In a document sent to ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, People's Committees of provinces and cities, and Departments of Education and Training, the Ministry of Education and Training requested localities and units to direct schools to strictly implement the regulations on collection for the 2023-2024 school year.
"Absolutely do not allow overcharging at the beginning of the school year and thoroughly instruct schools to mobilize, manage and use sponsorships and aid in accordance with regulations," the Ministry of Education and Training stated.
Consecutive cases of overcharging at the beginning of the new school year, the Ministry of Education and Training urgently directs. (Illustration photo: TN)
The Ministry also requested localities to strengthen inspection, examination and supervision of collection levels and fees in schools. In particular, schools are responsible for explaining to students and society about collection levels and fees.
The above document was issued in the context of continuous controversies and public outrage related to the revenue and expenditure situation at the beginning of the school year. In early September 2023, social networks were abuzz with images of statistics showing the amount of money that parents of students at Thanh Mien III High School, Hai Duong had to pay at the beginning of the school year, up to 8.7 million VND.
The items listed in this table include: Tuition, parking, personal insurance, health insurance, notebooks, seats, student ID cards, drinking water, sanitation, parent association fund, uniforms, electronic contact book, surveys, general tests, television, socialization, scholarship fund.
The inspection team of the Department of Education and Training of Hai Duong requested the school to stop collecting the fees that were being implemented. At the same time, the Principal of Thanh Mien III High School was asked to review his own responsibilities and those of related individuals.
On September 26, social networks were abuzz with an image of a table listing 16 fees collected at the beginning of the school year at Nguyen Trai Secondary School (Hai Duong). Among the 16 items listed, there are items that are not included in the list of fees collected according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training and Resolution No. 8 of the Hai Duong People's Council.
Some fees are outside the regulations such as chairs and flags 25,000 VND/student; life skills 432,000 VND; buying televisions 300,000 VND, parents' association fund 250,000 VND; supporting excellent students to take exams 50,000 VND; buying speakers 15,000 VND; supporting facilities 168,000 VND.
Immediately after that, social networks continued to spread images of the list of estimated operating expenses of the Parents' Representative Board of Tu Hiep Secondary School (Thanh Tri, Hanoi) with dozens of "strange" revenue items.
"Strange" revenues include gratitude to teachers on November 20 (45 - 50 million VND), paying tuition fees for students to study at Chu Van An (10 - 15 million VND); meeting fees for class leaders, heads of parent representatives of the whole school to review the first semester and the school year (12 - 15 million VND); supporting the organization of the Mid-Autumn Festival for all students in the whole school (32 - 39 million VND), gratitude to teachers on the occasion of Lunar New Year (45 - 50 million VND).
Total estimated revenue and expenditure for the school year ranges from 437 to 518 million VND. The Department of Education and Training of Thanh Tri district is verifying and clarifying.
'No principal has been dismissed for overcharging'
Responding to VOV2, Mr. Pham Van Hoa, National Assembly Delegate of Dong Thap province, said that the policy of socializing education is correct, but this is not the reason to ask parents to pay for everything from fans, air conditioners, curtains, classroom painting... to buying tables, chairs, projectors, and televisions.
Mr. Pham Van Hoa wondered why the higher management agencies did not know about the revenues reported by educational institutions? Or did they know but turn a blind eye? Where is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Education and Training in management?
Besides, this delegate also asked why, in the past, many schools have been illegally collecting fees, causing outrage in society, but no principal has been disciplined or dismissed?
Ha Cuong
Source
Comment (0)