Reporting to Lao Dong Newspaper, Ms. D.T.T, whose child is in grade 7 at Han Da Primary and Secondary School, said: Right from the first days of the new school year 2025 - 2026, homeroom teachers have required each student to pay more than 2 million VND, including many non-transparent fees.
"According to the statistics, each student must pay 200,000 VND to rebuild the fence (damaged by storms); 60,000 VND to repair electricity; 150,000 VND to support teaching and reward students at the end of the year. accumulating a huge amount of money to pay while this is a mountainous school, many families of students are still facing many difficulties," said Ms. D.T.T.
Similarly, Mr. N.T.A., whose child is in grade 4 and grade 6 at Han Da Primary and Secondary School, was upset because he had to pay many fees outside of the regulations for the school, which were not included in the mandatory list.
"My child has to study with an old chair and table left by grade 9, many of which are severely damaged. Instead of being repaired or given a new license, homeroom teachers ask parents to pay the money themselves.
From class fund, school fund, protection money, labor rental, facilities support money, teaching support money... to socialization fees marked as "voluntary" but mandatory, it becomes a burden for many families", Mr. T.A said and added that the family had to pay about 4 million VND for the two children at the beginning of the school year.
Many other parents also believe that this school year, the school will separate the class fund, class parent fund and school parent fund, causing the total contribution to increase higher than previous years. In particular, some fees are higher than other schools in the area.
"For the team fund at my child's school, I collect 80,000 VND/year/student, while other schools only collect 45,000 VND," Ms. L.T.T - another parent commented.
On September 23, speaking with Lao Dong, Mr. Do Ngoc Thu - Principal of Han Da Primary and Secondary School said: "The whole school has 674 students, of which 303 are junior high school students and 371 are primary school students.
Recently, the school held a meeting of the entire parent-teacher committee to approve the 2025-2026 school year revenue and expenditure plan, then sent the Report to the People's Committee of Thac Ba commune for approval".
According to the plan provided by the school, there are many fees that parents find unreasonable such as: Organizing activities to educate life skills, arts, and physical education for 25,000 VND/student/session; Equipment of equipment and tools for boarding students (for newly admitted or first-time equipment) 150,000 VND/student; damaged equipment and equipment for boarding students, replacing them in the following years with 80,000 VND/student;
Support for stationery for students to conduct surveys and take a test of 15,000 VND/ submitted to primary school students and 20,000 VND/ submitted to secondary school students; Support for enrollment of 20,000 VND/ submitted to secondary school students/examination; Support for repair and maintenance of teaching aids and equipment, purchase of learning materials, support for maintenance, renovation and repair of facilities 200,000 VND/student...
Regarding the purchase of tables and chairs, the Principal of Han Da Primary and Secondary School explained: The school has registered to buy 20 new sets of tables and chairs but has not been granted. Therefore, teachers and parents have agreed in the form of "the state and the people work together".
Regarding the reason why it has not been approved, teachers of the classes have informed and collected money from parents, Mr. Thu replied: "Maybe because homeroom teachers are afraid that at the beginning of the school year, parents will spend all their money so they should collect in advance".
Regarding the above incident, Mr. Nguyen Van Hien - Chairman of the People's Committee of Thac Ba commune, Lao Cai province confirmed: Up to now, the commune has not approved the collection and spending plan of any school in the area.
"Regarding the contents of parents' feedback, we will review and rectify" - Chairman of Thac Ba Commune People's Committee affirmed.
