasizing the responsibility of the school principal, lawyer Tran Minh Cuong, Director of TMC Lawyers, Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, stated that Article 12 of Circular 16 of 2018, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training, stipulates the responsibility of the head of an educational institution – in this case, the principal. Specifically, the head of the educational institution is legally responsible for soliciting, receiving, managing, and using donations for the institution.

What information should parents keep in mind regarding the parent-teacher association and fundraising efforts within the school, in order to help combat excessive fees and create a more transparent and humane school environment?

Speaking with a reporter from Thanh Nien Newspaper, lawyer Tran Minh Cuong, Director of TMC Lawyers, Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, said that parents need to be aware of Circular 55 of 2011 issued by the Ministry of Education and Training promulgating the Regulations on Parent-Teacher Associations and Circular 16 of 2018 issued by the Ministry of Education and Training regulating sponsorship for educational institutions within the national education system.

Specifically, Clause 2, Article 5 of Circular 55, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training, stipulates the rights of the Parent-Teacher Association of each class:

• The decision to convene parent-teacher meetings as stipulated in Article 9 of these Regulations (except for the meeting at the beginning of the school year of the Class Parent-Teacher Association) shall be made after consultation with the class homeroom teacher;
• The organization will gather feedback from parents of students in the class regarding educational management measures to make specific recommendations to the homeroom teacher and subject teachers on ways to improve the quality of moral education and teaching.
• Coordinate the organization of extracurricular educational activities, traditional education, cultural, artistic, and sports activities to achieve the goal of comprehensive education for students after reaching an agreement with the class homeroom teacher.

According to the regulations, the Parent-Teacher Association of the class does not have the right to solicit donations within the class.

Furthermore, Clause 1, Article 5 of Circular 16, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training, stipulates the fundraising process at educational institutions: Based on the annual activity plan and budget allocated by the state agency, educational institutions shall periodically or unexpectedly develop a fundraising plan and submit it to the Department of Education and Training for approval (for preschools, primary schools, and lower secondary schools); and to the Provincial Department of Education and Training for approval (for upper secondary schools and other educational institutions under the Provincial Department of Education and Training), before organizing fundraising activities.

"According to the regulations mentioned above, we can see that fundraising for primary education institutions must be planned and reported to the Department of Education and Training. Only after approval can fundraising be carried out," lawyer Tran Minh Cuong explained.

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