'Blowing the whistle' on high school collecting graduation exam support money against regulations

On March 19, information from the Department of Education and Training of Hai Duong province said that the department had just issued a document verifying the content of the complaint from parents of students against Tue Tinh High School (located in Cam Vu commune, Cam Giang district, Hai Duong) about collecting money to support graduation exams and providing extra teaching and learning in violation of regulations.

Previously, Ms. MTH (42 years old, residing in Cam Giang District) reported the above content to the competent authorities. According to Ms. H., her child is studying in grade 12 at Tue Tinh High School. The teachers informed the students in advance and reminded them again during the parent meeting on January 14 that each student will contribute 400,000 VND to support the invigilators in the upcoming 2024 high school graduation exam.

When Ms. H. asked, the school teacher told her that the above collection was to mobilize parents to voluntarily contribute, so that students could have the most favorable and successful exam.

Another content that Ms. H. reflected and considered unreasonable was the organization of extra classes by the school. Specifically, in the first semester, the school organized extra classes for 70 minutes/session, with the amount of 12,000 VND/student/session. In the second semester, the school increased it to 90 minutes/session, with the amount of 16,000 VND/student/session.

The reason for having to increase class hours is explained by the school because students are lazy to study, lazy to think about how to do the exercises... and don't have time to do it before class runs out.

'Tuýt còi’ trường THPT thu tiền hỗ trợ thi tốt nghiệp không đúng quy định- Ảnh 1. — Tue Tinh High School (Cam Giang District, Hai Duong)

According to verification from the Department of Education and Training of Hai Duong province, the Parents' Representative Board of grade 12 students in the 2023-2024 school year of Tue Tinh High School has asked the school and parents for permission to mobilize funds (estimated at VND 400,000/student) to support the 2024 high school graduation exam.

After that, the school leaders approved the above policy and directed the Head of the Parents' Representative Committee and homeroom teachers of grade 12 to implement it if there is consensus from parents, otherwise it will not be implemented.

At the meeting on January 14, some 12th graders collected the above mentioned graduation exam support money. During the collection process, there were disagreements from parents.

After the school received negative opinions from parents, the school leaders directed the Head of the Parents' Representative Committee and homeroom teachers of grade 12 to stop the implementation. If any class had collected money, it would return it to the parents.

Thus, the parents' reflection that Tue Tinh High School collected money (400,000 VND/student) to support the 2024 graduation exam was correct. When there was disagreement from parents, the school leaders directed to stop the implementation and return the collected amount.

The verification report of the Department of Education and Training of Hai Duong province clearly stated: "The fact that the parents' representative board mobilized money to support the 2024 high school graduation exam, with an amount of 400,000 VND/student, the school leaders agreed that this policy is not in accordance with the provisions of Resolution 08 of the Hai Duong Provincial People's Council and current documents and instructions".

Regarding parents' feedback on increasing extra study time and tuition fees, the Department of Education and Training of Hai Duong province said that at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, the school held a meeting and agreed with parents on organizing extra teaching and learning.

The school has developed a plan to organize extra teaching and learning in the school and reported to the Department of Education and Training. In particular, grade 12 students will organize extra learning with a duration of 10.5 periods/week.

Based on the agreement with the students' parents, the school organizes extra classes in shifts, each shift is 70 minutes (1.5 periods) and charges 12,000 VND/shift.

In the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year, the school increased the duration of extra classes to 90 minutes/session (2 periods) and collected 16,000 VND/session. The implementation process did not create consensus among parents, so the school did not adjust the plan but kept the same duration and collection level as in the first semester.

The Department of Education and Training of Hai Duong province concluded that the organization of extra teaching and learning at the school was in accordance with the plan developed and reported to the department from the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.

From the above incident, the Department of Education and Training of Hai Duong province requested the Principal of Tue Tinh High School to direct the homeroom teacher to stop collecting fees that are not in accordance with regulations and request a refund for those who have already paid.

The Department of Education and Training of Hai Duong province also requested the school to review and clarify the responsibilities of relevant groups and individuals; at the same time, the school seriously learned from experience in coordinating with parents to organizeeducational activities according to current regulations.

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