Vietnam Hanoi Likely to Raise School Fees in 2012

The Hanoi municipal People’s Council is expected to approve the new school fee plan in the second term of the 2011-2012 academic year, said an official. Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, vice chairman of the People’s Committee made the statement at a meeting with the Department of Education and Training on Aug 23. Pham Thi Hong Nga, deputy director of the department said the school fees built in 2000 is not suitable in the current situation, affecting the improvement of education quality. Ngoc, however, said the committee has made careful consideration into the plan and decided to keep the school fees unchanged in the first term of the 2011-2012 academic year. “Local people, especially the poor are struggling to live amid inflation. Any school fee increases would burden them,” Ngoc said. The school fee hike will be different for each region based on the economic development. Obviously, students in urban area will pay higher than those in the rural ones, Ngoc noted. (Lao Dong - Labor Aug 24 p2)