Private schools, parents should negotiate student school fees

Authorities with responsibility for the private education sector have advised both private school administrators and students' parents to consider negotiation on the timing of school fee payments to ensure outcomes are achieved that are reasonable for both sides during the compulsory school shutdown.

"Many private school administrators have followed authorities' suggestions after the Private Education Promotion Office made an announcement on salary payments for teachers and staff and school fee payments for private education institutions across the country," Ministry of Education and Sports' Private Education Promotion Office director Mr Khamphone Xaysomphou said.

During the school suspension period that aims to limit the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak, the authorities are concerned that students and parents may not have access to resources to pay school fees, while authorities also understands school owners have fixed costs to pay in addition to salaries to staff including teachers.

 "Therefore, authorities have advised school management and businesses and students' parents to negotiate on terms of payments as suitable in the current situation," Mr Khamphone said.

"The payments for teacher salaries and school fees can depend on factors including different education levels. Also, some schools ask parents to pay for monthly, yearly or pay for course terms."

During the suspension period, the Ministry of Education and Sports has also advised school administrators to keep their premises clean to reduce the risk of infections.

This is to be achieved by regularly cleaning the classrooms and school grounds, educational equipment and applying disinfectant around their facilities to ensure the well-being of students and teachers.

Meanwhile, school administrators are carrying out activities to reduce the risk of infection from Covid-19.

Education authorities have advised teachers to give students homework and have devised more ideas for teachers to provide their students after the government ordered all private and state schools to close temporarily from March 19 to April 21.

Also, the Ministry's Research Institute for Educational Sciences is producing online educational television programmes for primary school students to provide learning opportunities and soften the impacts of school closures on affected students while lessening the risk of viral infection.

The online study programmes cover key subjects of mathematics, Lao language and English.

The programmes will be broadcast on Lao National Television Channel from 8:00 to 8:30 and scheduled to be aired every day from Monday to Sunday.

The programmes also will be broadcast on radio, YouTube and Facebook page.

The government has advised the Ministry of Education and Sports to partner with the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications to consult on internet charges to support distance learning amid the coronavirus outbreak.

An official in charge said, the two ministries are discussing how to implement the government's advice from the recent monthly cabinet meeting for March.

By Keoviengkhone Bounviseth
(Latest Update April 7, 2020)