Parents of many schools in Ho Chi Minh City are surprised by the fees at the beginning of the school year. Why?

Many parents of elementary schools in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Binh Duong area) were extremely surprised when they received notices that they had to pay for health check-ups for their students, even though they had purchased health insurance and in previous years there was no such fee.

On September 22, reflecting with Thanh Nien reporters, many parents of primary schools in the Thu Dau Mot city area and Tan Uyen city (formerly Binh Duong province, now Ho Chi Minh City) were extremely surprised when they received a notice to pay for health check-up services (including school dentistry) with the amount of 60,000 VND/student/year.

Parents wonder if there is overcharging or not?

In addition to the health examination fee, each student must purchase health insurance for 631,800 VND/student/year. Some schools also announced to collect air conditioner rental fees of 110,000 VND/student/month and noted "Implemented on a voluntary basis with the consent of the student's parents"; Collect management organization services of 126,000 VND/student/month, with the note "Only collected for boarding students"; Collect smart attendance organization fees (face recognition) of 80,000 VND/student/year...

Many parents are surprised by the fees.

PHOTO: DO TRUONG

Accordingly, many parents are upset that students have already bought health insurance, so why do they have to pay for health check-ups? Smart attendance is not really necessary; Renting air conditioners is also not really necessary; What is the purpose of collecting management service fees? Is the school overcharging?...

Responding to questions from Thanh Nien reporters, representatives of the school boards said that the school's revenues as mentioned are stipulated in the resolution of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council (July 24, 2025) regulating revenues and collection levels, revenue and expenditure management mechanisms for services serving and supporting educational activities of public educational institutions in Ho Chi Minh City in the 2025-2026 school year.

Explaining the revenue from management services, an elementary school leader said that this amount of money is spent on boarding staff such as: cooks, caterers, nannies, boarding class managers, gas money... and even corporate income tax that the school must pay according to regulations.

Regarding health check-up fees (including school dentistry) for students, another leader explained that before merging with Ho Chi Minh City, every year the People's Committee of Binh Duong province supported each student with 450,000 VND/student/year.

Health check-up for students at a school in the old Binh Duong area

PHOTO: DO TRUONG

"We spent 450,000 VND on health check-ups for students because health insurance does not cover this amount and according to the requirement, students' academic records must have annual health check-ups. In addition, we also spend on cultural and sports activities, Youth Union, Association, Team activities, drinking water for students... However, after merging with Ho Chi Minh City, the above amount of money is no longer available, so the school has to collect it," the primary school leader explained.

In addition to explaining the fees, many school leaders also said that in the 2025-2026 school year, they have not yet collected fees for health check-ups and some other fees because the support money from the People's Committee of Binh Duong province has been provided since the beginning of 2025, so it will be used until the end of the school year and in the following years.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/phu-huynh-nhieu-truong-tai-tphcm-ngo-ngang-voi-cac-khoan-thu-dau-nam-hoc-vi-sao-185250921194222827.htm