Do the Perent-Teacher Committees in Vietnam have the right to decide the class fund contribution rate?

Do the Perent-Teacher Committees in Vietnam have the right to decide the class fund contribution rate?

Based on the provisions in Clause 4, Article 10 of the Charter of the Perent-Teacher Committee issued with Circular 55/2011/TT-BGDDT:

Finances for the activities of the Perent-Teacher Committee

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4. The Perent-Teacher Committee shall not solicit contributions from learners or their families:

a) Contributions that are not based on voluntary principles.

b) Contributions that do not directly serve the activities of the Perent-Teacher Committee: Protecting school facilities, ensuring school security; supervising students' transportation means; classroom and school sanitation; rewarding management staff, teachers, and school employees; purchasing equipment, teaching aids for the school, classrooms, or for management staff, teachers, and school employees; supporting management activities, organizing teaching and other educational activities; repairing, upgrading, constructing new school buildings.

Hence, the Perent-Teacher Committee is not allowed to solicit contributions from learners or their families, including the class fund. Therefore, it cannot set a mandatory contribution rate.

What are sources for operating funds for the Perent-Teacher Committee in Vietnam?

Based on the provisions in Clauses 1, 2, and 3, Article 10 of the Charter of the Perent-Teacher Committee issued with Circular 55/2011/TT-BGDDT, the Perent-Teacher Committee sources its operating funds as follows:

- Operating funds of the Perent-Teacher Committee:

- The class Perent-Teacher Committee's operating funds come from the voluntary contributions of students' parents and other legitimate sponsorships.

- The school Perent-Teacher Committee's operating funds are extracted from the funds of the class Perent-Teacher Committees as recommended in the meeting of all heads of class Perent-Teacher Committees at the beginning of the school year and from other legitimate sponsorships.

- Management and use of the Perent-Teacher Committee's funds:

- The head of the class Perent-Teacher Committee collaborates with the class teacher to plan the expenditure of the received funds and only uses them after getting the consensus of all members of the class Perent-Teacher Committee.

- The head of the school Perent-Teacher Committee, in agreement with the Principal, decides on the expenditure plan of the received funds and only uses them after gaining consensus from all members of the school Perent-Teacher Committee.

- The collection and expenditure of funds by the Perent-Teacher Committee must ensure transparency and democracy; expenditures must be reported publicly at meetings of all parents in the class and meetings of the school Perent-Teacher Committee.

There is no specified average contribution rate for parents.

Do the Perent-Teacher Committees in Vietnam have the right to decide the class fund contribution rate?​ (Image from the Internet)

Is it mandatory to hold a Perent-Teacher Committee meeting at the start of each new school year in Vietnam?

According to Clause 1, Article 9 of the Charter of the Perent-Teacher Committee issued with Circular 55/2011/TT-BGDDT:

Activities of Parents and the Perent-Teacher Committee

1. Meetings of all parents:

a) At the beginning of the school year, the class teacher organizes a meeting of all parents to elect the class Perent-Teacher Committee as per the number of members stipulated in Point a, Clause 1, Article 3 of this Charter. During the school year, meetings of all parents in the class are organized three times: At the beginning of the school year, at the end of the first semester, and at the end of the school year. Extraordinary meetings can be organized if at least 50% of parents in the class request it;

b) The decision to organize or not organize a meeting of all parents in the school is made by the school Perent-Teacher Committee.

2. Meetings of the Perent-Teacher Committee:

a) At the beginning of the school year, the class teacher convenes the first meeting of the class Perent-Teacher Committee to elect the head and deputy head. After being elected, the head leads the meeting of all parents to approve the year's activity plan.

The class Perent-Teacher Committee organizes regular meetings according to the annual activity plan and can hold extraordinary meetings if at least 50% of parents request it or at the discretion of the head of the class Perent-Teacher Committee.

b) At the beginning of the school year, the Principal meets with the heads and deputy heads of all class Perent-Teacher Committees to elect the school Perent-Teacher Committee from among the attendees. Absent members can also be elected if they agree to participate. Then, the Principal chairs the first meeting of the school Perent-Teacher Committee to elect the head, deputy heads, and if necessary, permanent members. After being elected, the head leads the meeting of all heads and deputy heads of class Perent-Teacher Committees to approve the annual activity plan.

The school Perent-Teacher Committee holds regular meetings according to the annual activity plan and extraordinary meetings if requested by at least 50% of members or the head.

*3. The Perent-Teacher Committee organizes activities to implement the duties and rights of the Perent-Teacher Committee as well as the contents and plans that were discussed and agreed upon in parent meetings and Perent-Teacher Committee meetings.

Thus, according to the regulation, the Perent-Teacher Committee must meet at the beginning of each school year.