Specifying the proposed amount is incorrect
On December 5, social networks were abuzz with the proposal of the Parents' Committee of an 11th grade class at Thang Long High School (Hanoi) to have each student pay 800,000 VND to organize a music and arts seminar.
The incident started with a parent whose child is in grade 11 at this school. The parent said: a few days ago, the class's Parents' Committee sent a message in the class group about paying for students to organize a 45-minute performance program "Spring Offering to the Party" in early February 2025.
The announcement stated: "In order for the program to be organized on a large scale with the most reasonable time arrangement for the children to ensure their studies and good performance in the first semester, the class's Parents' Committee invited the choreographer and class officers to plan the program and organize for the children to gradually practice to keep up with the school's program.
Because the implementation costs are also high, the Parents' Committee proposed that each student pay an additional amount of 800,000 VND. The Parents' Committee hopes for the consensus and support of parents in their children's big event. In addition to paying according to regulations, the Parents' Committee would like to call on benefactors to contribute more to support additional funds for activities, water, gym rental... for the children. At the same time, the Parents' Committee also proposed that this collection be made before December 5.
The parents’ sharing and suggestions with the above content posted on social networks have attracted public attention. Some opinions say that the amount of money spent on a performance of 800,000 VND/student is too high and wasteful; such forms of “coercion” should be absolutely banned in schools.
Sharing about the incident, Principal of Thang Long High School Le Trung Tin said that upon receiving the feedback, the Board of Directors worked with the homeroom teacher and the Parents' Association of the class to clarify the information and confirmed: some parents of grade 11 wanted to create conditions for their children to perform with invested costumes, helping their children to leave their mark on their school days in cultural and artistic activities, so they proposed a fee and did not force them. However, in principle, stating the proposed amount is incorrect, it is necessary to comply with the spirit of voluntary contribution of parents.
According to the Principal of Thang Long High School, the school will closely monitor the classes to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
It is known that, according to the tradition of Thang Long High School, each class will have the opportunity to perform arts, singing, and drama in front of the whole school. The purpose of the activity is to help students connect, practice confidence, be bold in collective activities, and develop their own abilities. The entire process of practicing, choreographing or performing is proactively done by the classes. Right from the beginning of the school year, Thang Long High School has thoroughly implemented the spirit of economical organization, without fussiness or color, and encouraged students to wear uniforms when performing.
Avoid waste
Culture and arts at school are healthy activities, providing a playground for students to develop comprehensively; at the same time creating an exciting and vibrant atmosphere in schools.
However, many similar incidents have occurred at Thang Long High School, causing public outrage. Recently, in early November 2024, the Parents' Representative Committee of 8th grade students at Nguyen Chi Thanh Secondary School, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City caused a stir when it shared an open letter with a budget estimate for a performance to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers' Day, November 20, at the school of nearly 22 million VND.
The Parents' Committee's open letter stated: the folk song performance cost 10 million VND to choreograph, 5.61 million VND to rent costumes, 6 million VND for food and drinks for 10 members of the art team, along with sports activities. The total cost for this performance is 21.61 million VND. The Parents' Committee of the class hopes to receive support, deep concern, and sharing from each parent in the spirit of building and accompanying the class, so that the children can have fun activities and meaningful gratitude....
After learning about the incident, the principal of Nguyen Chi Thanh Secondary School asked teachers and the class's Parents' Association to consider a suitable solution and not to solicit or collect such a large amount of money from parents.
In October 2023, social media also reported that the parents' association of an 8th grade class at Ha Huy Tap Secondary School (Vinh City, Nghe An) raised 700,000 VND/student to buy uniforms and perform arts. The school then requested the Parents' Association of this class to withdraw the notice and not to collect the money because it violated regulations and was against the school's guidelines.
If in the past, the staging of art performances was "home-grown", composed and performed by students, teachers or parents, now, the performances often require investment in hiring choreographers, costumes, props... at a cost of millions.
Investing in performing arts is extremely important and depends on personal opinion; but clearly, with the difficult economic conditions, the estimated cost should not be wasteful and absolutely avoid giving specific, average revenue to avoid unnecessary noise, affecting the spirit of students.
Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/de-xuat-thu-800-000-dong-hoc-sinh-tap-van-nghe-ban-phu-huynh-thu-sai-quy-dinh.html
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