7,500 VND is a very small amount of money, in the current era it may not be enough to buy a bottle of water or a cake. But what parents are concerned about is not the material value of that amount of money, but the way the school explains and publicly announces that shortage.
According to the school's explanation, the bonus of 100,000 VND was built from the beginning of the year, which includes both certificates of merit and gifts. Therefore, when awarding prizes, the cost of certificates of merit is included in the total value of the prize.
This explanation sounds reasonable, but it is difficult for parents to accept. Because for them, when they hear the announcement that the first prize will be awarded 100,000 VND, parents naturally assume that students will receive a reward corresponding to that amount of money. When the actual receipt is lower, feelings of disappointment and questions are inevitable.
In reality in life, many conflicts do not originate from right or wrong, but originate from the fact that information is not fully and clearly conveyed.
If from the beginning, the school had made it public, the prize was worth 100,000 VND, including 7,500 VND in certificates of merit and 92,500 VND in bonuses, perhaps the story would have been different.
The requirement for complete, clear, and transparent information becomes even more necessary when the reward funds are not entirely from the budget but mostly from voluntary contributions from parents.
The story of 7,500 VND in Ninh Binh also evokes a familiar reality in many schools today.
That is, there are many revenues and expenditures that are in accordance with regulations but have not been easily informed. When questions arise, both parents and schools feel they are right, and their trust is more or less affected.
The greatest value of a certificate of merit lies in the joy and pride of students when their efforts are recognized.
Therefore, what makes parents concerned and upset when the bonus money and certificate of merit are missing a few thousand VND is not the value of money, but the need and desire for clarity and transparency in the use of the fund they have contributed.
In life, trust is something very difficult to build, but it is easily hurt. Many times, a small amount of money can become a big deal if there is no transparency. Conversely, when all information is fully disclosed, even if reasonable expenses arise, parents are still willing to share and accompany the school.
The story of the 7,500 VND bonus in Ninh Binh is a lesson not only for schools, but also for many relationships in life. Because where there is transparency, trust is strengthened; and when information is unclear, even very small things can become big things.
