Don't let it happen again and again.

Just before the start of the new school year, the issue of excessive school fees is hotter than ever. As usual, while students nationwide are eagerly anticipating returning to school, parents are burdened with worries about textbooks, tuition fees, uniforms, and more.

In some areas, many parents have expressed disagreement, even anger, regarding the series of voluntary fees collected at the beginning of the school year. This is always a "hot" topic every new school year. How can we rectify excessive fees at the beginning of the school year and prevent this from happening again and again?

Every time a new school year is about to begin, the public becomes concerned about the fees charged at the start of the year.

Recently, a social media account posted a video in which a staff member instructs students on purchasing school uniforms and explicitly states that students who don't wear (the uniform backpack) will not be allowed into the school gate. The video, allegedly filmed at a public high school in Ho Chi Minh City, captures an exchange between students and school staff regarding the purchase of uniforms at the beginning of the school year.

Many parents in Quang Ninh are concerned about some educational institutions charging extra money for curtains and air conditioners in classrooms. Recently, information about parents complaining that they had to sign a commitment to donate the equipment back to the school in Thanh Tri district, Hanoi, to install air conditioners and projectors also caused a stir in public opinion.

Those were just a few examples of fees collected right before the start of the new school year. Every year at the beginning of the school year, parents complain about having to pay too many fees and funds. Judging by the names – for example, the Infrastructure Fund, for installing air conditioners, projectors, curtains, then the Parents' Fund… and then there's the uniform and backpack fund – it seems parents are automatically expected to share the responsibility with the school so their children can have a good learning environment.

Many parents disagree with the fees but are hesitant to protest for fear the school will retaliate against the homeroom teacher or their children: "We just sit there listening like parrots, clapping loudly, paying the money, and then leaving. We want to speak up, but we're in the minority, and we're afraid that if we speak up, our children will be discriminated against, so we just stay silent because we have to pay anyway."

Now they've switched to a completely voluntary system. For example, if a child's classroom is hot and doesn't have air conditioning, they suggest that parents contribute money to buy an air conditioner or install curtains to keep the children cool. Even for extra classes, they say that students volunteer to teach them.

Of course, I knew perfectly well that it wasn't a voluntary contribution, but it wasn't an official school announcement anymore; the school only suggested it. Then the parents would hold meetings, and sometimes I felt obligated to go along, even though I didn't really want to contribute because it was expensive."

In response to this situation, Ms. Nguyen Thi Viet Nga, Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Hai Duong province, stated: "I propose that schools be truly transparent, clear, and seek the opinions of a large number of parents. Fees must serve educational purposes and be collected correctly and fully. Regarding parents, I earnestly hope that they will carefully understand all regulations and fees currently in place at the school, as there are already established rules for these matters."

Parents should be aware of these regulations, identify unreasonable fees, and promptly report them to the authorities. I see that many provinces and cities are doing very well now; the People's Council will issue a list of fees that schools are allowed to collect, with a maximum limit."

To ensure strict implementation of the collection of fees at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, the Ca Mau Department of Education and Training requires that no content contrary to regulations be included to suggest or force parents to contribute fees outside of the regulations. Meanwhile, Bac Lieu clearly defines which fees are allowed to be collected: fees for services and support for educational activities in addition to tuition fees for public educational institutions in the area...

Distinguished educator, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son - former Deputy Director of the Education Department (Central Committee for Science and Education) - believes that localities also need to implement decisive solutions like this so that each parent-teacher meeting at the beginning of the new school year is an opportunity for parents and teachers to meet in a joyful atmosphere, rather than just attending to pay fees.

" Hopefully, areas where things haven't been done well will improve. Specific directives and clear guidance should be issued, outlining the initial fees for each year so that schools can easily implement them and avoid mistakes. I think that if this is done well, it will certainly be effective and also avoid bringing disrepute to the Ministry of Education and Training. If the autumn season is now associated with negative connotations, it will no longer be beautiful, " shared Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son.

To ensure a joyful start to the new school year, in addition to proactive guidance from management at all levels, the role of parents is also crucial in reducing and eventually eliminating excessive fees at the beginning of the school year.

LE THU (VOV1)

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