VietNamNet Bridge – A lot of primary school students have very creative business ideas and they implement the ideas in classes and their schools.

Dang sells many kinds of fish. He bought them when they were very young, fed and cared for them and, when they grow up, Dang sell them to friends.

He noted that many of his classmates are also doing business, like making kites to sell.

Vo Thanh My, a 4^th grade student in HCM City, sells bracelets and hairclips to her classmates. “I can earn a little money, just enough to offer ice cream to my friends,” she revealed when asked about the profits from her business.

She had the idea of selling hairclips when she saw small kids always browing through hairclips when they go with parents to the market near My’s house. Now, during recess, My opens her “shop.” She added that “Every bracelet or hairclip is 1,000-3,000 dong, fitting the pockets of my friends.”

My’s mother is opposed to My’s business venture, but she continues with her business because she wants to earn money herself. This way she can purchase her textbooks and ease the burden on her parents.

Other students do not sell goods, they rent electronic games to classmates. Robots, aircrafts and vehicles can all be leased at 500 to 1000 dong per day.

Still more students have special business plans. They lend money and charge interest rates on the loans.

Ho Van T, a third grade student, knows some students who can lend money. “If you borrow 1000 dong, you need to pay an interest rate of 100 dong per day,” he estimated. “Some of my friends borrow money for cooking or to play electronic games.”

At Tran Quoc Thao School, interest rates are more exorbitant. A group of students lend 1000 dong and require repayment of 1500 dong after one week, equaling an interest rate of 50 percent per day.

Most parents do not agree with their children running these businesses, saying that the most important task of these kids is studying, not making money.

Nguyen Thi Quynh Giao in HCM City has a daughter in the third grade, who, along with her classmates, made cards to sell on Christmas. The little girl related that her group had to compete with other groups in the class who also made cards. “Friends only purchase beautiful and cheap cards,” she commented, adding that the cards made by her group sold at only 1000 dong.

Giao told his daughter that she needs to concentrate on learning rather than selling cards and she will not be allowed to do it again next year.

Nguyen Van Hung, who has a 2^nd grader, forbade his child to do business. He explained, “When they try to earn money, they will not concentrate on learning any more. Their heads will be full of money and thoughts about how to earn money.”

Meanwhile, other parents don’t take the kids’ businesses so seriously. They believe that it is good for small kids to become independent. Some argue that doing business and losing money is an education, as the children understand that it is not easy to earn money. The parents also assert that, in some foreign countries, primary schools encourage their students to dream up business ideas.

“I know that in foreign countries, students organize “trade fairs” on weekends and holidays, and then invite their parents to visit and purchase their products,” he cited. “This will help make students to become more dynamic and also help them to study better.”

Bao Anh