Interview with TPH teacher in the case of 'requesting support for a laptop'

Ms. TPH, homeroom teacher of class 4/3, head of grade 4, Chuong Duong Primary School, District 1, answered an interview this morning, September 30.

This morning, September 30, in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. TPH, homeroom teacher of class 4/3, head of grade 4, Chuong Duong Primary School, answered questions from reporters about the incident of "requesting support for a laptop". Ms. TPH also just received a decision to temporarily suspend the official signed by Mr. Le Cong Minh, Principal of Chuong Duong Primary School, District 1, this morning. Ms. TPH also introduced herself as having worked for 30 years, including 12 years of teaching at Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School.

To broaden public opinion, Thanh Nien Newspaper reporters would like to publish the questions and answers of Ms. TPH about the incident:

Parents complained, she asked for support for the laptop, what was the specific incident?

Ms. TPH: In the parent meeting on September 14, she met in front of the class, presented the entire learning and teaching process of the class, then she said that she did not collect class funds, the matter of not collecting class funds was in the meeting minutes. The president of the parent association said that the class fund must be collected, in order to operate, not collecting is not possible. She said that according to the direction of the school board, the class fund would not be collected. Last school year, she lost her laptop, she hoped that any parent who was a benefactor would support her. Then the president stood up in front of the whole class and said that it was agreed to collect 200, 300 (thousand VND - PV) from the class fund, then all the parents agreed to 500.

Teacher asks for laptop support: 'I know I was wrong because I didn't fully understand the circular on socialized education'

When the fund was collected, the president said she would spend 5-6 million to support her in buying a laptop. But why did she have to buy a laptop? Because this year the class has a TV, and we need a laptop to connect to the TV so we can prepare lessons and give lectures, so she asked. After collecting the fund from 29 parents, which was 14 million 500 thousand, in the meeting she said she would ask for support for the nanny, 300 thousand per month, because her salary is low, she works hard with the children, so we should give her a bonus to make her happy, and the parents agreed.

The president said to take 500 (thousand VND-PV) to pay for the whole class's scholarship fund, because the parents said to pay the fund and then take it to support the teacher with the laptop, the rest will be used for the school's activities, but every time I ask the parents, it is difficult. After the meeting ended, the parents gave her 29 students who paid into the fund, the parents asked her to keep it.

On Monday, September 16, the principal invited me to come down and report that the parents had complained that I asked to buy a laptop. I said that was right, the principal knew about the laptop I lost in school, so I socialized education and asked the parents. The principal said, "Stop asking, it's a bad reputation." Following the principal's instructions, I decided not to accept. I just voted on the group (voting "On Saturday, I asked my parents to support me with a laptop for about 5.6 million. And I bought a laptop for 11 million, so I added 5 million. And this laptop is mine. Do you agree?").

The result was 26 parents agreed, 3 parents disagreed, 9 parents had no opinion. Because the class size was 38 students, I just texted that if 3 parents disagreed, I wouldn't accept it, I wouldn't accept anything from the parents, I thank you. On Monday night, at 8pm, I closed the vote. I didn't accept it from the parents. I was also happy that 3 parents disagreed, so I had an excuse not to accept it. If all the parents agreed, I would be in a difficult position, I had promised the board of directors that I wouldn't accept it. I decided that I wouldn't accept it.

On Tuesday night, the new class president texted me and said, "Teacher, they created a private group, saying that you are humble, please accept it. I just said no, even if they gave you 100%, you wouldn't accept it. But you still love and educate the children properly. Because I'm afraid that the parents will think you are angry with them, they are worried about their children. But I said no, I did what the school board instructed, how could I accept it, I refused the parents. The other girl said that tomorrow morning the parents will meet the principal, I said if they do, then they will accept it, but what can we do now, how can you accept it?"

On Wednesday morning, 4 parents came to see the teacher. They also reported some things and discussed them.

On Wednesday afternoon, I had an appointment with the parent representatives to come to school but the president did not come. I wanted to meet her to clarify that I did not accept the laptop not because I was angry with the parents but because it was the direction of the school board and that what I did was wrong. I wanted to explain so that the parents could understand but those two parents did not come.

That day, I had also prepared the class fund to pay the parents, but Ms. T., the vice principal, said not to pay yet, now they think you are angry, now you bring the fund to pay again, she will be angry again, then you take your time. So I paid the fund on September 24. On the afternoon of September 24, the school invited the parents in, with the board of directors and the school association. Before the meeting, the board of directors said that the parents wanted to reconcile, I should endure, if I was wrong, I would apologize to the parents. That day at the meeting, I also said "you asked for the laptop wrong and I also apologize to the parents for keeping the fund" and I fully returned the fund to the parents at that meeting...

