Public kindergarten explains tuition fee of nearly 8 million VND

A few days ago, the news that Vang Anh Kindergarten, District 5, was asking parents for their opinions on the tuition fee for the next school year at 7.87 million VND caused a stir. This fee is more than double the current fee (3.7 million VND), and is also the highest public tuition fee in the country at the preschool level.

On April 22, Ms. Lam Thi Thuy Loan, Principal of Vang Anh Kindergarten, said that the school was chosen by District 5 as the unit to implement the 100% financial autonomy model.

She explained that the fee of nearly VND8 million per month for preschool children (3-6 years old) includes tuition and other fees. The school sets this fee based on the principle of collecting enough to cover expenses because it does not receive state budget. For the nursery block (under 36 months), the tuition fee will be lower but the school has not yet given a specific amount.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Nam Sai Gon Kindergarten, District 7, is the only public school at this level that is 100% financially autonomous. The monthly cost for each child is about 4.7 million VND, about 60% of the expected cost of Vang Anh Kindergarten.

This difference, according to Ms. Loan, is because when financially autonomous, schools have to pay all expenses, including teachers' salaries. These expenses will vary from school to school depending on the number of children, teachers' seniority, and educational activities.

Ms. Loan, for example, when financially autonomous, the school has the conditions to invest in facilities, learning tools, install cameras in each classroom, and organize psychological counseling rooms for children. In addition to the curriculum prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, the school plans to apply the Montessori or Regio Emilia model (a popular preschool education method in the world).

The school will take care of children until 5pm or after hours, Saturday and Sunday according to parents' needs instead of 4pm as at present.

In addition, the number of English familiarization lessons with 100% native teachers will be increased from 2 to 3 periods per week. STEAM (combining science, technology and art) lessons will also be enhanced instead of stopping at the current familiarization level. In addition, children will also learn 10-event gymnastics, yoga, and creative drawing.

"Activities and educational quality will be improved," said Ms. Loan.

However, after surveying 236 parents, only 16 people agreed. Of the 78 officials in various departments of District 5, only 5 people supported it. On the teachers' side, 21/26 people agreed, the rest said they would quit if the school became autonomous because they were worried about unstable income when the budget was cut.

Ms. Loan said the school reported the results, the decision belongs to the People's Committee of District 5.

Vang Anh Kindergarten is a public school with more than 400 children, mostly of preschool age, and nearly 60 teachers and staff. The school has implemented an advanced, integrated model since 2016, currently collecting 3.7 million VND per month for preschool children and 2 million VND for nursery school children.

Ho Chi Minh City has more than 1,300 kindergartens, of which 467 are public. The cost of public schools ranges from 1.5 to 4 million VND per month, including 120,000 to 300,000 VND in tuition fees.