Nghe An mandates return of 127 students after three-week absence

After more than three weeks of parents keeping their children out of school to protest the closure of a satellite campus, provincial leaders have directed authorities to arrange transportation, provide meal support, and offer catch-up classes for students to return to school starting 2/10.

During a dialogue with provincial leaders and Quynh Tam commune authorities on the afternoon of 1/10, most parents expressed their desire to retain the Tien Son satellite campus of Quynh Tam Primary School. As of now, more than three weeks since the start of the school year, only 29 of the 166 students from this campus have attended classes. The remaining students are staying home, as their parents cite numerous concerns.

Nguyen Thi Huong, a parent of two students, stated her wish for her children to study close to home. She hoped the authorities would allow residents to mobilize socialized funding to repair the deteriorated facilities at the satellite campus.

According to Dinh Thi Thanh, whose child is in grade 3, transferring students to the main school campus in the commune center causes worry for many families, as it is 6-7 km from their homes. For children aged 6-7, having to wake early and travel long distances daily over an extended period could affect their health and psychological well-being.

Parents from Tien Son hamlet voiced their opinions at the dialogue session, 1/10. Photo: Duc Hung

Some other parents expressed concerns about the transportation and half-day boarding arrangements, as local authorities indicated that support would only be provided for a few months.

"For families with many children, unstable incomes, or difficult circumstances, the costs in subsequent years could become a burden", one parent said.

In response, Mai Van Lam, Chairman of Quynh Tam Commune, stated that authorities are committed to maintaining three buses to transport students from the hamlet to the main school campus and a branch campus 6-7 km away. Each bus will have two teachers to supervise and ensure safety during transit. This arrangement will be long-term, continuing until parents no longer require it.

"The commune will mobilize socialized funding to cover 100% of the transportation costs for Tien Son satellite campus students this academic year", Lam said, noting that the allowance is 400,000 VND for transportation and 500,000 VND for half-day boarding fees per student.

Regarding concerns about traffic safety, commune leaders reported that construction on a relevant road began on 28/8 and is expected to be completed before 5/10, shortening the route by about 0,8 km.

Another issue of concern to parents was previous contributions for facility construction. According to reports, during the 2021-2025 period, before the merger, the former Tan Son commune mobilized nearly 18 billion VND from socialized funding to build two school buildings at the center, with residents of Tien Son hamlet contributing over 133 million VND.

Additionally, Tan Son Primary School (now merged with Quynh Tam School) encouraged parents of the Tien Son satellite campus to contribute 97.5 million VND to purchase facilities and teaching equipment over three years. The school spent over 184.5 million VND on this activity. According to authorities, all contributions were approved, publicly disclosed, and settled according to regulations.

Tien Son students were transported by bus to the main school campus, 1/10. Photo: Duc Hung

According to Nguyen Hong Hoa, Head of the Primary Education Department, Nghe An Department of Education and Training, the education sector is concerned that 127 students not attending school after four weeks will affect their ability to grasp the curriculum. The dissolution of the satellite campus aims to concentrate resources, providing students with better learning conditions in terms of facilities, equipment, teachers, and meeting the new general education curriculum, including informatics, foreign languages, and STEM.

In conclusion, Thai Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Province, affirmed that the dissolution of the Tien Son satellite campus complies with regulations. He mandated that all students must return to school from 2/10, and that authorities and the school must arrange safe transportation, support lunch meals, and provide catch-up classes to help students keep pace with the curriculum. If the commune budget is insufficient, the Department of Finance will advise on supplementary funding.

Thanh also requested that the police agency strictly handle any acts obstructing students from attending school.

"Do not let disadvantages fall upon the children. If there are any inadequacies, parents should propose adjustments", Thanh said.

After the dialogue, Nguyen Van Cuong, a parent of three students, remained concerned. According to him, his three children need about 2.7 million VND per month for food and travel, while his worker's salary is about 8 million VND. If support is not continued next year, his family does not know how they will manage.

"I know that if my children miss school for too long, they will have knowledge gaps and struggle to keep up with the curriculum, and if they miss more than 45 days, they will be forced to withdraw from school. But my family also has many difficulties that are hard to express", he said.

The Tien Son satellite campus was constructed in 1998. It is a simple, dilapidated structure that has exceeded its lifespan by 8 years. Three of the five classrooms show signs of termite infestation, deteriorating structural integrity, and damaged roof tiles, posing a risk of collapse during heavy rain or storms. The campus also lacks functional rooms, according to authorities and the education sector.