Dan Viet Newspaper on May 25, 2024 reported: "After 7 years of litigation, a teacher in Kien Giang province is about to receive an apology and compensation". The People's Court of District 12, Ho Chi Minh City issued Decision No. 243/2024/QDST-DS, dated May 16, 2024, recognizing the agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant in the civil case accepted by the People's Court of District 12 on February 20, 2019.

According to the above decision: The defendant, the Department of Education and Training of Kien Giang province (abbreviated as Kien Giang Department of Education and Training), agrees to the request of the plaintiff, teacher Nguyen Dinh Chung (born in 1961, residing in Hiep Thanh ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City). The Kien Giang Department of Education and Training will hold a public meeting to apologize to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chung at Vo Van Kiet Secondary and High School.

This apology is due to the fact that Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Giang - former Director of the Department of Education and Training of Kien Giang - previously provided information to the press, before the competent authority concluded that there were violations.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Giang also agreed to apologize as requested by the plaintiff Nguyen Dinh Chung. The Kien Giang Department of Education and Training agreed to jointly compensate Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chung with Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Giang for damage to his reputation of 1,000,000 VND.

At 8:30 a.m. on August 8, 2024, at Vo Van Kiet Secondary and High School (An Hoa Ward, Rach Gia City, Kien Giang Province), the Kien Giang Department of Education and Training officially held a public apology and compensation for damages to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chung - former principal of Vo Van Kiet Secondary and High School.

Ms. Pham Xuan Binh - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Kien Giang - on behalf of the Department of Education and Training of Kien Giang - apologized to teacher Nguyen Dinh Chung. Afterwards, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Giang - former Director of the Department of Education and Training of Kien Giang - said: "Today, everyone, I want to say that I would like to publicly apologize to Mr. Chung, in the spirit of the Decision of the People's Court of District 12".

Ms. Giang admitted that the lawsuit lasted for 7 years, and she did not feel comfortable after 5 years of retirement. "Mr. Chung did not feel comfortable either. The family did not feel comfortable either. Especially, the colleagues at the office, in 5 years, had to go to court 10 times. Too tiring. Wasted human resources, resources, and all kinds of pressure" - Ms. Giang said.

Regarding teacher Nguyen Dinh Chung, teacher Chung said: "I have been a teacher for 34 years. I had a professional accident in August 2017. My family and I have been seeking justice to reclaim our honor, dignity and reputation for the past 7 years.

The purpose is to clarify the injustice that I have suffered, after I have devoted myself to the education career of Kien Giang province. Today, everything has been cleared up. I accept the apology of the representative of the Kien Giang Department of Education and Training and Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Giang; although the apology is too late."

It is known that the incident happened in 2017, Mr. Chung was the Principal of Vo Van Kiet Secondary and High School. Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Giang - at that time was the Director of Kien Giang Department of Education and Training.

Ms. Giang intended to transfer Mr. Chung to work as Deputy Head of Secondary Education Department, Department of Education and Training of Kien Giang. Mr. Chung wished to stay at the school, because at that time, he would retire in only 4 years, his health was not good, and it was difficult for him to adapt to the new job.

However, on August 17, 2017, the leader of the Kien Giang Department of Education and Training transferred him to the Kien Giang Department of Education and Training. Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chung submitted an application to return the transfer decision; at the same time, he submitted a resignation letter.

During her tenure as Director of the Department of Education and Training of Kien Giang province, Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Giang repeatedly displayed behaviors that showed signs of stereotyping and insulting the honor of teacher Nguyen Dinh Chung.

In making the above accusations and insults, Ms. Giang did not rely on any documents, regulations, or comments from the unit and competent authorities. On the other hand, Ms. Giang also reported false information about Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chung to the leaders of Kien Giang province; and provided false information to the press about Mr. Chung, with the purpose of lowering Mr. Chung's personal reputation.

It is known that in April 2018, the Inspection Committee of Kien Giang Provincial Party Committee issued a decision to discipline Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Giang at the level of reprimand, for many shortcomings. Among them was the lack of determination to handle erring officials, when Mr. Nguyen Dinh Chung submitted a complaint.

Ms. Giang did not direct the investigation, verification, or conclusion; on the contrary, she hastily provided information to the press about Mr. Chung's shortcomings and violations, without verification and without any conclusion from any competent authority.

From there, it caused bad public opinion, affecting the reputation and honor of Mr. Chung, affecting the reputation of the education and training sector and the Board of Directors of the Department of Education and Training of Kien Giang province.