Vietnam - Hanoi private high schools face bankruptcy

Private schools in Hanoi are facing bankruptcy due to their overpriced tuition fees and inability to attract pupils.

Ngo Si Lien and Dang Tien Dong high schools are Private schools with VND21.5 billion (USD1,030,680) of investment, yet both schools are facing bankruptcy because of the dwindling number of students.

“Before Ha Tay was merged with Hanoi, 29 classrooms were used in Ngo Si Lien High School but now only 17 classrooms are being used. Dang Tien Dong High Schools is worse, from 24 classrooms, down to five for all three grades.” Nguyen Huy Chuyen, headmaster of Ngo Si Lien High School said.

Ngo Si Lien and Dang Tien Dong high schools are not the only ones facing difficulties, many other private schools are also in the same situation. The number of student in An Duong Vuong private high school has declined from 1,300 to 578.

Three years ago, Hanoi had 76 private high schools with 52,500 students. The number of private school this year increased to 92 but student numbers declined 38,000.

According to education and training privatisation guidelines issued in 2010, by 2015 private high schools are expected to receive 40% of all students. But only 21.3% students are studying at private school as state schools continue maintaining high enrolment figures.

In Hanoi, the enrolment rate during the 2008-2009 academic year for state school was 53.3%. This rate reached 66.29% last year which left only 1,000 students for nine private high schools in Dong Anh District.

State schools are provided with VND4 million (USD191.75) per student per year while private schools are not supported.

Van Nhu Cuong, head master of Luong The Vinh high school said the state should support private schools. The state schools in Hanoi only have space for three-quarters of students and that will leave one quarter of ninth grade students unable to find school places.

At a seminar jointly held by Hanoi Educational Psychology Association and private high schools last weekend, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Doan Hoai Vinh said the government would reform student enrolment policies to create more favourable condition for private schools.

Tien Phong, dtinews.vn

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