Teacher asks parents for money to buy personal computer: "I was wrong"

The case of teacher TPH - homeroom teacher of class 4/3 at Chuong Duong Primary School (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) - being reported by parents for asking for donations to buy personal computers (laptops) with inappropriate words and behavior is causing public outrage.

Before reporting to the press, parents, the school and teachers had a meeting on the afternoon of September 24. The meeting was attended by the Board of Directors of Chuong Duong Primary School, teacher TPH and 27/38 parents of students in class 4/3.

At this meeting, teacher TPH said she had caused parents to misunderstand her intentions through messages in the class group.

"I was wrong when I asked parents to equip themselves with laptops, and wrong when I kept the class fund," Ms. H. admitted in the meeting minutes. The female teacher also apologized to the school leaders and parents of the 4/3 class and promised to correct all the mistakes she had made.

Messages asking for support to buy personal computers from the homeroom teacher on the parents' group (Screenshot).

In response to parents' complaints about the teacher letting students watch too much TV, the female teacher explained that she only opened YouTube for students to refer to in their studies.

Regarding parents' opinions that it is difficult to communicate with teachers about their children's learning situation, Ms. TPH said that she will regularly contact parents in teaching and educating students.

"I will take better care of the students. I hope parents will give me a chance," the meeting minutes recorded.

Although the teacher admitted her mistake and promised to correct it, many parents attending the meeting still openly expressed their disagreement with the teacher continuing to teach or transferring their children to another class.

"I do not accept Ms. H. continuing to teach in class because she has seriously violated the ethics of a teacher," a parent expressed her opinion.

At the meeting, the Board of Directors of Chuong Duong Primary School apologized to the parents for this incident. The school leaders also thoroughly explained some regulations on socialization of education and management of parents' funds.

It emphasizes that the parent-teacher association should maintain funds and have a clear spending plan. Funds should only be spent on students, not teachers. Purchased assets are the common property of the whole class.

Regarding the transfer of Ms. H., the representative of the Board of Directors said that the transfer or selection of a guest teacher would not be possible due to lack of funds. Another option proposed was to divide class 4/3 into the remaining 3 classes. While waiting for the school to make arrangements, class 4/3 would continue to study as usual.

"Parents, if possible, please give Ms. H. a chance to make amends," said a representative of the Board of Directors.

Previously, as Dan Tri reported, in the parent-teacher meeting on September 14, Ms. TPH asked parents to support her with money to buy a laptop because hers had just been lost. Some parents calculated and offered to support the teacher to buy a computer costing 5-6 million VND/unit.

Two days later, Ms. H. continued to text the parents saying that she had bought the laptop for 11 million VND, she asked for support of 6 million VND, and that the laptop was hers.

Along with the above message, Ms. H. created a vote on Zalo to agree/disagree for parents to vote. Notably, when a parent expressed disagreement, Ms. H. immediately asked which child's parent it was and then locked the vote.

After that, Ms. H. texted to say that 26 parents agreed, 3 parents disagreed, and 9 parents had no opinion. Since there were parents who disagreed, she would not accept the support and would buy and use it herself.

The incident continued when on September 17, the teacher texted the parents again, saying that she would not have to prepare a review outline for the students. She agreed to review the lesson and the parents would review it themselves.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/co-giao-xin-phu-huynh-ung-ho-tien-mua-may-tinh-ca-nhan-toi-da-sai-20240928134844326.htm