Note when choosing private schools, schools with foreign elements

N MANY NON-PUBLISH SCHOOLS CLOSED

On February 14, 2025, Saigon Pearl International School (ISSP, with two levels of education: preschool and primary school) announced that it would stop accepting new applications after the end of the 2024-2025 school year, due to the number of students decreasing over the years and insufficient funds to continue operating. The school instructed parents to transfer their children to Ho Chi Minh City International School, or provided support if parents wanted to transfer their children to another school.

Inside the school introduced as an American international kindergarten in Hanoi

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY PARENTS

Previously, on July 1, 2024, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City suspended the operation of the American International School (AISVN) in Nha Be District due to insufficient teaching conditions, lack of finance, teachers, staff, etc.

In December 2024, Saigon Star International School sent an email announcing its temporary closure due to enforcement of the judgment. Many parents who had paid hundreds of millions of dong, even billions of dong in tuition fees for their children were shocked. This school has not been licensed since the Covid-19 pandemic, and has not yet been permitted to operate by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, and is not on the list of non-public schools on the Department of Education and Training's management system.

In Hanoi, in early March 2025 and many months before, the school introduced as "Rosemont Vietnam American International Kindergarten" also continuously announced its closure, making parents restless because they had to pay tens of millions to hundreds of millions of VND in advance for many months of tuition. According to research, this educational institution was established in 2018, with 4 campuses in Thanh Xuan, Hoang Mai, Nam Tu Liem, and Long Bien districts. Last year, the campus in Long Bien was "striked" by teachers due to unpaid wages, forcing children to stop studying. According to local management officials, this is not an international school as its name suggests, but only an independent licensed preschool under the name Nui Hoa Hong Independent Preschool.

WHAT SHOULD PARENTS DO?

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, a consultant in developing general education programs for non-public schools in Vietnam, said that among the schools that have recently announced their closure, there are schools that have been in operation for quite a long time and the quality of education has been established. According to Dr. Huyen, school closures can be due to many reasons, including financial management issues, legal risks, risks of limited enrollment, competitive environment, operating costs, etc. However, we should not lose faith in the system of private schools and schools with proper foreign elements.

To choose a good school for their children, according to Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, parents need to consider information about the school, including the curriculum, quality commitments, the school's history of operation over time, standards, information, and whether teachers' profiles are allowed to be made public or not. In addition, it is necessary to refer to the comments and reviews of parents who have experienced the school's educational programs for a period of time... After finding out all the information from these channels, parents should compare it with the needs, wishes, and financial resources of the family, including the location of the school to their home to make the appropriate choice.

Particularly for preschool and primary schools, Dr. Thu Huyen emphasized that when looking for a school, parents must pay attention to the factor of a safe learning environment for their children, including physical safety, demonstrated through the way of construction, space arrangement, furniture, equipment, etc. Safety also includes nutrition, kitchen area and psychological safety.

Dr. Thu Huyen also recommends that we need to learn about the standards for teachers at kindergartens and primary schools, including qualifications and experience of teachers and nannies. This needs to be made public by the school.

The third important factor is the educational program. "Some parents only expect their children to be happy when going to school, but in reality, the educational program must be effective and scientifically designed," said Ms. Thu Huyen.

Teacher Nguyen Van Ngai, former Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said that in theory, when a private school or a school with foreign elements ceases operations, students can transfer to a public school. However, differences in curriculum, language of instruction, continuity of curriculum, school culture, certificates, degrees, etc. all create challenges for students and parents; not to mention the psychological effects and disturbances on students.

Mr. Ngai said that parents need to carefully study the legal conditions of the school where their children will study. They should consult lawyers and be alert when participating in capital contributions and educational investment packages. They need to carefully study partners, closely consider contract terms, have clear legal bindings, and avoid risks.

Parents need to consider many factors when choosing a private school or a school with foreign elements for their children.

Photo: phcc

SOLUTIONS IN CHALLENGING TIMES

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen said that this is a time of great challenge for private schools and schools with foreign elements after a series of events, especially the difficult economic situation and the decreasing birth rate.

In the coming time, schools must also consider carefully the management of operating costs, enrollment, marketing, reinvestment, personnel costs, etc. In the context of maintaining quality and ensuring operations, convincing parents, it is clear that schools must determine which investment will focus on which factors. In education, investing in people, in this case teachers, will bring more sustainable results.

In addition, Ms. Thu Huyen said that it is also necessary for the voice of management agencies to publicly disclose legal documents, inspection results, evaluations, and inspections of private schools and schools with foreign elements to reassure parents.

Rectifying the situation of foreign-invested schools

On February 3, 2025, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City issued an official dispatch to rectify the educational activities of foreign-invested kindergartens and general schools in the city.

The document stated that "after more than 4 months of inspecting and reviewing the educational activities of foreign-invested schools in the city, the Department of Education and Training found that some schools have not organized their activities in accordance with current regulations."

The Department of Education and Training recommends that schools proactively conduct internal inspections and review the organization of activities in accordance with regulations.

Since 2023, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City has publicized data such as licenses, curriculum, facilities, teaching staff, etc. of all public and non-public preschools in all districts, towns, and Thu Duc City of Ho Chi Minh City at https://pgdmamnon.hcm.edu.vn/congkhaicosogiaoduc .

The list of non-public schools managed by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training is publicly available at https://ngoaiconglap.hcm.edu.vn/c3tuthuc .