VietNamNet Bridge – Although the 2009-2010 new school year is nine months away, many parents are already worrying about where to send their school-age children.

Many developers of high-rise buildings avoid building social infrastructure, such as schools, markets, health clinics and parks.

She said she did not want her child to study at the Dai Kim primary school just one kilometre from her home because “the school is in the countryside”.

She would rather send her child to a school in an urban area close to her office.

Most new urban dwellers do not want to send their children to rural schools as they think the standards are lower.

But the simple fact is that, in the last decade, many new urban areas have been built on the outskirts of the capital city, often on reclaimed agricultural land.

Many developers of high-rise buildings avoid building social infrastructure, such as schools, markets, health clinics and parks.

A man has lived on floor 7, block CT3 in Bac Linh Dam since 2002. At the time, he didn’t think much about where his young daughter would go to school. But by the time she was five, schooling became a major issue.

For parents, good schools mean good education for children they treasure.

Under its new urban plans, Ha Noi will have a total of 38 new urban areas, of which 10 areas are already commissioned. But only the Nam Trung Yen urban area has a public school.

Dang Van Truong, director of the Education and Training Division in Hoang Mai district conceded there were no public schools in new urban areas in his district.

“There is plenty of land for building schools, but no one has expressed an interest in building them,” Truong said.

Hoang Mai, which is home to several new urban areas, does have one school, named Phuong Nam, but it is private and expensive, and offers schooling from grades one to 12.

Bui Thi Van Anh, director of the Education and Training Division in Cau Giay District, said Trung Hoa-Nhan Chinh area also had no public schools. “We have complained many times, but nothing has been achieved,” he said.

Most new urban dwellers cannot afford to send their children to private schools.

Nguyen Trang, who lives at block T9, has two daughters five and three years old.

She sent her first child to kindergarten next to her apartment, but the smaller one has to stay at home.

“I want to send my second child to school, but I don’t have the money for fees,” said Trang.

“My salary is merely VND2.3 million a month. It is barely enough to pay for my first child’s tuition fees and meals. My husband’s salary is better than mine, but just sufficient to cover family spending.”

She said in 2009 her daughter would start school. She and her husband planned to send her to a private school near their home so that she would not have to travel far.

Public school

About seven years ago, Ha Noi authorities decided to enlarge the Thang Long primary school to an area of 1,500m2 by 2010 to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi on October 10, 2010.

But Phan Thi Thang, the school headmaster, said it would take several years more to complete work.

“Now, only half of the plan has been completed,” Thang said.

Thang Long primary is a role model for schools. In 1985, it was awarded the title “Labour Hero” for its achievements in education development.

The school is located in Hoan Kiem District. It has 1,135 students divided into 27 classes.

Due to lack of space, students study in four different localities – 20 Ngo Tram; 220 Hang Bong; 23 Nguyen Quang Bich and 36 Ly Thai To.

A dream of having all students in the same place remains unfulfilled.

In Ha Noi, many other schools are in the same situation.

(Source: Viet Nam News)