There are 18 high-quality state-owned schools in Hanoi, including preschools, primary and secondary schools. 

These schools provide high-quality services and have preeminent conditions in facilities, teaching staff, curriculum, teaching method and other services. The tuition set by the schools are higher than other state-owned schools.

Hanoi has decided that 20 more high-quality state-owned schools with quality approaching regional and international standards will be built in 2016-2020.

Hoang Phuong Thao, a parent in Cau Giay district, is going to send her second child to a high-quality school this year. Her elder son, a third grader, also goes to the same school.

The new tuition frame for state-owned schools has been approved by the Hanoi authorities, under which the ceiling tuition will be VND4.3 million per student per month for preschool and VND4.5 million for secondary and high school.

“We send the children to the school just because it is near our house. The tuition is beyond our financial capability,” Thao complained.

Nguyen Nguyen Quan, a parent in My Dinh residential quarter, said he still cannot decide whether to enroll his son in Nam Tu Liem Secondary School, which is applying the high-quality education model.

“Honestly speaking, I still have to think carefully before making decisions because of the high tuition,” he said. “Will I have to enroll my child to a school in another ward which is far from my house just because I don’t have money?”

Giao Duc Viet Nam compared the tuition at high-quality state-owned schools and  normal schools and found that the tuition at high-quality schools is 40 times higher than normal schools in urban areas, 78 times higher than rural areas and 300 times higher in mountainous areas.

The tuition for high-quality schools has been increasing year after year. In 2013-2014 academic year, the tuition was VND2.9-3 million (for preschool - primary school and secondary – high school) a month. 

Van Nhu Cuong, president of Luong The Vinh High School, a private school, commented that with the ceiling tuition levels set by the Hanoi People’s Council, only rich families can send their children to high-quality schools, though these are state-owned schools.

Nguyen Xuan Khang, headmaster of Marie-Curie, asked whether high-quality state-owned schools should apply the same financial management policy as private schools. 

If the answer is ‘yes’, there will be a contradiction between the students’ learning capability and parents’ financial capability. Will the schools prioritize to attract excellent students or students whose parents have financial capability?

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