Ha, a resident of District 7 in Ho Chi Minh City, revealed that she invested \(400,000 for her two children to enroll at AISVN five years ago. The agreement stipulated that upon graduation or relocation, the full amount would be refunded, essentially eliminating the need for tuition fees. Consequently, three years ago, she allocated an additional \)200,000 for her third child’s education at the same institution.
Recently, on March 18, AISVN permitted over 1,200 students to stay home due to a teachers’ strike concerning unpaid wages and insurance. Ha’s older children have been attending the school for four years, whereas the youngest commenced studies just a month ago.
Expressing her dismay, Ha stated, “This substantial investment has profoundly impacted my family.” She is among numerous parents apprehensive about potential financial losses and educational disruptions for their children, given the school’s precarious financial state.
Hai Anh, a parent of an 11th-grade student, and Phuoc Nguyen, a parent of two children in 7th and 10th grades, disclosed that they had loaned significant sums, ranging from VND2.5-5 billion ($55,932-111,864), to the school. The suspension of school operations jeopardizes their children’s academic progression, with the challenge of finding an alternative institution with a compatible curriculum and the risk of losing their investments.
The ongoing crisis has upended Anh’s life, with teachers gradually halting activities over the past three weeks, leading to disrupted schedules for her children. Despite exploring other international schools in HCMC offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, Anh has yet to finalize a decision due to the complexities of transferring schools mid-academic year.
An education expert with extensive experience managing international schools in HCMC highlighted the academic rigor and challenges associated with transitioning schools, particularly for students enrolled in the demanding IB program. The potential need to retake subjects and the limited availability of comparable programs pose significant hurdles for students, particularly those in 11th and 12th grades.
While contemplating school transfers, parents like Ha are cognizant of the financial implications, with anticipated tuition fees ranging from VND500-900 million annually at new institutions. The transition to a different educational setting, whether public or private with bilingual programs, raises concerns about academic adaptation, especially for students accustomed to an American English-based curriculum.
Thu Thuy, a parent of a 7th grader, encountered challenges when considering a switch to a high-quality public school in District 7, as mid-year transfers between foreign and Vietnamese programs entail intricate program alignment and subject exclusivity considerations.
Amidst uncertainties about financial losses and academic continuity, stakeholders at AISVN, including parents and school authorities, are exploring avenues to sustain the institution, emphasizing the importance of completing the academic year before contemplating alternative arrangements.