VietNamNet Bridge - Many state-owned schools with financial autonomy and non-state schools in Hanoi are considering raising tuition after local authorities permitted state-owned schools to increase the fee by VND110,000 a month for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Le Thi Thu Huong, headmaster of Sai Dong Primary School, said the school is considering raising tuition, based on the city’s decision, and an increase of the basic salary from VND1.21 million to VND1.3 million, commencing  July 1, 2017. The school now charges VND2.5 million in tuition a month.

Like Sai Dong, other schools are considering a tuition increase, but the schools have not made announcements. They are being cautious before making a decision, because the tuition increases may affect enrolment plans.

Ha Xuan Nham, headmaster of the Phan Huy Chu High School, said that raising tuition is a must in the context of salary adjustment and new consumption indexes. 

However, the tuition increases must depend on many factors, including the parents’ financial capability and improvement of the education program. If the tuition increases, but the education quality cannot improve, the school won’t be able to attract students.

A representative of the Thanh Xuan district said the district plans to enroll students at a high quality secondary school. The school plans to enroll 200 sixth graders and set the tuition of VND1.5 million. This is based on the tuition framework set by the city’s people’s committee for high-quality schools. The tuition will increase in coming years. 

In Hanoi, star schools can still attract students despite high tuition. Many non-state owned schools have found enough students for the 2017-2018 academic year. 

Nguyen Sieu, Marie Curie, Ngoi Sao, Archimedes and Doan Thi Diem all have set high tuition, but the number of students applying is high. Despite high tuition, private schools continue to attract Hanoi parents and their children because of their education quality.

As the number of seats at the school are not enough to satisfy demand, they can choose the best students.  The high tuition of VND8-10 million a month is applied to high-quality and international programs.

Nguyen Hai Hoa, a parent in Bac Tu Liem district, said he does not oppose the tuition increase, if this helps improve education quality. State owned schools cannot collect more than allowed, but they are trying to increase the source of revenue by setting different kinds of school fees.

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