Hai Phong: Secondary school returns tens of millions of dong in overcharged money

After parents' complaints, Vinh Niem Secondary School (An Bien Ward, Hai Phong City) stopped fundraising and returned the collected money; the school board had to explain the phenomenon of 'overcharging' at the beginning of the school year.

On September 19, the leader of the People's Committee of An Bien Ward ( Hai Phong City) confirmed that Vinh Niem Secondary School had reported on the "overcharging" and paid money to parents after reflecting on the campaign to mobilize donations to purchase classroom equipment for grade 6.

Vinh Niem Secondary School must return tens of millions of dong overcharged from parents.

PHOTO: LA NGHI HIEU

Previously, many parents said that at the beginning of the school year, they were informed to contribute nearly 1 million VND/student to purchase equipment for the class, including televisions, fans, sliding boards, desks, filing cabinets, and air conditioning. The total amount of money parents contributed was about 34 million VND, the remainder was transferred to the class fund.

After the information spread, public opinion said that this was an act of overcharging, contrary to regulations on school revenues and expenditures. The People's Committee of An Bien Ward requested the school's board of directors to report and clarify responsibilities in the incident.

In the explanatory report, the board of directors of Vinh Niem Secondary School denied any campaign. Principal Bui To Nhan said that some "overly enthusiastic" parents voluntarily contributed money and even hired people to install the equipment on September 13 without the school being informed.

After receiving the feedback, on September 16, the school's board of directors directed to immediately stop the purchase, refund all collected money and required homeroom teachers to thoroughly inform parents to properly implement regulations on educational funding.

The incident occurred just a few days after the Hai Phong Department of Education and Training issued an official dispatch requesting to strengthen revenue and expenditure discipline in the 2025-2026 school year. This document emphasized that all revenues must have a legal basis and be transparent; absolutely no revenue outside of regulations or multiple revenue items must be collected, and certainly no collection of multiple periods in advance.

According to regulations, heads of educational institutions must take full responsibility for all revenues and expenditures at the school. If there is over-collection or illegal revenue and expenditure, the head will be held accountable.

Regarding the incident at Vinh Niem Secondary School, although the school said that this was a spontaneous act of parents, the fact that money was contributed, equipment was purchased and put into use without permission still shows loopholes in management and supervision. The school board must take direct responsibility for the operation and enforcement of revenue and expenditure discipline in the school.

An Bien Ward People's Committee is continuing to monitor and request Vinh Niem Secondary School to learn from experience, not to let similar situations recur, and to ensure transparency in the educational environment.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hai-phong-truong-cap-2-tra-lai-hang-chuc-trieu-dong-lam-thu-185250919170806168.htm