HomeEducationSaigon Star school unlicensed,...

Saigon Star school unlicensed, not allowed to enroll, but unaware parents paid huge fees

HCMC’s Saigon Star International School has not been licensed since 2021 and been prohibited from enrolling new students but many parents were unaware and continued to pay huge fees.

The Saigon Star International School in Thanh My Loi Ward, Thu Duc City, HCMC. Photo from the school’s website

The tuition they paid ranged from VND500 million to VND1.6 billion (US$19,650-62,870).

The city Department of Education and Training said Thursday the school in Thu Duc City, whose campus has been seized, was licensed by District 2 (now Thu Duc City) in January 2014 and granted permission to operate between 2015 and 2020.

But in 2021 the school became involved in legal disputes over land, resulting in the department refusing to renew the license.

In October 2023, to protect the interests of students currently enrolled at the school, authorities allowed it to continue functioning at its campus in Thanh My Loi Ward, Thu Duc City, until July 31, 2025, but prohibited new enrollment.

In October 2024 the department carried out a surprise inspection of the school and found various violations.

But it refused to cooperate, ignoring four summonses from the department.

The land on which the school was built in Thanh My Loi has been under dispute with a bank for many years.

According to a 2020 ruling by the District 2 People’s Court, the school had to return the land to the bank.

But with the verdict not enforced, between May to July 2024 the Thu Duc City Civil Judgment Enforcement Department issued multiple notices to the school, warning the land would be confiscated and requiring it to inform teachers, parents and students about ceasing operations at the address.

But the parents of many students said they were unaware of all this until a confiscation notice was put up at the school gate on Nov. 18.

Since then they have been repeatedly contacting the school to seek a refund of fees they had paid in advance for three to five years, but have been unable to get through.

Students are currently on a winter break from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5, 2025.

Earlier this month the school announced an extended break until Feb. 13, saying it has plans to relocate to Hiep Binh Phuoc Ward also in Thu Duc City but 16 km away from its current location.

Some parents who visited the new site described it as a “deteriorated” abandoned preschool and unlikely to be ready by the stated time.

The department is persuading districts, nearby schools and other educational institutions to take in Saigon Star’s students.

It has also urged schools to not pressure the students and help them quickly integrate and stabilize their studies.

Saigon Star has preschool and primary school education based on the International Primary Curriculum and charges annual fees of VND163-530 million.

It has around 200 students.

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img

Most Popular

More from Author

Kinh Bac Agriculture with the mission of bringing e-commerce closer to farmers

E-commerce is exploding and spreading across all fields, including agriculture, boosting...

Cuddles and coffee on the menu at a pet rescue café

Located in HCM City, WagWel stands out as a pet café...

Rice paper craft village in Tiền Giang prepares for Tết

Visiting Hậu Thành Commune in Cái Bè District, Tiền Giang Province...

Thailand-Pakistan trade talks revived after decade

Between January and November 2024, trade between the two nations reached...

- A word from our sponsors -

spot_img

Read Now

Kinh Bac Agriculture with the mission of bringing e-commerce closer to farmers

E-commerce is exploding and spreading across all fields, including agriculture, boosting businesses to invest in their technology and develop their online retailing channels. This is not just a trend but a necessity that helps businesses seize opportunities, expand markets, and enhance their competitiveness. With the support of...

Cuddles and coffee on the menu at a pet rescue café

Located in HCM City, WagWel stands out as a pet café system that also functions as a sanctuary, offering abandoned dogs and cats a fresh start in a safe and loving environment. Quỳnh Anh Pet cafes have become a global craze, beloved by many for years. At these cafes, customers...

Rice paper craft village in Tiền Giang prepares for Tết

Visiting Hậu Thành Commune in Cái Bè District, Tiền Giang Province during the year-end days, one can feel the vibrant atmosphere of the rice paper craft village as locals busily prepare for Tết. TIỀN GIANG — Visiting Hậu Thành Commune in Cái Bè District, Tiền Giang Province during the...

Thailand-Pakistan trade talks revived after decade

Between January and November 2024, trade between the two nations reached US$1.031 billion, with Thailand exporting goods worth $781.36 million and importing $250.40 million in products such as seafood, crude oil, and textiles. BANGKOK — Thailand and Pakistan have agreed to restart discussions under their Joint Trade Committee (JTC)...

Thailand adjusts target for Asian visitors

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has set a target of welcoming 2 million visitors from the RoK in 2025, up from 1.8 million in 2024. BANGKOK — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is revising its target for Asian visitors this year, focusing on potential markets to counter a...

Films by Indian-origin filmmakers earn top nods at BAFTA Awards 2025 [Upd 1]

The nominations for the coveted British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) 2025 are finally out. NEW DELHI – The nominations for the coveted British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) 2025 are finally out. As per expectations, Payal Kapadia’s ground-breaking directorial All We Imagine as Light is in the run for the Best Foreign Language...

Trump signs executive orders pulling US out of WHO, Paris climate accord

Trump also signed a few other executive orders in front of the crowd at Capital One Arena in Washington DC, just a few hours after being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, including the revocation of nearly 80 executive orders from the Biden administration. WASHINGTON...

President Trump vows new US ‘golden age’ as second term begins

"The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world," Trump said in the Capitol, where the inauguration was held indoors for the first time in decades, due to freezing weather. WASHINGTON — Donald...

New books celebrate Tết

A series of new books featuring Vietnamese culture and lifestyle have been released to celebrate the Tết (Lunar New Year) festival in the Year of the Snake, which begins on January 29. HCM CITY — A series of new books featuring Vietnamese culture and lifestyle have been released to celebrate the Tết (Lunar New Year) festival in...

Craft villages, cuisine, and folk arts: Gen Z’s journey to preserve heritage

Gen Z is leading the charge in safeguarding Vietnam’s cultural heritage with "Net Viet Nam," a project blending modern storytelling with traditional values. The "Net Viet Nam" project connects Gen Z with traditional Vietnamese culture through immersive journeys exploring craft villages, cuisine, and national heritage. Through authentic videos,...

G4 ambassadors sing in Vietnamese to celebrate Tet with a heartfelt message

Singing in Vietnamese, the G4 ambassadors delivered a heartfelt performance of “Năm qua đã làm gì” at Thang Long Imperial Citadel, wishing the Vietnamese people a happy and harmonious Tet. The G4 ambassadors to Vietnam, representing Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland, delivered a heartwarming Tet performance of...

Prime Minister to host real estate conference with major developers

A nationwide conference chaired by the Prime Minister will bring together government leaders and major real estate enterprises to advance social housing and market reforms. The Ministry of Construction has proposed that the Prime Minister host a conference to promote social housing development and ensure a healthy, sustainable...