Apax Leaders English School Case: Shark Thuy hopes parents are tolerant

This afternoon (March 15), for the first time since the scandal of closing a series of English centers, owing parents tuition fees, and employees cutting off contact, causing parents everywhere to cry for help, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuy (Shark Thuy) had a direct dialogue with parents in the Ho Chi Minh City area. The dialogue took place at the Him Lam branch (District 6) which attracted a large number of parents.

Parents carry banners demanding payment

At the dialogue, many parents hung banners and stood up to demand that Apax Leaders return their tuition fees. They said that the tuition fees at Apax Leaders were loans from the bank, and parents had to pay interest every month while their children could not study. The interruption of learning caused many other impacts.

Parents said they no longer trust and do not want to wait for the promises of Apax Leaders.

Parents give their opinions

Many parents ask if Apax Leaders will refund tuition fees and when, there needs to be a clear, definite answer.

The conversation was tense as many parents asked Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuy to respond directly instead of letting the CEO speak. In response to the parents' request, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuy said that Apax Leaders could not refund the tuition fees to the parents at this time.

"We need a roadmap," said Mr. Thuy.

According to Mr. Thuy, Apax Leaders will pay tuition fees but needs more time because refunding fees at Apax Leaders' current difficult time will only make students more disadvantaged. Apax still "owes" parents two things: one is the learning environment, the other is the refund of tuition fees.

For now, Apax will focus on reopening the centers. Based on that, we can determine how many parents let their children continue studying, how many parents want to withdraw fees, and then we can refund fees according to the roadmap.

"It is very difficult to do two things at the same time: reopening and refunding tuition fees. We need tolerance from parents," said Mr. Thuy.

At the dialogue, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuy also said that the priority now is to reopen the centers as soon as possible so that students can return to school with the best environment and quality like Apax used to have. This is also the best way for Apax to have the opportunity to fulfill its commitments to parents. However, many parents at the dialogue did not agree with Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuy's commitment.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuy (standing) talks with parents

As the Lao Dong Newspaper has continuously reported, a series of parents in Ho Chi Minh City are sitting on hot coals, sending petitions for help when many Apax Leaders English Centers do not refund tuition fees to parents, close without notice, and the center staff turn off communication. The Ho Chi Minh City Departmentof Education and Training has completed the inspection process at the centers of the Apax Leaders English system, transferring related files to the Ho Chi Minh City Police.

On the afternoon of February 26, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuy had an online dialogue with parents but did not reach many agreements. Mr. Thuy also affirmed that Apax Leaders will return to the Southern market and gradually recover. Apax Leaders will return as soon as possible and solve learning problems for children.

Apax Leaders representative said that by March 21 at the latest, Apax Leaders will reopen 4 branches in Ho Chi Minh City: Him Lam (District 6), Phan Xich Long (Phu Nhuan District), Phan Van Tri (Go Vap District), Le Duc Tho (Go Vap District) and a branch in Binh Duong . For parents who no longer want their children to study at Apax Leaders, the center will gradually resolve the issue. However, the center cannot promise when the money will be refunded because the center does not want to break its promise to parents anymore...

Source: https://nld.com.vn/giao-duc-khoa-hoc/vu-truong-anh-ngu-apax-leaders-shark-thuy-mong-phu-huynh-bao-dung-20230315161943758.htm