Inner-city schools complain about difficulties because of the 35,000 VND boarding fee

Ho Chi Minh City Many inner-city schools have cut afternoon snacks or reduced lunch food due to the ceiling price of 35,000 VND for boarding meals.

Ms. Mai, a parent of a 7th grader at Huynh Khuong Ninh Secondary School in District 1, said that at the first parent meeting of the year, the school announced that the lunch fee for boarding students would be 35,000 VND, a decrease of 5,000 VND compared to last year, so the afternoon meal would have to be cut. Therefore, every day she lets her child bring yogurt or cake to class.

"We want to pay the same as last year so that our children can eat the same, but the teachers said that was the ceiling and we couldn't charge more," she said.

Huy Hoang, a 12th grader at a high school in District 3, also clearly felt that the lunch was not as filling as in previous years. The amount of rice and soup remained the same, but the number of salty and stir-fried dishes decreased, and the dessert was only bananas, while previously there were many different types of fruit. Hoang often bought bread or cakes from the cafeteria to eat more.

After the first two months of the new school year, many schools in Ho Chi Minh City's inner city said they had to make do with only 35,000 VND for meals, while many years ago they collected a higher amount.

Students of grades 2 and 3 at Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School get lunch on October 11. Photo: Le Nguyen — Students of grades 2 and 3 at Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School get lunch on October 11. Photo *: Le Nguyen*

According to Resolution 04 issued in July by the City People's Council, schools in Group 1 (districts and Thu Duc City) are allowed to collect a maximum of VND35,000 per lunch. This rate for schools in suburban areas is VND32,000.

Lunch does not include a snack, but schools are flexible enough to provide this meal for students at the beginning of the afternoon school day.

Ms. Dinh Thi Thu Huong, Principal of Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School in District 1, said that the school registered for industrial meals because it did not have a kitchen. For nearly 10 years, the price of meals at the school has been maintained at 35,000 VND, including 27,000 VND for lunch and 8,000 VND for snacks. According to her, the school is able to maintain this price partly thanks to the number of students registered for winter boarding (more than 900 students).

This year, the school plans to increase the meal fee to 38,000-40,000 VND because of rising costs and prices. The supplier also proposed to increase the price, but the school's collection has reached the ceiling.

"The school has to reduce the afternoon snack. Before, the afternoon snack had two combined dishes, maybe a box of milk, yogurt and cake, fruit, now there is only one type of cake or milk," said Ms. Huong.

Despite organizing a kitchen at the school, the principal of a primary school in District 3 still has a headache managing meals for students with a fee of 35,000 VND. Currently, lunch costs 25,000 VND, and afternoon snack costs 10,000 VND. However, in the near future, the school plans to consult parents about reducing afternoon snacks to compensate for better quality lunches.

"If we cut the afternoon snack, students will be at a disadvantage. Parents want their children to wake up with a box of milk or a piece of cake to replenish their energy. If we reduce the food in lunch, the meals will be sparse and unsightly," he said.

The afternoon meal cut was implemented at Huynh Khuong Ninh Secondary School in District 1 at the beginning of the year. The school has about 700/750 students who eat on-board. Last year, the school registered for industrial meals at VND35,000 for lunch and VND5,000 for afternoon meals.

Also in group 1, Dao Son Tay High School in Thu Duc City is more favorable. Each lunch costs 35,000 VND, cooked directly at the school by a unit. Ms. Do Thi Hao, principal, said that last year the school charged 33,000 VND, this year parents agreed to increase by 2,000 VND so that students' meals would be more complete during the price storm. According to Ms. Hao, the reason is that in Thu Duc, prices are somewhat "softer" than in central districts such as districts 1 and 3.

"In the inner city, a normal lunch costs 35,000-40,000 VND, while meals for students have higher requirements regarding food standards, processing, preservation, and transportation," said Mr. Khoa.

Teachers said many parents voluntarily contributed more to maintain the meals for students as before, but the school did not dare to collect because it could not go against the city's general regulations.

Principals believe that applying a common ceiling for all schools in an area, regardless of grade level, is unreasonable. They propose adjusting the ceiling for meals to 40,000 VND or setting a price range for schools to flexibly implement.

"The nutritional and energy standards for each meal for students of all levels are different. Applying a fixed level of 35,000 VND is difficult, especially for schools in central areas," said Mr. Khoa.

Cleaning staff and arranging utensils in the kitchen of Bong Sao Primary School in early October. Photo: CP

Mr. Ho Tan Minh, Chief of Office of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, said he had received feedback from schools about this matter.

He said the ceiling price for boarding meals is VND35,000 for schools in inner-city areas and VND32,000 for schools in suburban areas based on the Department's proposal. Previously, the Department had compiled and calculated the average price of boarding meals of schools in these two areas for three consecutive school years, combining the socio-economic norms of each region and some other factors.

Based on this proposal, the Culture and Social Committee of the People's Council surveyed and consulted many agencies and schools and set the current level.

According to Mr. Minh, the ceiling set by the People's Council is universal for the entire city. Therefore, during the implementation process, there may still be some cases that encounter difficulties and shortcomings.

"The Department also recorded the opinions of the units, the Department of Culture and Society conducted a field survey. After a school year, the units will meet to discuss and make adjustments (if any)," said Mr. Minh.

In the immediate future, if the school cannot organize a lunch because 35,000 is not enough, students have to eat lunch at the canteen, the schools still have to monitor the price, quality and food safety and hygiene.

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