In Vietnam, is it permissible to establish the parent committee at the beginning of the school year?

In Vietnam, is it permissible to establish the parent committee at the beginning of the school year?

Under Article 3 of the Regulations in Circular 55/2011/TT-BGDDT, specific provisions are outlined as follows:

Organization of parent committees

1. Parent committees of classes:

Each class must have one class parent committee consisting of 3 - 5 members, including a chairperson and a vice-chairperson.

b) Members of the parent committee of a class should be enthusiastic and responsible persons, who will cooperate with the homeroom teacher, subject-specific teachers and the school in organizing educational activities for students;

2. Parent committees of schools:

Each school must have one parent committee consisting of a chairperson, vice-chairpersons and standing members if necessary.

b) Members of the parent committee of a school are chairpersons or vice-chairpersons of the class parent committees.

c) The number of vice-chairpersons and standing members (if any) of the parent committee shall be decided in the meeting of chairpersons and vice-chairpersons of class parent committees.

3. The term of the parent committee of a class or a school is one year. The term of a parent committee ends at the beginning of the next school year; the term of the parent committee of a senior class ends at the end of the school year.

4. Members of a parent committee can be changed or added at request of its chairperson. The change or addition of members of the parent committee of a class shall be decided by parents of the class. The change or addition of members of the parent committee of a school shall be decided by the whole committee.

5. Parent committees shall work by principle of consensus. The discussions and approvals made during meetings of the parent representatives committees shall be recorded in writing.

Thus, according to the above regulation, it is not mandatory to establish the parent committee at the beginning of the school year.

In Vietnam, is it permissible to establish the parent committee at the beginning of the school year? (Image from Internet)

What are the responsibilities and rights of parent committees of classes in Vietnam?

According to Article 4 of the Regulations in Circular 55/2011/TT-BGDDT, specific responsibilities and rights of parent committees of classes in Vietnam are prescribed as follows:

- The parent committee of a class has the responsibility to:

+ Cooperate with the homeroom teacher and subject-specific teachers in organizing educational activities for students;

+ Cooperate with the homeroom teacher in preparing for the parent-teacher conferences during the school year;

+ Take part in ethics education for students; foster excellent students, help underperforming students, encourage dropouts to come back to school; help poor students, disabled students and other disadvantaged students.

- The parent committee of a class has the right to:

+ Convene parent-teacher conferences in accordance with regulations prescribed in Article 9 of this Charter (except for the first meeting at the beginning of the school year, during which the parent committee is established) after reaching agreement with the homeroom teacher;

+ Enquire parents about the methods for management and education of students to propose specific measures to the homeroom teacher and subject-specific teachers in order to improve the quality of knowledge and ethics education;

+ Cooperate with the homeroom teacher in organizing extracurricular activities, education of tradition, culture, art and sport activities to provide comprehensive education for students.

What are the conditions for school establishment and conditions for educational operation in Vietnam?

According to Article 49 of the Education Law 2019, specific conditions for school establishment and conditions for educational operation in Vietnam are stipulated as follows:

- A school is established when its establishment scheme is suitable with the planning of socio-economic development and of the educational institution network as prescribed in the Law on Planning.

The school establishment scheme shall specify the objectives, duties, programmes and contents of education; the land, infrastructure, equipment, provisional location for school construction, organisational structure, resources and finance; the strategic direction for building and developing the school.

- The school may operate in education when it:

+ Has land, infrastructure and equipment meeting the requirements on educational operation; location for school construction shall ensure a safe educational environment for learners, teachers and labour workers;

+ Has educational programmes, teaching and learning materials appropriate to each educational level/training qualification; have teachers and managers that are qualified in quality and quantity and consistent in terms of structure, ensuring the implementation of educational programmes and organisation of educational activities;

+ Is financially sufficient, as prescribed by law, to ensure maintenance and development of educational operation; and

+ Has organisational and operational regulations of the school.

- Within a regulated period of time, if the school guarantees all conditions prescribed in clause 2 of this Article, it shall be granted permission to operate in education by a competent authority; when the period is over, if the school fails to secure conditions prescribed in clause 2 of this Article, the establishment decision or establishment permission shall be revoked.