Lack of proper facilities and staff has put increasing difficulties on many semi-boarding schools in HCM City.

The issue has just been raised for discussion at a seminar held by the city’s Department of Education and Training, which was set up to find solutions to the problem.

Studying, dining and sleeping in the same room

According to a report released at the seminar, 82% of schools in HCM City are now providing day-boarding service with more than 548,000 students being served lunch at schools. But only kindergartens were built with proper facilities while most of primary, secondary and high schools have to make upgrades or use of other facilities.

Addressing the seminar Dr. Nguyen Tai Dung, deputy head of the Department of Education and Training's Students Affair Office said that many schools have no dining rooms and students have lunch in the corridor or in the classroom, also sometimes used as nap areas.

“We have to be in violation of the Department of Health’s direction that schools have separate areas for dining, sleeping and studying to prevent spread of disease. Only a few schools can actually afford it,” Dung noted.

A corridor is turned into a cafeteria  

Meanwhile, the head of the Department of Education and Training's primary education office, Le Ngoc Diep, revealed that the rate of students registering for boarding service has been falling in recent years.

Higher fees

Many other participants attending the seminar agreed that the boarding fee of VND 30,000 per student per month in place for is not sustainable. With such low fees, schools are finding it difficult to attract competent staff, many said.

According to head of Phu Nhuan District’s Department of Education and Training, Ninh Van Binh, most kitchen staff are working on 9-month contracts. “They work hard for low wages. And many of them are not properly trained, which poses a health risk."

Lunchtime at Nguyen Van Troi Primary School in D4, a rare school in HCM City with a dining room  

The headmaster of Luong The Vinh Primary School in Go Vap District, Vu Thi Tho, said that boarding service is an increasing burden on schools.

“The state’s regulation on school boarding service fees has remained the same for many years and there is just not enough money to fix the situation," she said.

Dr. Nguyen Tai Dung suggested that schools be allowed to negotiate their boarding fees with parents.