Ho Chi Minh City: Suspending operations of American International School AIS in Nha Be district

The Department ofEducation and Training (DET) of Ho Chi Minh City has decided to suspend educational activities for a period of 12 months from July 1 for the American International Primary School (TiH), Middle School (TH) and High School (THPT) (American International School AIS, No. 220 Nguyen Van Tao, Long Thoi Commune, Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City).

According to the decision of the Department of Education and Training, based on the provisions of Point b, Clause 1, Article 50 of the 2019 Education Law and Point b, Clause 1, Article 30 of Decree No. 46/2017/ND-CP, AIS American International School did not meet the conditions for permission to operate educational activities. Specifically, it did not have enough financial resources as prescribed to ensure the maintenance and development of educational activities; the number of management staff was not sufficient to implement educational programs and organize educational activities.

During the suspension period, if the cause of the suspension is resolved, the Department of Education and Training will consider and issue a decision allowing AIS American International School to resume educational activities.

After the suspension period ends and AIS fails to resolve the cause of the suspension, the Department of Education and Training will develop a plan to dissolve the school and submit it to the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee for a decision to dissolve the school according to regulations.

*Decision to suspend operations of American International School AIS*

In addition, the Department of Education and Training also requires AIS American International Education Joint Stock Company and AIS American International School to be responsible for developing and implementing measures to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of students, teachers, managers and employees.

AIS American International Education Joint Stock Company was established on October 15, 2018. At the time of establishment, the school's charter capital was 50 billion VND, the shareholder structure included: Ms. Nguyen Thi Ut Em (90%), the legal representative and Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of AIS American International Education Joint Stock Company.

Previously, since March 19, the city’s Department of Education and Training has received requests for help from many parents because their children were affected when schools owed salaries, causing teachers to not go to school. About 1,400 students had to stop going to school.

In the petition, parents said that students at all levels of the American International School AIS had to endure the anxiety of going to school every day without knowing whether they would be able to study or not. The petition also stated that since September 2023, information about the school owing salaries and delaying teacher salaries began to be shared with parents, and the quality of teaching has deteriorated.

The school has repeatedly held meetings and called on parents to voluntarily contribute more money to help the school cover salary expenses, restructure the school, and resolve the unstable operating situation that affects students' learning.

Previously, in September and October 2023, many parents gathered at the school, holding banners to demand debt from the school. These parents said they lent the school tens of billions of dong without interest so that their children could study for free, but when their children graduated, they still had not received any repayment.

The day after the incident, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a telegram to the Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and the Minister of Education and Training to rectify the activities of the American International School AIS.

According to the Prime Minister's telegram, to ensure the rights of students of the American International School AIS, to rectify foreign investment activities in the education sector to ensure compliance with regulations and the strictness of the law, the Prime Minister requested the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to be responsible for directing relevant agencies of the city to promptly implement appropriate solutions, ensuring the rights of students to study, and not allowing students' studies to be interrupted.

*Certificate of the amount of money that AIS American International School, represented by Ms. Ut Em, owes C's parents, an amount of more than 8 billion VND.*

In addition, there are solutions to stabilize the psychology of students and their parents, as well as to ensure order, security, social safety and stability. Urgently review and consider the responsibility of the investor of the American International School and handle the school's educational activities to ensure compliance with the law and the legitimate rights and interests of students.

The Prime Minister also requested the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City to strictly review and strengthen inspection and examination of schools in the area that are teaching integrated programs and schools with foreign elements to promptly detect and correct violations that may occur early, from afar, and at risk when they first appear.

On the side of the Ministry of Education and Training, the Prime Minister requested to urgently complete the draft Decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 86/2018/ND-CP regulating foreign cooperation and investment in the education sector and Decree No. 46/2017/ND-CP regulating conditions for investment and operation in the education sector.

In particular, there are solutions to strengthen the management of types of schools with foreign elements that are implementing joint ventures, partnerships and implementing integrated programs, international programs, and joint programs with foreign countries.

The Ministry of Education and Training also needs to review and inspect foreign-invested schools nationwide that are teaching integrated programs, international programs, and programs in cooperation with foreign countries to promptly detect, correct, and handle violations, if any.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/giao-duc--y-te1/tp-ho-chi-minh-dinh-chi-hoat-dong-truong-quoc-te-my-ais-tai-huyen-nha-be-i377680/