Despite the disruption to their studies, all Grade 11 students studying the International Baccalaureate (IB) program will have their results confirmed, according to the commitment of the American International School Vietnam (AISVN).
The above information was sent to parents of grade 11 students yesterday afternoon by the high school office of the American International School.
Representatives of the secondary school sector expressed their sympathy for the unprecedented situation that parents and students have been going through recently. Although there are “no guarantees for next year” and many foreign teachers will leave Vietnam around June, the secondary school sector affirmed that it will ensure the rights of grade 11 students this school year.
"We are committed to helping students complete Year 11 and earn credit for all the work they have done this year," the statement said. "To achieve this, students need to keep up with the work their teachers assign, especially the official IB assessments."
Ms. Minh Tu, a parent whose child is in grade 11 at AISVN, said this announcement was a mental liberation for her and many parents.
"I am touched that the principal and teachers kept their promise. We don't know what will happen next year, but at least this year the students' rights are guaranteed, teachers will write letters of recommendation, and prepare transcripts for higher education," said Ms. Tu.
A sigh of relief was also the feeling of Ms. Ha Phuong, the parent of an 11th grade student, after receiving the school's notice.
"Although I still have concerns about the school's long-term situation, I am temporarily reassured about my child's education. The announcement from the principal and teachers is a commitment that my child will complete the 11th grade program and be fully evaluated," Ms. Phuong shared, adding that parents are also reassured to work when they see that their child's education is stable and there are enough teachers for all subjects.
Since the beginning of March, Ms. Phuong has been "standing on fire, sitting on coals" when teachers have been absent sporadically, and her child has not been able to study enough subjects. The peak was on March 18, when the entire school had to take a day off because most teachers did not come to class. The mother was worried that her son would not have enough points for all subjects or worse, would have to drop out of the 11th grade program and have to go to another school to study again.
IB is the International Baccalaureate program, IB results are recognized by many universities, so students use these results to apply to university, and at the same time are exempted from some credits (sometimes up to a semester or the first year of bachelor's degree). University applications are usually submitted at the beginning of students' 12th grade, so students mainly use their 11th grade results.
According to Ms. Tu, if the 11th grade is not completed and there is no transcript, the child will have a "dead end" in entering university. The mother added that many 11th grade students have transferred schools, and although they are still studying the IB system at the new school, the families still have to wait for the IB transcript from AISVN to complete the transfer procedure.
"The confirmation from the high school office has resolved the parents' biggest concern," said Ms. Tu.
In the long term, Ms. Phuong hopes that parents will join hands to contribute so that the school can maintain operations until June and the next school year, while waiting for the school owner to have a restructuring plan.
Students of American International School. Photo: AISVN
AISVN was established in 2006, with a campus in Nha Be district. AISVN's tuition fees are 280-725 million VND per year, depending on the level of study. The school said it was facing financial difficulties and needed 125 billion VND to operate for the rest of the school year. In mid-March, more than 1,200 students had to take a leave of absence because teachers did not show up for school due to unpaid wages.
Many parents are stuck because they have paid billions of dong in tuition fees, and it is not easy to transfer schools when the second semester is about to end. Not to mention, the curriculum of most AISVN students is the International Baccalaureate (from grades 1 to 12), so transferring schools is also difficult because the curriculum is not compatible.
To date, 7 high schools have agreed to accept AISVN students, including Australian International School (AIS), European International School (EIS), Ho Chi Minh City International School (ISHCMC), British Vietnamese International School (BVIS), North America (SNA), American International School (TAS) and British International School (BIS). According to information on the website, the tuition fees of the schools are about 500-900 million VND per year for the IB system. Some AISVN parents have transferred their children to other schools.
Since the beginning of April, thanks to contributions from parents, AISVN students have returned to school and studied according to the correct schedule.
Thanh Hang - Le Nguyen
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