VietNamNet Bridge - The chair of Yen Lap District, a poor locality in the northern province of Phu Tho, has refused 100 scholarships offered to local poor students to avoid possible disputes.

 

In order to help poor students in mountainous areas overcome difficulties and continue their study, the press and non-government agencies have been calling businesses and organizations to give financial support to the students. 

Giao Duc Viet Nam newspaper (Vietnam’s Education), which successfully collected 100 scholarships for charity on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the country’s reunion on April 30, decided to offer scholarships, worth VND50 million in total, to students in Yen Lap District in Phu Tho province.

The newspaper chose Yen Lap District to offer scholarships because this is considered the poorest locality of the northern province of Phu Tho. Thousands of students in the district have been reported as living in very difficult conditions and suffering both physical and spiritual deprivation.

The donor agreed with Giao Duc Viet Nam that the scholarships would be transferred to the poor students there, saying that the scholarships should be addressed to the poor students who have outstanding learning records. The list of the poor students to receive scholarships would be provided by local authorities.

To Giao Duc Viet Nam staff’s surprise, Nguyen Truong Son, chair of Yen Lap District People’s Committee, refused the 100 scholarships when they contacted the local authorities for the donation procedure.

Son replied that the 100 scholarships would not be enough for all the poor students in the locality. He also said there are many poorer districts, which the newspaper staff should find and grant scholarships to.

Son confirmed the refusal when reporters contacted him.

“Many poor people in the district receive support from donors. However, only those selected to receive the support felt happy. Meanwhile, others complained that the local authorities were unfair when selecting people to get support,” he explained.

“They lodged complaints to the local authorities and relevant agencies, thus causing big difficulties for the local authorities and donors,” he added.

The official said that the task of the local authorities is to follow the social security policy by delivering the state’s money to people officially recognized as poor.  

Meanwhile, the 100 scholarships would be not enough for all, and it is difficult to decide who deserves the scholarships. 

“It is now a ‘sensitive moment’, when the local authorities and agencies are preparing for the Communist Party congresses at different levels. Therefore, officials fear the preparation may be affected by queries raised from those who cannot receive scholarships,” an official from the local authority said.

GDVN