Hanoi City Tax Department intervenes to inspect
In the role of a parent who needs to send their child to extra classes, reporters came to Chi Thanh Education Training Center (address No. 5, alley 78/5 Duy Tan street, Cau Giay ward, Hanoi).
Welcoming us were two female consultants from Chi Thanh Education Training Center. According to the introduction, the center organizes extra classes for students from grades 3 to 12. For grade 3 students, the center opens Math and English classes; from grade 4 onwards, there are full subjects Math, Literature and English.
Regarding tuition fees, primary school has a fee of 300,000 VND/session. For high school students, tuition fees for the 22-session course are 6.38 million VND. However, if parents pay in cash, the amount to be paid is only 6.05 million VND.
If you deposit cash, you will get a discount of 15,000 VND/session. Go withdraw cash, there are many banks around here. If you deposit cash, the center will give you a discount of about 300,000 VND per course," the female consultant said.
When asked why payment by bank transfer did not reduce tuition fees, another female employee explained: "We have a policy of depositing cash to easily issue invoices at the end of the day. Depositing money by bank transfer is very difficult, waiting for statements of everything, it's a bit long. My accountant is on vacation this summer".
It is noteworthy that in the joint exchange group between parents and staff of Chi Thanh Education Training Center, when a parent asked about the form of tuition payment, the center staff affirmed that they only received cash, not transfers.
In the return to Chi Thanh Education Training Center as a parent registering their child to study thinking math and English at elementary school, reporters continued to be consulted on tuition fees and payment methods.
300,000 VND/session. If you deposit cash, you will get a discount of 15,000 VND/session, and if you transfer money, you will deposit enough," the female employee said, and also instructed that if you transfer money, you should transfer it directly to the personal account of the teaching teacher.
For example, if you study English with Ms. Huong, transfer it to Ms. Huong's account, if you study thinking mathematics with Ms. Quynh, transfer it to Ms. Quynh," the female employee said.
Regarding this issue, a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper exchanged with a representative of Hanoi City Tax Department. The tax authority said that it has received feedback, requested relevant units to verify, report and will provide further information as soon as there are results.
Rampant preschool tutoring despite prohibition regulations
Not only are tutoring centers in large classes showing signs of lack of transparency, but recently pre-primary classes have also appeared rampant despite prohibition regulations.
In the role of parents with children preparing to enter grade 1, we went to a pre-primary education center in the campus of a private kindergarten on Nguyen Thi Dinh street (Hanoi). As soon as we presented our needs, the staff quickly introduced the programs being implemented.
According to the introduction, before studying, children will be tested for competence to assess their level, including math, addition and subtraction, thinking and letter recognition, and reading Vietnamese. Regarding tuition fees, the 1-on-1 tutoring program at home is about 400,000 VND/session, class-based at the center ranges from 250,000-300,000 VND/session depending on the route.
Next, reporters recorded a pre-primary class organized on the 2nd floor of a private kindergarten on Hoa Bang street, Yen Hoa ward, Hanoi.
Present at the end of the afternoon, reporters recorded that the pre-primary class had more than 20 students learning additions within the scope of 20. The reporter received Van (name of the character has been changed), introducing herself as the owner of the pre-primary facility, and also a teacher directly teaching classes. According to this person, the center currently has 3 facilities on Hoa Bang, Tran Quy Kien streets and Cau Giay street. All classes have many students attending and all rent locations from kindergartens to organize pre-primary teaching.
Regarding the learning roadmap, Van said that the center will check the input of each student. If children have recognized single and compound letters, they will be taught rhyming immediately, instead of re-learning the alphabet to keep up with the progress before entering grade 1.
Regarding tuition fees, the fee is 150,000 VND/session and will be summarized to be collected at the end of the month. When reporters asked about the payment method, the female teacher said that paying in cash would be more convenient. "We only register as a personal business household, not a company at all. Here no parents take invoices, what do you need to take," Van said.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Teacher Phan Duy Nghia - who has many years of research on general education policies - said that Article 4 of Circular 29/2024/TT-BGDDT clearly stipulates: "No tutoring for elementary school students, except for cases: fostering in arts, sports, life skills training".
From February 14, 2025, teachers will not organize tutoring for elementary school students, including pre-primary school, both at school and outside school, except for cases of fostering in arts, sports, and life skills training.
Directive No. 2325/CT-BGDDT dated June 28, 2013 of the Ministry of Education and Training also clearly states that it is absolutely forbidden to pre-organize the grade 1 curriculum for children; not to require children to practice shaping and writing. Thus, pre-primary school teaching and learning is contrary to the provisions of law," said teacher Phan Duy Nghia.
