Socialization of education, how to avoid distortion?

Responding to Thanh Nien Newspaper reporters, lawyer Le Hong Hien, Director of Le Hong Hien and Associates Law Firm (Hanoi Bar Association), said: "According to the provisions of Decree No. 69/2008 and Decree No. 59/2014 of the Government regulating the socialization policy in theeducation sector and Article 16 of the 2019 Education Law, education is one of the fields allowed to be socialized to improve the quality of education and reduce pressure on the state budget; encourage contributions from various resources in society. Currently, there is no legal document specifically defining the socialization of education, however, it can be understood as the process of mobilizing the participation of the whole society in the education sector to improve the quality and effectiveness of education, including the cooperation of schools, families, communities and social organizations in supporting students to develop comprehensively".

Family, school and society together build the best educational environment for students.

B REPORT TO STATE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES AND TAX AUTHORITIES

Many readers have raised the question of how to socialize education without shifting the burden of contributions to parents, which is distorted into overcharging? Lawyer Le Hong Hien believes that the key lies in whether each educational institution does the right thing, does it enough, complies and strictly complies when applying the provisions of the law on socializing education, or in reality has distorted and abused the term "socializing education", to become overcharging.

"If compared with Article 14, Decree No. 69 of 2008, amended and supplemented by Decree No. 59 of 2014 of the Government , there are regulations on the sources of revenue that educational socialization establishments are allowed to collect. All have been specifically regulated, not that the educational establishment can collect whatever it wants, collect whatever it wants. And also according to the Government's decree that I cited, all these revenue and expenditure activities must be public, transparent, and must be reported to state management agencies, tax authorities... If the provisions of the decree are properly implemented, it is legal and reasonable," said lawyer Le Hong Hien.

ROLE OF INSPECTION AND EXAMINATION TEAMS

Notably, according to lawyer Le Hong Hien, a collection that is allowed to be collected but causes a lot of controversy and is most easily distorted is collection number 5 - from aid, sponsorship, gifts, and presents. Lawyer Hien emphasized that the nature of this source is voluntary. The sponsor, the donor, the contributor in the spirit of complete voluntariness of parents to the school, without being forced, then that is a legal source of income. However, as everyone can see, in the past it has been distorted, in many places there has been a situation of "forced" collection of this or that amount, creating a lot of frustration for parents.

In addition, lawyer Hien also raised the role of inspection teams. Correct and objective inspections will naturally detect violations of educational institutions and have sanctions. Every year, each locality organizes a series of inspections, but why do controversies arise somewhere at the beginning of the school year about revenue and expenditure, about voluntary collections, about socialized education? According to lawyer Hien, public opinion has the right to raise the issue of objectivity and effectiveness of inspection teams.

Nguyen Van Tran Primary School, Da Phuoc Commune, Binh Chanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, is covered with green trees. Parents also donate trees, contribute to planting trees, and decorate the school landscape. This is also a form of voluntary socialization when the school builds trust with parents.

ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPERVISION COMMITTEE

Speaking to Thanh Nien reporter, Mr. Le Hoang Phong, founder of the YOUREORG Education and Training Organization, affirmed: "In the process of socializing education, monitoring school administrators, teachers, and staff is an extremely important factor to ensure that resources from parents and the community are used for the right purposes." Mr. Phong proposed a number of specific monitoring measures and mechanisms to avoid negative situations from occurring.

First, there needs to be a transparent and public process for using the budget. Second, there needs to be a monitoring committee made up of parents and school representatives. An effective monitoring mechanism is to set up a monitoring committee consisting of representatives of parents, schools and teachers. This committee will approve expenditures from the socialized education fund, according to which no individual has the right to decide on the use of this money for personal purposes, and monitor the implementation process. Next, there needs to be financial reporting and regular auditing to ensure transparency and avoid abuse. At the same time, there needs to be a clear and strict form of disciplinary action for those who violate the law.

In particular, Mr. Le Hoang Phong emphasized the need to strengthen professional ethics education for personnel in the education sector, helping them understand their responsibilities in managing and using social resources.

TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS NEED TO CREATE TRUST

From the perspective of a parent, Ms. TBG, whose child studies at MT Kindergarten, Ward 28, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City, believes that socializing education is not difficult. She cited a story of her own. Last year, the teacher announced in the class group that parents should go and receive money for their children. Specifically, the school has made a file to support tuition fees for children studying at the school. Children in nursery school are supported with 100,000 VND/month/child. In kindergarten, each child is supported with 140,000 VND. After 9 months of study, each child receives about 1 million VND. Ms. TBG and her husband donated all the money the child received to the school so that the school can decide how to use it. Later, they learned that not only they but also other parents supported a lot. In the new school year, they were surprised because the school yard where their children often gather has been raised, paved with clean bricks, and a spacious arch has been added.

"Is socializing education difficult? I think my child's school is an answer. When teachers and schools build trust with parents, parents do not hesitate to contribute," Ms. TBG shared.

Socialization of education can be understood as the process of mobilizing the participation of the whole society in the field of education to improve the quality and effectiveness of education, including the cooperation of schools, families, communities and social organizations in supporting students to develop comprehensively.

Lawyer LE HONG HIEN - Director of Le Hong Hien and Associates Law Firm ( Hanoi Bar Association)

Don't blame the parents for this.

Circular 16/TT-BGDDT dated August 3, 2018 of the Ministry of Education and Training promulgating regulations on funding for educational institutions in the national education system has clear content, so from teachers to principals, leaders of the Department of Education and Training, it is difficult to say that they do not understand, partially understand, or understand and then apply it incorrectly.

It takes a lot of time and effort for educational institutions to receive proper educational funding. Meanwhile, school leaders want to speed up the upgrading of facilities and purchase of teaching equipment. To achieve that, we must rely on the parent-teacher association, and divide the revenue equally, called social funding, which is both quick and easy to implement. This is a type of social funding that "spreads evenly" onto the shoulders of parents...

Schools need to take honor, self-respect, and understanding as the core. These values ​​are the resources for educational development. School leaders persistently implement socialization, setting out a roadmap based on empathy with parents. Accordingly, they conduct fundraising campaigns with reasonable steps, "skillful mass mobilization", and convince with the progress in teaching and learning of teachers and students.

Good news spreads far and wide and will receive support. Those who have a lot contribute a lot, those who have little contribute a little, those who have nothing contribute their efforts. The end result of socialized education, more deeply, is to join hands for the benefit of a hundred years.

Restoring transparency when schools mobilize educational funding is very important and necessary, so that the path to school for students, parents and teachers is no longer burdened with overcharging schools "in the name" of socializing education.

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Chuong

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xa-hoi-hoa-giao-duc-lam-sao-de-khong-bien-tuong-18524100222174449.htm