Do you need a parent committee?

In the response document, the Minister of Education and Training stated that the parent-teacher association operates according to the regulations of the Parent-Teacher Association Charter, issued together with Circular No. 55 dated November 22, 2011 of the Minister of Education and Training, which clearly states that the parent-teacher association is responsible for coordinating with the school in caring for, nurturing, and educating children and students. The operating budget of the parent-teacher association is regulated in this circular; the parent-teacher association is not allowed to collect involuntary donations and donations that do not directly serve the activities of the parent-teacher association.

The case of collecting and spending more than 300 million VND from the parent fund caused a stir in September 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City. The school held a meeting with parents and returned the money to the parents that same night.

Specifically, the Ministry of Education and Training specifies the non-collectible fees, including: protecting school facilities, ensuring school security; supervising students' vehicles; cleaning classrooms and schools; rewarding school administrators, teachers and staff; purchasing machinery, equipment and teaching aids for schools, classrooms or for administrators, teachers and staff; supporting management work, organizing teaching and learning and educational activities; repairing, upgrading and constructing new school facilities. However, according to the Ministry of Education and Training, there is still a situation where some educational institutions have not complied with regulations and are still overcharging the secondary fund, causing frustration for parents.

The Ministry of Education and Training said it is thoroughly researching to amend regulations on the operating charter of parent representative boards; directing educational institutions to do a good job of coordinating between families and schools in organizing educational activities. Strengthening communication so that parents and society can correctly understand the regulations in Circular No. 55, especially the illegal fees.

According to Associate Professor Tran Thanh Nam, Vice Principal of the University of Education (Hanoi National University), the parent representative committee also needs to have skills, be guided and trained to properly implement regulations. The criteria for voting for the parent association must be clear and transparent to choose the right person to represent the will of the parents.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nguyen Tung Lam, Vice President of the Vietnam Psychology and Education Association, said that in reality, there are many schools that are abusing the parent committee to collect many illegal fees. However, we cannot abandon the parent committee because of this phenomenon. Instead of just focusing on collecting this fund or that fund, we should coordinate so that this committee can operate properly, which is to support the school in carrying out educational activities in a systematic way. How can the parent committee not represent anyone? They must be themselves, so that when there is illegal fees, the head of the educational institution and the homeroom teacher must take responsibility, not the parent committee.

Because the resources for public education are currently limited, educational institutions need to mobilize social resources. However, schools and teachers should only do their best in their profession, while local authorities should mobilize support instead of schools, only then will it be clear and transparent.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/co-can-ban-dai-dien-phu-huynh-185240601222434628.htm