'Tuition is free, but fees for voluntary and joint subjects make parents suffer'

Under the article about the frustration over 'voluntary subjects' and joint ventures, readers said they were happy that the whole country from kindergarten to high school is exempt from tuition fees, but the fees for 'voluntary subjects' and joint ventures are what really make parents suffer.

Readers of Thanh Nien Newspaper said the articles Continued frustration over "voluntary subjects", link ; Frustration over "voluntary subjects", link: Why are parents hesitant if they don't register? spoke to their hearts, accurately reflecting the current reality.

The joy of free tuition did not last long.

Reader My Toan shared: "Having just heard the news that students are exempted from tuition fees, the joy of parents did not last long. Today, the school added many associated subjects, parents have to pay more than the exempted tuition fees. Students have to study more subjects, the time is longer to leave on time, after 4:15 pm. This is like we are "buying time" just to wait for a group of parents to come home on time to pick up students. We say that current education is student-centered. So have we asked students if they agree to study all week, every day, 7 or 8 periods?"

Parents have headaches because of the prices of "voluntary" and joint subjects, and the heavy fees that weigh on their shoulders when the joy of free tuition does not last long.

PHOTO: TN CREATED BY AI

Parent vu29049 exclaimed: "The main tuition is free, but the extracurricular subjects really make parents who are ordinary workers suffer."

Tinh Pham agrees: "Free tuition is not much. But the fees for associated courses are up to 2 million VND per month. The burden on parents is getting heavier and heavier."

Parent nguyenvandien1958 expressed: "If we don't take extra classes but pay for extra subjects, it will cost more than the extra classes." According to this parent, now that their children are in school, the fees they have to pay weigh heavily on their ability to make ends meet.

"In my opinion, students should study subjects in the compulsory curriculum of the Ministry of Education and Training, the remaining time should be used for tutoring weak students and teaching advanced students so that they do not have to go to extra classes. Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings should be used for students to study voluntary subjects. If this can be done, it will not affect parents' daily expenses and students will not have to go to extra classes," this person added.

Voluntary subject, but who dares not to "voluntary"?

Reader Loan complained: "What kind of voluntary school is this? If you don't study, you will question the parents who asked you to let your children go to school. If you don't study anymore, the parents will be bothered day and night."

An account named "New Reader" said: "There is no such thing as volunteering. If you don't register, the teacher will tell you that there will be no one to look after the students at that time."

Parent Thuong Pham explained: "The joint subjects are the most controversial issue today. Why is the joint subjects forced, parents have to reluctantly let their children study when there is no need. In my opinion, those who have the need can register to study, those who do not have the need do not register, those who do not study can go home early, those who register stay to study."

The timetable of a third grade class at an elementary school, announced in the class's parent group on September 13, caused outrage. The subjects highlighted in red are 'voluntary subjects', linked

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY PARENTS

Reader Trung Quang sighed: "Every year, schools have scandals and lack of transparency about school schedules, tuition, food, uniforms, class funds, books... Why doesn't the Department of Education and Training have a fixed standard to apply to all schools? Why are students at this school "allowed" to study extracurricular subjects, while other schools are not? What's not transparent about joint learning that the introduction to parents is not clear and easy to understand from the beginning?"

Parents of "New Readers" suggested that the timetables of all primary and secondary schools should be checked or made public on the system throughout the city. "Every time there is a parent meeting, we only see notices of collecting tuition fees for this or that subject, support for building this or installing that. No one cares about which student needs to practice this or that. Even for the 9th grade, we don't see any plans to support children transferring to another level, we only see notices of support," this parent said in frustration.

Reader M. shared with the Thanh Nien Newspaper editorial office: "I used to take my child to school at 1:30 pm, and pick him up at 2:50 pm (because my child did not eat lunch at school that year). Then the teacher called to encourage him, said it was difficult, then asked for a reduction in tuition, and in the end the family still had to register their child for a joint subject because they were too respectful. Honestly, what percentage of parents voluntarily let their children take joint subjects? At the beginning of every school year, parents are upset about all the fees, but then everything goes back to normal. Paying eNetViet just to see their child's score 4 times, then paying for face-based attendance, school uniforms, class uniforms, class fund, parent association fund, the payment is high but parents never know where that money goes... Let's ask, it's voluntary, but who dares not to volunteer, your child will have a different position in the group...".

Boldly teach the 2018 general education program, without linked subjects

Reader Socrates frankly said that the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City should boldly implement the 2018 General Education Program. Schools that have the conditions to organize boarding schools should have students study 4 periods in the morning and 3 periods in the afternoon. At noon, students can sleep longer until 1:45 p.m. and start the afternoon class at 2:00 p.m. and students have recess at 3:15 p.m., 30 minutes later they study the last period and finish at 4:20 p.m. The Department should strictly prohibit educational activities that collect money, such as schools that take advantage of the 8th period to collect club fees, followed by tuition fees for connecting centers. "Instead of exploiting parents in the context of economic difficulties, schools should focus on teaching the 2018 General Education Program well in the spirit of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Politburo ," this reader said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mien-hoc-phi-nhung-phi-cac-mon-tu-nguyen-lien-ket-lam-kho-phu-huynh-18525091810315106.htm