VietNamNet Bridge – The recent boom in self-proclaimed high-quality schools is leaving many parents complaining of a dearth in official criteria to assess standards.

A class at the Dinh Cong Semi-public Kindergarten in Hoang Mai District, Ha Noi.

Most participants at the talks agreed that to be high-quality, schools must have well-equipped infrastructure, skilled teaching staff and small class numbers.

While officials struggle to set standards to define what it means to be “high quality”, many private schools proclaim themselves as such to attract students.

As well as advertising top facilities and services, schools often offer extras, like school bus services, foreign language classes and periodical health checks, to raise their fees.

Mother of a four-year-old son Nguyen Ngoc Van decided to choose a private nursery school in Nguyen Van To Street after taking a look at a well-known public school.

“The number of students in each class at a public school is 70. The teachers can’t possibly take care of each child,” she said, adding that her choice meant she had to spend VND1.4 million (US$85) for monthly fees and VND2 million ($121) for cooking, not including VND1.2 million ($73) for registration fees.

According to recent statistics issued by the education department, there are roughly 300 public and 461 private pre-schools operating and taking care of more than 269,200 children in the city. However, 60 per cent of parents choose private and home-based kindergartens due to the limited number of public schools.

High price to pay

There are hundreds of self-proclaimed high quality schools operating without official licences, according to a representative from the Ministry of Education and Training’s Primary Education Department.

However, the gap between public and high-quality school fees remains large, depending on how many services the school offers, but the level of quality is still a question posed by both authorities and parents.

Vietkids, one of the most popular private pre-schools in the city, has increased its monthly fee to VND2 million ($121) after several years operation, but many argue the quality of the school does not match the fees.

A representative from the school branch in Nguyen Khuyen Street admitted that all 200 children study and play in the total area of 550sq.m, averaging 2.8sq.m per child. This is sub-standard compared to the ministry’s current requirements.

Another school, the Ha Noi VIP charges $100 for each pre-school student and $150 for primary school kids. Other costs, including food, uniforms, transport and insurance can add up to VND1.5 million ($91).

Nguyen Hong Lien, mother of two children studying at Ha Noi VIP, said that the school’s services did not match the fees, despite the spacious environment and small class sizes.

Mother-of-one Van said she was not so concerned about official criteria. “What I really worry about is whether my children get hygienic and nutritious meals and a proper curriculum.”

Head of Nguyen Sieu Primary School Nguyen Trong Vinh said it was time the national education sector worked out a specific criteria for setting out school standards. “These schools must be granted licences which should be classified according to standards. This would help parents choose the right institution for their kids,” he said.

(Source: Viet Nam News)