International school closes, pocketing 14 billion VND in tuition fees.

In Quang Nam, parents had paid over 14 billion VND in tuition fees, but Green Shoots International School unexpectedly closed before the start of the school year.

On September 7th, Mr. Thai Viet Tuong, Director of the Quang Nam Department of Education and Training, confirmed the incident, stating that he had visited and worked with the school.

Green Shoots International School, located in Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, is owned by Catherine Clare McKinley, a British national. Catherine has since returned to her home country, and while the Vietnamese principal remains, she has virtually no involvement in the school's operations.

"If the school goes bankrupt, they should report it to the Department, but instead they just left," he said, adding that it is extremely difficult for parents to get back the tuition fees they have paid. The Department has reported the matter to the Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee to request the British Embassy to recall Ms. Catherine Clare McKinley, but she has not returned.

"For now, the Department is working with parents and introducing similar schools for students to enroll in for the new school year," Mr. Tuong said. To date, all students have been accepted into schools in Hoi An and Da Nang cities.

The facilities of Green Bud International School have been reclaimed and dismantled by the lessor. Photo: Son Thuy — The facilities of the Green Bud International School have been reclaimed and dismantled by the lessor. Photo: *Son Thuy*

A parent whose child is in second grade in Hoi An said that from May to August, Green Shoots School holds enrollment from kindergarten to high school. The school announced that the new school year will begin on August 22nd. There are 95 students, including 11 Vietnamese students. Tuition fees here range from 350-400 million VND per year, and parents can pay monthly or quarterly.

"I paid 100 million VND before my child started school," this person said, adding that according to preliminary statistics, parents have paid more than 14 billion VND in tuition fees.

On August 8th, all parents were surprised to receive an email notification from Catherine stating that their children had been transferred to an international school in Da Nang. She stated that she was no longer running Green Shoots and offered no explanation or information regarding the students' future in Da Nang or the tuition fees.

When parents contacted the school in Da Nang, the school refused to accept their application, citing that they did not accept tuition fees from Green Shoots parents.

At the same time, the school dismantled all structures at the leased site and ceased operations.

"To make it in time for the new school year, parents have to find another school for their children, and they don't know where to get the tuition fees they've already paid to Green Shoots back," one parent said. They have filed a complaint with the Quang Nam Provincial Police, requesting verification and clarification of the alleged fraud and misappropriation of property.

Green Shoots International School was established in 2014 with foreign investment. It offers multiple levels of education, from preschool to high school. The preschool and primary school curricula are presented as the UK national curriculum.

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