Overcharging, 'class fund' causes sadness

Parent meeting, return of parent fund collected against regulations at the end of September 2023

Many managers were criticized and disciplined for allowing illegal collection.

On December 19, 2023, the Office of the People's Committee of Khoai Chau District ( Hung Yen ) announced that the district had signed a decision to discipline the management official Ms. Pham Thi Mai, Principal of Dong Ket Primary School, by dismissal.

Thanh Nien Newspaper once published an article about Ms. Pham Thi Mai, Principal of Dong Ket Primary School, being considered for disciplinary action for overcharging at school.

In early November 2023, according to information from the Department of Education and Training of Hai Duong province, the department established a Disciplinary Council for Mr. Pham Van Hy, Principal of Thanh Mien 3 High School. The Council proposed a reprimand as a disciplinary measure for Mr. Hy. In September 2023, Thanh Nien Newspaper published many articles reflecting on signs of overcharging at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year at Thanh Mien 3 High School. Accordingly, parents said that the fees collected in class 10D were too large, up to VND 8,715,000.

In Ho Chi Minh City, at the end of September 2023, a shocking incident occurred when a first grade class of an elementary school collected and spent more than 313 million VND in the class fund (the class had 32 students, each student paid 10 million VND in the class fund at the beginning of the year, the cost of repairing a classroom was more than 220 million VND and many other illegal expenses...).

The case of collecting more than 313 million VND from class funds caused a stir in public opinion in 2023

Immediately afterwards, the district's Department of Education and Training issued a press release about the case of collecting more than 313 million VND from the class fund, confirming many illegal revenue and expenditure items; criticizing the principal and homeroom teachers; requesting the return of a total of more than 247 million VND to parents. On the night of September 28, after receiving the announcement from the district's Department of Education and Training, the school held a meeting with parents of this first grade class and returned the money to all parents.

Overcharging, why is it hot every year?

The issue of overcharging has become a hot topic in the past year, with articles about overcharging receiving hundreds of comments from readers - parents through Thanh Nien Newspaper channels.

Regarding the charter of the parent-teacher association, guidelines for mobilizing, managing, and using funds for the parent-teacher association's activities, the Ministry of Education and Training has issued Circular 55 in 2011. The Ministry of Education and Training also issued Circular 16 in 2018 regulating funding for educational institutions in the national education system. Local Departments of Education and Training also have documents guiding districts and towns in implementation. Legal documents clearly stipulate what the parent-teacher association fund cannot be spent on, the principles for mobilizing the parent-teacher association fund, and the principles for mobilizing funding, etc.

However, in some places, under the guise of "class fund", "school fund", "class/school parent representative committee fund", many illegal collections still make parents upset and angry.

After Thanh Nien Newspaper and other press agencies simultaneously reported on the situation of illegal revenue and expenditure, signs of overcharging in units, many localities took positive actions.

Ho Chi Minh City and many localities across the country have directed units to strictly implement the documents of the Ministry of Education and Training, combat overcharging, continue to direct localities to monitor and supervise the implementation of educational institutions in the area, and promptly handle any arising problems.

Principal of Thanh Mien 3 High School proposed to be disciplined with reprimand

The Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City has directed that there should be absolutely no overcharging. From October 16, 2023 to November 16, 2023, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has inspected and examined school revenues and supervised the management of revenues and expenditures at the beginning of the school year at educational institutions.

The Ministry of Education and Training has announced a draft Circular regulating the transparency in the activities of educational institutions in the national education system, seeking comments from units and individuals. According to the draft, regarding the financial situation of educational institutions, public educational institutions must publicly disclose data according to the provisions of the State Budget Law and instructions from competent state agencies.

Non-public educational institutions must publicly disclose quarterly and annual financial reports in accordance with the provisions of the Accounting Law, relevant legal provisions and instructions of competent state agencies.

According to the above draft, the fees and collection rates for students must also be made public. These include tuition, fees, all fees and collection rates other than tuition and fees during the school year and expected for each subsequent school year of the educational institution's level or course...

Parents, students, and people across the country are hoping that with the drastic participation of ministries, departments, branches, and localities, the situation of overcharging at educational institutions will no longer be a concern.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/diem-nong-giao-duc-2023-lam-thu-quy-lop-gay-buon-phien-185231229164024438.htm