American International School Reopens

The American International School Vietnam (AISVN) announced it will reopen on March 19th, allowing students to attend classes, but "there will still be unavoidable disruptions."

This information was included in a letter sent to parents on the evening of March 18th by the American International School Vietnam.

"The school will reopen tomorrow (March 19th) to ensure the best interests of all current students. Teaching and learning will still experience unavoidable disruptions this week. The school will promptly address urgent issues to restore normal teaching and learning as soon as possible," the school's letter stated.

Speaking to VnExpress on the evening of March 18, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ut Em, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of AISVN, said that the decision was made after the school worked with the Department of Education and Training of the city.

Explaining the potential disruption to teaching and learning, Ms. Em said that they have encouraged teachers to return to school, but did not rule out the possibility that some may remain absent. The school does not yet have the exact number of teachers who will return tomorrow.

Today, approximately 1,400 students at the American International School Vietnam had to stay home from school. The day before, the school held a parent meeting, stating that 95% of teachers were absent on Monday due to unpaid salaries and insurance contributions. The reason given was that the school was facing financial difficulties.

Mr. Hoang Hung, a parent of a 6th-grade student, expressed skepticism about the school's teaching methods amidst the current turmoil regarding staffing and finances.

"Tomorrow morning, I will send my child to school, but the problem is whether there are teachers available and what the quality of teaching will be like. Parents and students are put in a situation where they have no choice," Mr. Hung said.

American International School Vietnam in Nha Be District. Photo: Le Nguyen — American International School Vietnam in Nha Be District. Photo: *Le Nguyen*

AISVN was established in 2006. By the end of 2023, the school had over 1,400 students, 200 foreign teachers, and 300 domestic staff. Tuition fees here range from 280-350 million VND per year for preschool, 450-500 million VND for primary school, and up to 600-725 million VND for secondary school.

In September 2023, many parents gathered to demand repayment from the American International School Vietnam. These parents stated that they had lent the school tens of billions of dong interest-free so their children could receive free education, but the money had not been repaid even after their children graduated.

The Department of Education and Training subsequently required private and international schools to separate their business and professional activities. Schools were only allowed to collect tuition fees periodically and were prohibited from entering into joint ventures, capital contributions, or fundraising agreements. Private and international schools were only permitted to collect tuition fees for one academic year and were not allowed to combine exams across multiple semesters or years.

Le Nguyen

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