Recently, information about the relocation of the air conditioner at Nghi Duc Primary School was posted on social media, which attracted public attention. “I went to a parent meeting this morning. It cost 3.8 million VND to remove and install the air conditioner from the old room to the new one. The school did not consult with the parents, and only announced the payment after the installation was completed...”, a parent wrote on his personal Facebook page.

At the same time, the parent also informed that the school required the parent to sign a document handing over the air conditioner to the school for full use. However, the parent's class did not agree to the above plan.

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Parents reflect on moving air conditioners from old classrooms to new classrooms. Screenshot

Accordingly, on September 13, at the parent meeting at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, Nghi Duc Primary School announced a number of fees, including the cost of moving and installing air conditioners for 8 classes from the old classroom to the new classroom.

Specifically, the cost of 3-phase electric wire is 740,000 VND; disassembly cost is 300,000 VND; cleaning cost is 400,000 VND; installation cost is 800,000 VND; copper pipe cost is 1,060,000 VND; electric wire cost is 270,000 VND, water pipe cost is 100,000 VND... Total cost is 3,872,500 VND/class.

This afternoon (September 15), Ms. Lam Thi Thuy Hoa - Principal of Nghi Duc Primary School said that the old classrooms were degraded and the walls were damaged. Therefore, the school temporarily used the 3-storey building that had not been handed over in time for the new school year.

Previously, on July 25, the school met with the parents' representative committee (3 parents - PV) to discuss a number of issues related to facilities, teaching equipment and moving the air conditioners of 8 old classrooms.

Ms. Hoa informed that in order for the school's teaching and learning activities to be in order, the school had put the network system into operation first. During the process of installing the network cable, the school allowed the transfer of 16 air conditioners from 8 old classrooms to the new classrooms.

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Air conditioners are installed in new classrooms. Photo: PT

Using 16 air conditioners in the classrooms and 5 administrative rooms, the old power line will not be enough. Therefore, the school has a separate 3-phase power line for the air conditioning system.

At the meeting on October 13, the school said it would support each class with 1.3 million VND, the remaining 2.5 million VND would be paid by parents.

"The school invited 40 parents representing 20 classes to explain and clarify the costs and materials for installing air conditioners. The incident was reported to the Commune People's Committee and the City Department of Education and Training. The information that it cost 3.8 million VND to move 1 air conditioner is not true.

The amount of 3.8 million VND is to move 2 air conditioners/class. At first, it could be due to the teachers' incomplete understanding and communication, leading to some people not fully understanding everything" - Ms. Hoa affirmed.

Ms. Hoa also admitted that there was a shortcoming in the implementation of the air conditioning relocation, only consulting with the parent representative board (consisting of 3 people) and not discussing with the parents of the entire class. However, according to this principal, the implementation was during the summer so she was not able to invite all the parent representatives of the 20 classes to ask for their opinions.

Responding to the press, Ms. Hoang Phuong Thao - Head of the Department of Education and Training of Vinh City said that the department had received a report from the school about the above incident. Regarding the price and cost of installing and removing the air conditioner, the department has not checked.

At the same time, the Department of Education and Training has directed Nghi Duc Primary School to continue to mobilize parents to join in. In case parents do not agree, the school must save and arrange other sources to pay the contractor for air conditioning installation fees.

Parents in Hanoi complain about sky-high air conditioner prices

Parents in Hanoi complain about sky-high air conditioner prices

Many parents of Duc Giang Primary School (Hoai Duc District, Hanoi) expressed their anger when the school announced that it would charge 131,000 VND/student to transport 2 air conditioners to the school's new location - 2 km away from the old location.
Head of parents' association burst into tears over the air conditioner at the end of the school year

Head of parents' association burst into tears over the air conditioner at the end of the school year

"When the children graduated, even though we agreed on a plan to liquidate the air conditioner to have a fund for the children's party, some parents still criticized me for 'taking advantage of others' and taking the class's common property to please the principal," Ms. Dung recounted.