LookAtVietnam – Students’ parents in Da Nang City are complaining about numerous new school fees.

T, who attended a parents’ meeting last week, related her surprise when she was told that she had to pay 1.1 million dong to cover expenses for her son for the new school year.

She was also “persuaded” to contribute towards the purchase of computers and overhead projectors for the school’s “e-curriculum”.

That was before the teacher also insisted upon several tens of thousands of dong a month to run the air-conditioner in the class.

T says the money is increasingly hard for her to find on her limited income. Meanwhile, T has to pay for another child, who is now learning at secondary school.

T has now decided to remove her son from the class calling it a ‘class for the rich’

At Phan Thanh Primary School, all 16 classes have computers and overhead projectors, while three classes have air conditioners.

Like T, the parents, who have children studying at Tran Cao Van Primary School, have complained that they have to pay 1.5-2 million dong per student at the beginning of the school year, which includes paying for air conditioning, 42 inch TVs and overhead projectors.

Da Nang’s authorities have encouraged schools in the city to use high technology equipment in teaching and learning – however it’s parents that have to fork out to cover costs.

The headmaster of Phan Thanh Primary School proudly says that this ‘education socialisation’ policy has helped change Phan Thanh from a poor school to one well known for its facilities.

However, competition between classes in the school has meant that if some classes have air conditioners, overhead projectors and laptops for teacher, other classes soon want them too.

The Da Nang Education and Training Department has taken inspection tours to primary schools in Da Nang and found out that the highest number of money students have to pay for the new school year is 1,445,000 dong (Hong Nhung kindergarten). Students of Phan Thanh Primary School are required to pay 1.136,000 dong. Meanwhile, students of Le Lai School have to pay 474,000 dong and Le Loi School 126,000 dong only.

VietNamNet/LD, VnMedia