VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Education and Training Minister Nguyen Vinh Hien has instructed schools throughout the country to report and publish additional school fees and their intended use before collecting tuition.

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Hien's instruction aims to tighten the management of school fees to curb the imposition of illicit payments and ensure fees are used effectively.

In addition, Hien asked that updated reports be sent to parents each week and that schools allow parents to offer ideas for school improvements.

The collection of these fees must be voluntary and agreed on by schools' managing boards and parent associations. Such fees are necessary as schools operate on a limited State budget and have therefore been unable to meet the demands for upgraded school infrastructure. Thus, mobilising organisations, individual donors and parents will be one step toward an effective solution for this problem.

"Imposing contributions on parents or setting a standard fee for every student would affect the education and training sector," Hien said.

The deputy minister ordered school administrators to ensure that special privileges would not be given based on contributions. Likewise, he added that parents who contributed to school funds could not ask for privileges for their children or to receive any economic benefits – contributions are simply philanthropic in nature.

The instruction also said schools could receive aids and offers pursuant to laws.

The spending of the collections must be managed and discussed with sponsors.

Hien said schools had been encouraged to create favourable conditions for mobilising these voluntary contributions that could be used to recover from natural disasters or fires, build infrastructure, or support students with special needs.

He added that specific requirements for the reporting and publishing of fees would be based on the conditions of specific localities.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News