VietNamNet Bridge - Under current laws, female workers can enjoy six-month maternity leave, but state-owned nursery schools only accept children older than 12 months.

Hong Duyen, a mother of an 8-month old baby in District 7 in HCM City, complained that she cannot send the child to the 19/5 Nursery School in the same district. When she contacted the school, she was told that the school had no more seats for 6-12 month old children.

Hoa Anh Dao Nursery School has also refused Huynh Mai’s 12-month old child, saying that the school is full.

Chung Bich Phuong, deputy head of the Tan Phu District’s education sub-department, confirmed that the supply cannot satisfy demand. 

Hoa Anh Dao is the only school in the district receiving small children at this age in the 2014-2015 academic year, and it only accepts six children for every class.

Since there are not enough seats for children at this age, the school gives priority to admit poor children, children whose parents are workers, or children of teachers and civil servants working in the same district.

Pham Xuan Dong, head of district 7’s education sub-department, also said the 19/5 nursery school cannot receive more children because there are nine children in each class.

He explained that though the classrooms are large, schools cannot receive many children, because it requires special care for small children 6-12 months old. In general, every classroom can fit 30 2-5-year old children, but can only accommodate 10 6-12-month old children at maximum.

According to Nguyen Thi Thanh from the District 12’s education sub-department, the Ministry of Education and Training sets high requirements on the schools receiving small children. 

Schools are requested to arrange at least two teachers and one healthcare officer for every classroom. The schools assigned to accept small children must meet other requirements in material facilities as well, from kitchen to classrooms and toilets.

According to Phuong, schools have to upgrade existing classrooms to be eligible for receiving 6-12-month old children, which costs VND200 million per room on average. Meanwhile, every teacher can take care of four children at the most.

The HCM City Education and Training Department said more schools and classrooms would be open for 6-12-month old children for the 2015-2016  academic year.

In District 12, Son Ca Nursery School No 8 is the only school in the locality accepting small children but there will be one more school – Son Ca No 6.

In Tan Phu District, two more schools will join the pilot program later this year – Rang Dong and Bong Sen Nursery School (8-10 children for each school). 

NLD