Ho Chi Minh City int’l school suspends classes amid teacher absences due to salary dispute
Monday, March 18, 2024, 21:00 GMT+7
The American International School Vietnam (AISVN) in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City suspended classes for all students on Monday as most teachers did not show up due to unpaid salaries.
Nguyen Thi Ut Em, chairwoman of the school board at AISVN, confirmed the incident to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper around midday, stating that official and comprehensive information about the matter would soon be provided.
Previously, around 9:00 pm on Sunday, Em sent an email to all parents of the school, informing them that classes would not be held on Monday and students should stay home.
“After meetings and discussions with parents, held from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on March 17, the school is diligently addressing current personnel and financial issues,” the email reads.
“Therefore, the school board wishes to inform parents that all students will be temporarily excused from attending school for one day, Monday (March 18), to allow for the re-planning of policies aimed at safeguarding the interests of all current students.
“Tomorrow, the school board will continue brainstorming strategies and provide parents with further updates on the next steps.”
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| Parents attend a meeting at the American International School Vietnam in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City, March 17, 2024. Photo screenshot from a supplied video |
Sunday’s meeting between Em, the AISVN leadership, and the parents was focused on addressing the current financial challenges that have resulted in the school’s inability to fully and promptly pay salaries to its teaching staff and employees.
Various solutions were explored, including the suggestion of increasing parental contributions to support the school, but this was deemed nearly impossible.
Another proposal came from L.A.T., a parent, suggesting that the school partner with a venture capital fund for an investment of around VND200 billion (US$8 million), under the condition of acquiring shares in AISVN.
In response, Em assured that AISVN would reach out to short-term investment funds, and the school would provide a solution by no later than March 21.
Negotiations with the investment funds will be overseen by parent representatives and members of the school’s executive board to ensure a swift resolution and the resumption of school operations.
Headquartered at 220 Nguyen Van Tao Street in Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City, AISVN was established in 2006, according to the school’s website.
It claims to serve more than 1,200 students ranging from three years old to grade 12 currently.
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