How do schools collect tuition fees?

Up to now, regulations on extra teaching and learning are being implemented according to Circular No. 17/2012/TT-BGDĐT of the Ministry of Education and Training promulgating regulations on extra teaching and learning.

In particular, Article 7 of this Circular clearly states the collection and management of tuition fees inside and outside of school.

Specifically, for extra teaching and learning in schools, the collection of extra teaching fees is to pay salaries to teachers who directly teach extra teaching, the management of extra teaching and learning at the school; pay for electricity, water and repair of facilities serving extra teaching and learning.

The amount of tuition collected at school is agreed upon between the parents and the school. The school organizes the collection, payment and public settlement of tuition fees through the school's finance department; tutors do not directly collect or pay tuition fees.

As for extra teaching and learning outside of school, the tuition fee is agreed upon between the student's parents and the organization or individual organizing the extra teaching and learning.

Organizations and individuals organizing extra teaching and learning must comply with current regulations on financial management of extra tuition fees. Up to this point, the amount and method of collecting extra tuition fees are implemented as above.

According to this circular, the document regulating extra teaching and learning of the Provincial People's Committee specifically stipulates the collection, management and use of extra learning fees.

Principals and heads of educational institutions must be responsible for the quality of extra teaching and learning, management of facilities, teaching equipment, and funding for extra teaching and learning in schools.

Organizations and individuals organizing extra-curricular teaching and learning activities outside of school must also ensure the rights of extra-curricular learners and tutors. If extra-curricular teaching is temporarily suspended or terminated, it must be reported to the licensing authority and publicly notified to extra-curricular learners at least 30 days in advance. At the same time, refund the fees collected from extra-curricular learners corresponding to the extra-curricular teaching that has not been performed, and fully pay the tuition fees to extra-curricular learners and related organizations and individuals.

In addition, it is also necessary to present the teaching and learning records when inspected or examined, including financial records according to current regulations.

Educational institutions, organizations, and individuals who violate regulations on extra teaching and learning, depending on the nature and severity of the violation, will be subject to administrative sanctions or criminal prosecution according to regulations. Heads of agencies, organizations, and units; officials, civil servants, and public employees managed by the State who violate regulations on extra teaching and learning will be subject to disciplinary action according to regulations.

Recently, the Ministry of Education and Training is also drafting and soliciting comments on a new circular regulating extra teaching and learning activities (if approved, it will replace the current Circular No. 17/2012/TT-BGDDT; the deadline for comments is October 22, 2024).

If following the direction of this new draft circular under construction, the regulations on collection and management of tuition fees will be adjusted as follows:

- The level of tuition fees in schools is implemented according to the resolution of the Provincial People's Council based on the proposal of the Provincial People's Committee according to regulations.

- The fee for extra-curricular tutoring outside of school is agreed upon between parents, students and tutoring facilities and must be made public before enrolling students in extra-curricular tutoring and learning classes.

- The management and use of tuition fees shall comply with the provisions of the law on finance, accounting, tax and other relevant regulations.

Regarding this issue, Associate Professor Dr. Chu Cam Tho, Head of the Department of Educational Evaluation Research, Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences, also expressed concern that even if there is a new circular (the Ministry of Education and Training is drafting) to replace Circular 17 regulating extra teaching and learning, because the most fundamental things about extra teaching and learning cannot be managed yet.

"The relationship between tutoring and learning is not only aimed at developing learners, but also has economic benefits and many other constraints. Therefore, this will certainly be very difficult to manage," said Ms. Tho.

Ms. Tho cited the fact that the draft circular is stipulating the fee for extra-curricular classes based on the agreement between parents, students and the tutoring facility:

“However, how can we ensure that students who ‘pay for’ extra classes will reap the desired quality? When conducting impact assessment studies, we often joke: In the field of extra teaching and learning, the responsibility of the service provider is lax.

Currently, no agency has taken responsibility for the students. These issues will arise and will certainly be of great concern to those involved and society, but the agency assigned to directly manage them may not be able to resolve them,” said Ms. Tho.