American International School Vietnam received 17.7 billion VND from parents this afternoon, announced to reopen from April 3.
On the evening of April 1, Ms. Tran Phuong Anh, representative of parents of American International School Vietnam (AISVN), said that the account jointly owned by AISVN - Department of Education and Training - Parents, had received 17.7 billion VND after five hours, up to 7:00 p.m.
However, because the account has just been opened, the parties cannot yet transact or transfer money to pay teachers' salaries.
In the email sent to parents tonight, AISVN also stated this content, along with a notice that students will continue to be off on April 2 and are expected to return to school from April 3.
"When I knew the account number, I immediately paid 43.5 million VND for my child for 3 months, hoping that the authorities will quickly pay the teachers' salaries so that my children can go back to school," said Ms. Phuong, whose child is in 3rd grade.
AISVN students in learning activities at the beginning of 2023. Photo: AISVN
The amount of 17.7 billion is still far from AISVN's wish when calling for parents' contributions.
At a meeting between parents and the school and city authorities on the afternoon of March 30, AISVN reported that it was financially insolvent, unable to pay teachers’ salaries and maintain teaching activities. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ut Em, Chairwoman of the School Board, asked parents to contribute an additional VND125 billion to pay teachers’ salaries and operate the school until the end of June.
The support level she proposed is 9.5 million VND for preschool, 14.5 million VND for primary school, 20.5 million VND for grades 6-8. From grades 9 to 12, it is 25.5 million VND. In addition, parents who have not paid the International Baccalaureate (IB) program fee, facilities fee, and bus fee in October 2023 will pay additional fees in this period.
The HCM City Department of Education and Training said the account receiving the money is controlled by the agency, AISVN and parent representatives. This afternoon, the Department worked with teachers on salaries and insurance but has not yet announced the results.
The AISVN scandal was so intense two weeks ago that all students had to take a day off because most teachers did not show up to teach because they were owed salaries. On March 20, the number of teachers who quit their jobs reached 85. Many parents were stuck because they had paid billions of dong in tuition fees, and transferring schools when the second semester was about to end was not easy.
In a report to the Prime Minister, the city said that the authorities are applying measures to ban Ms. Nguyen Thi Ut Em from leaving the country due to personal income tax debts. AISVN will be suspended from enrolling students for the 2024-2025 school year until the investor resolves financial and personnel issues and stabilizes teaching.
AISVN was established in 2006 and currently has more than 1,210 students studying the International Baccalaureate program. Tuition fees are VND280-350 million per year for preschool, VND450-500 million for primary school and VND600-725 million for secondary school.
The school has 129 foreign teachers, 26 Vietnamese teachers and 103 staff. Currently, the teachers are owed February salaries. Foreign teachers are owed an additional 30% of January salaries.
Last October, AISVN attracted attention when parents gathered to demand debt. These parents said they lent the school tens of billions of dong without interest, without collateral, through loan and investment contracts. In return, their children received free education, and the school committed to paying them after the students graduated or transferred schools. However, they did not receive their money back.
Le Nguyen
*Parents' names have been changed
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