School gate closed, parents cannot attend meetings with teachers
On September 13, dozens of parents of students at Nguyen Khuyen High School (Phuoc Thang ward, Ho Chi Minh City) were upset when the school closed the gate and did not allow them to enter to attend a meeting with the homeroom teacher. Some people posted information on their personal pages on social networks.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Ms. Nguyen An (full name and last name have been changed, parent of a 10th grade student) said that she arrived at school at 7:45 am, but the gate was closed and did not allow parents to enter the schoolyard.
Ms. An said that according to the invitation letter sent by the homeroom teacher, on September 13, there were 2 meetings with parents. The first meeting from 7-8 am was with the school principal and the parents' collective; the second meeting from 8-9:30 am was working with the homeroom teacher.
Because I was busy, I came to school to attend the second meeting with the homeroom teacher. However, I was quite surprised because the school closed the gate and did not allow entering," Ms. An complained.
Along with Ms. An, more than 50 other parents were also blocked in front of the school gate and not allowed to attend the meeting. Many parents said that there were 2 different meetings, and wanted to attend the second meeting with the homeroom teacher to grasp the information to be implemented in the first semester.
After a while, many parents were dissatisfied and left; about 30 other people patiently waited to open the school gate to meet the principal to clarify.
Principal apologizes, but says parents disrespect the school
Lao Dong Newspaper reporters were present at Nguyen Khuyen High School to find out information about the incident. At this time, Phuoc Thang Ward Police were also present to ensure security and order. Due to the large number of parents gathering, the school invited the parents to a classroom to work.
Recording at the working session, Ms. Lu Thi Tra Giang - Principal of Nguyen Khuyen High School - said that through the meetings, the school wants to convey to parents the commitments, the tasks that will be implemented in the new school year... However, Ms. Giang also said that parents' late arrivals are disrespectful to the school...
Maybe parents see that I am wrong, I would like to apologize to you. The contents of the meeting will be reported to parents by the homeroom teacher, so I also hope parents will not be too upset," Ms. Lu Thi Tra Giang said during the exchange.
However, the principal's explanation was not accepted by the parents, because some parents moved quite far. Some parents had attended the first meeting, then went out and returned but were blocked from entering, even before the second meeting took place.
I myself arrived on time to finish the first meeting. After the meeting, I went outside to photocopy additional documents for my child and returned at 7:50 am, but the school closed the gate and did not allow me to enter," a parent named Tr. angrily reflected.
Because parents were upset, security forces quickly mobilized parents to remain calm. The working session ended immediately afterwards, and the homeroom teachers also exchanged privately with each parent who remained at school.
Lao Dong Newspaper reporters contacted the school principal many times to learn more about the incident, but no one answered the phone.