Ms. TPH (white shirt, second from right) answers reporters' questions

Some parents have complained that she sells instant noodles, sausages, and soft drinks to students, allowing them to eat while studying. Is that true or false?

Ms. TPH: It's like this. On the first day of boarding school, after school, a parent said that her children were very hungry. Last year, the school sold instant noodles and sausages for the children to eat. Actually, my house is very far away, my house is in Binh Tan. I bought food to keep at school like instant noodles. If I was hungry, I would eat. Since my house is far away, I didn't have time to eat breakfast. But when the children came, they said "teacher, I'm so hungry", so I cooked for them. For example, a can of noodles or a sausage is 20,000 VND. If the children had money, they would pay me. Many parents brought their children until 6:30 and still hadn't eaten. At the beginning of class, the teacher and students ate together. If the children didn't have any, I would give them some. I gave them candy and cakes, and I prepared the rest of the food myself. If the children wanted it, I would cook it for them.

Am I having a lot of trouble? If I am having a hard time, why don't you work with the school to get support, because asking for support from parents is very sensitive?

Ms. TPH: The year I lost my laptop, I reported it to the school board but they kept quiet. I asked why you didn't report it to the police. It wasn't just me, but 2-3 teachers in the school lost their laptops, and the school didn't ask anything. The school kept quiet, so I kept quiet too.

As for asking for laptops, I think it is the socialization of education, the government and the people work together, we teach our children. A few years ago, if the class didn't have a TV, we wouldn't have asked for it, now we have one, we need to connect it, if we don't have one, the TV will just lie there, that's what I mean.

Later, I thought about it again and was instructed by the school board. I realized that what I asked for was wrong, so I decided to fix the consequences and not accept it anymore. Many people begged her to accept it, but I refused.

In the parent meeting, did you clearly state that the laptop support for her was only 5 or 6 million?

Ms. TPH: The parents said to support her with a laptop of 5-6 million, to buy a used machine, but when I got home, I also went to consult, there was a used machine for 5.5 million, there was also a used machine for 11 million, but with a strong configuration, and a 2-year warranty. So I posted on the group that she would take the 11 million machine, the parents said this morning she said she would only ask for 5-6 million, 11 million was too high. So I texted that the parents would support her with 5, 6 million only, the rest she would make up. You know, how can I work with a 5 million machine, it keeps spinning around, now it's 4.0, 5.0, the machine must have enough i (she means strong configuration - PV) to use it. So I told the parents to support her with 50%. As for the printer, I didn't ask for it, the parents said they got it from the 3rd grade.

So why did the principal say she shouldn't receive the laptop on Monday, September 16, 2024, and she didn't immediately text her refusal in the parent group, but still went to create a vote...?

Ms. TPH: Because before, the parents said they supported me, now I don't accept, so how can I say no? I don't want to tell the parents that the school board told me not to accept. But since someone has reported it to the teacher, I think there must be someone who doesn't agree with me accepting it, so I created a vote, if there is one opinion that disagrees, I won't accept it.

But why when someone clicked "disagree", she immediately asked which parent in the class group this person was?

Ms. TPH: Because in the class of 38 students, but the group has 47 people, so I don't know who is who, I asked to know, not to mean anything. After that, I also took a picture for the teacher (the principal - PV) and he said "you hit your own leg with a stick". So I posted an apology that my words made the parents confused and upset, and parents can rest assured that the teacher still loves and teaches the children properly.

Chuong Duong Primary School, District 1

Do you feel guilty about anything?

Ms. TPH: My mistake was to lobby and ask for a laptop for myself. Because I did not understand the circular clearly. I thought we were socializing education but could not ask for it for myself.

Second, I keep the class fund, but it was requested by the parents, and I planned to pay it back since September 18...

There is information that you teach extra classes. So do you teach extra classes?

Mrs. TPH: Yes, but I'm off now, I've been off since last week. I've been teaching since 9th (September 9, 2024 - PV).

Did she have to ask for laptop support because of low teacher salaries?

Ms. TPH: No. Because I see that in the school, all the teachers are campaigning to make equipment for the classroom, for teaching. If the campaign is wrong, the whole country is wrong, every school is campaigning, everyone is campaigning, but I was sued because I did not accept...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phong-van-giao-vien-tph-trong-vu-viec-xin-ho-tro-cai-laptop-185240930113815715.htm