Mr. Bui Thong (name changed), a parent with two children studying at the American International School Vietnam (AISVN), said the information was sent by the school via email on the evening of March 31.

Many other parents also confirmed that their children were absent from school today. More than 1,200 children have been absent since March 18, and the following days they came to school without teachers. The school then gave students a spring break, from March 23-31, and is scheduled to reopen on April 1.

In the email, AISVN said that it was not possible to set up a joint bank account for the Department of Education and Training - School - Parents by the weekend to receive support from parents. Therefore, the school needs more time to resolve the issue of teachers' salaries. Information on the official school day will be announced today.

"I am willing to pay more money so that my child can continue studying at school," said Mr. Thong. "I hope that the school and the authorities will soon promote this."

Previously, at a meeting between parents and the school and city authorities on the afternoon of March 30, AISVN reported that it was financially insolvent and could not pay teachers' salaries and maintain teaching activities. Therefore, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ut Em, Chairwoman of the School Board, called on parents to contribute an additional VND125 billion to have money to pay teachers' salaries and operate until the end of June.

The support level she proposed for parents is 9.5 million VND for preschool, 14.5 million VND for primary school, 20.5 million VND for grades 6-8. From grades 9 to 12, it is 25.5 million VND. This amount can be IB (International Baccalaureate) fees or facilities fees.

On March 31, some parents reported receiving emails detailing the amount they needed to pay. One parent, whose child is in 8th grade, said they were asked to pay VND61.5 million for the remaining 3 months of the school year.

As planned, today, Director of the Department of Education and Training Nguyen Van Hieu will work with AISVN teachers on salary and insurance settlement.

The AISVN scandal was so intense two weeks ago that all students had to take a day off because most teachers did not show up to teach because they were owed salaries. On March 20, the number of teachers who quit their jobs reached 85. Many parents were stuck because they had paid billions of dong in tuition fees, and transferring schools when the second semester was about to end was not easy.

In a report to the Prime Minister, the city said that the authorities are applying measures to ban Ms. Nguyen Thi Ut Em from leaving the country due to personal income tax debts. AISVN will be suspended from enrolling students for the 2024-2025 school year until the investor resolves financial, personnel, and teaching issues.

AISVN was established in 2006 and currently has more than 1,210 students studying the International Baccalaureate program. Tuition fees are VND280-350 million per year for preschool, VND450-500 million for primary school and VND600-725 million for secondary school.

The school has 129 foreign teachers, 26 Vietnamese teachers and 103 staff. Currently, the teachers are owed February salaries. Foreign teachers are owed an additional 30% of January salaries.

Last October, AISVN attracted attention when parents gathered to demand debt. These parents said they lent the school tens of billions of dong without interest, without collateral, through loan and investment contracts. In return, their children received free education, and the school committed to paying them after the students graduated or transferred schools. However, they did not receive their money back.

Le Nguyen