However, many parents are currently shocked to receive information that Thien Lap Nhan Center is only licensed to teach English and this unit denies any connection with Prinberk Academy.

Take your children off public school to "study abroad"

Reporting to VietNamNet newspaper, Ms. T. (residing in Thanh Khe district, Da Nang) said that her son has Australian nationality and has been back in Vietnam for more than 3 years. In 2021, she sent her son to study at Thien Lap Nhan English Center (at 177 Hai Phong , Thanh Khe district, Da Nang) with tuition fees of about 100 million VND/year.

She trusted her child to study at this facility because it was introduced as a “school” that teaches according to international standards, using the curriculum of the American Prinberk Academy, and is a form of “on-site study abroad”. Prinberk Academy has transcripts and certificates, so when her child returns to Australia, he can continue his studies.

W-school_2.jpg
Thien Lap Nhan English Center's main campus is located on Hai Phong Street, Da Nang. Photo by D. Thuy

However, by 2023, realizing that the learning environment was no longer suitable, Ms. T's family wanted to transfer their child to another school, so they asked the center to provide a transcript to submit to the new school. But until now, after more than a year of dropping out of school, the family still has not received a transcript despite the center's many promises.

“When we asked for a transcript, a center official said to wait for the 'school' to send information to Prinberk Academy and after 15 days we would receive the transcript sent home. We waited for a long time without seeing it, and recently my family went to the school to ask and was shocked when the Thien Lap Nhan center official said it was just an English center, not related to Prinberk Academy. So did the past 2 years my child studied here for nothing? If the center had said it was just an English center from the beginning, we wouldn't have spent hundreds of millions for our child to study there,” Ms. T. was indignant.

W-school.jpg
Many documents and announcements of the center show "Prinberk Academy". Photo by D. Thuy

Meanwhile, Mr. L., another parent, said that he had let his daughter drop out of public school to attend Prinberk Academy (USA) at the Thien Lap Nhan Center's facilities for 3 years now.

According to Mr. L., he was advised that this is an international school with a curriculum purchased from Prinberk Academy. After finishing grade 12, he will be linked to a school in the US to continue his university studies.

So, when his child finished 5th grade, his family decided to send him to an “American school”. The current tuition fee is 8 million VND/month. Mr. L. was very confused by the information that the center was not related to Prinberk Academy.

“It was also my fault, I didn’t investigate clearly from the beginning, now that this has happened I don’t know where things will go. If I drop out of school, will my child receive a transcript and be able to return to public school?” Mr. L. worried.

Parents expressed their desire for the authorities to inspect and clarify the activities of Thien Lap Nhan Center. If Thien Lap Nhan Center asserts that it has no connection with Prinberk Academy (USA), then why do tuition receipts, documents and academic results all show “Prinberk Academy”?

Curriculum not related to American schools?

To clarify more information, the reporter contacted Mr. Truong Van Thien Tu, Director of Thien Lap Nhan English Center, but Mr. Tu said he was busy and refused to answer.

Speaking with VietNamNet , Mr. Tran Nguyen Minh Thanh, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Da Nang, said that the Department is verifying the reports related to Thien Lap Nhan English Center. The Department will work with them this week and provide further information.

Previously, in September 2024, the Department of Education and Training of Da Nang worked with Mr. Truong Van Thien Tu and concluded that Thien Lap Nhan English Center was allowed to be established by the Department of Education and Training in 2017, and was allowed to organize the teaching of English for children. The Department of Education and Training inspected two facilities of Thien Lap Nhan Center at 177 Hai Phong and 617 Nguyen Tat Thanh, discovered that some teachers at the center did not meet the prescribed standards, and requested corrections and administrative sanctions.

Reporting to the Department of Education and Training about the reflections, Mr. Tu affirmed that the center absolutely does not use the textbooks and is not related to Prinberk Academy. Currently, the Center uses internal documents compiled on the basis of synthesizing available textbooks, and at the same time provides some links and reference documents for parents to support and enhance the development of English skills for learners.

Mr. Tu also confirmed that the center teaches children from 5 to 12 years old; does not organize classes for middle and high school students; and does not have a facility at 565 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street.

According to PV's research, Prinberk Academy is introduced as a system of homeschool groups ( education at home), following the US educational methods and goals. The homeschool model is quite popular in countries around the world such as the US, UK, Australia, Canada... In Vietnam, this model has not been licensed but many families are applying it to their children.
Inspectors point out a series of violations by the International University

Inspectors point out a series of violations by the International University

International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University) has exceeded enrollment targets in many majors and fields according to the inspection conclusion of the Ministry of Education and Training.
Proposal to revoke the license to establish the American International School

Proposal to revoke the license to establish the American International School

The tax authority has just proposed revoking the establishment license of the American International School. Previously, the school was suspended by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training from July 1.
Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City requested students of the American International School to move out immediately.

Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City requested students of the American International School to move out immediately.

From August 26, public high schools in Ho Chi Minh City will return to school. The Department of Education and Training has asked students of the American International School to quickly transfer to other educational institutions to ensure their studies for the new school year.