VAS’s official statement regarding to tuition policy and support programs to vas community during the pandemic
1. Influences and damages of the epidemic to the school
At present, the school is still maintaining online teaching, learning activities and supporting activities such as enrollment, strengthen the our team of qualified staff for the upcoming school year. In addition to the human resources cost, facilities and education programmes, we are subject to some additional costs and there will be many more arising shortly. These are the costs we incur in support of our commitment to deliver the extra time we determine is best when the school timeline extend to the end of June or middle of July.
2. Teaching & learning and end of year results and qualifications
From the beginning of February 2020, VAS has conducted online teaching for students to help them maintain their learning process. During 2 months of implementation, we have constantly improved and upgraded the quality of teaching, from indirect interaction to direct interaction, from Primary – Secondary level to Kindergarten in most subjects of both the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) and Cambridge programmes.
Please understand that this global epidemic is an unprecedented event, and all our teachers have made every effort to promptly access and apply the new technologies introduced into the lecture to convey the best lessons for students. Of course, the effectiveness of online learning cannot be compared to that of face-to-face education - something that is not possible at this time.
As we have announced, under any circumstances, the school will continue to complete the school year. Both MOET and Cambridge programmes will assess students' academic performance on the evidence the school gathers and uses to submit to these authorities for next grade transition and qualifications receipts. The school also announced the details of academic programmes, assessment of results and replacement exams for each grade level in the appendix enclosed with the Letter to Parents on April 9, 2020.
3. Tuition fees
Because the student's academic programme is maintained along with the year-end results and certificate of completion whilst all of our teachers are teaching, evaluating students’ performance and receiving regular salary, timely payment of tuition is essential for the school to be able to maintain our teaching activities.
The School’s tuition fees are annual fees but some parents choose and are allowed to pay by terms under the financial policy of VAS. Many parents have already made full tuition payment for the whole year, the remaining parents should have also completed the tuition payment for the 4th term by this time of year.
Sharing the difficulties parents may encounter during this period, the school has extended the payment timeline by 4 extra weeks and all the outstanding fees for the 4th term of the school year 2019 - 2020 should be paid before April 25th , 2020.
All other schools do not allow such generous and flexible payment terms and have already collected all annual fees.
4. Meal and bus fees
As we have shared, the school will return to operation as soon as the epidemic is controlled and the authorities allow the school resumption. The student's meals and bus fees will then be calculated only for the actual days the student uses the school bus and meals.
At the end of the school year, all unused meals and transportation costs will be carried over to the next school year. In case students no longer study at VAS in the following school year, the school will refund these fees.
5. VAS support policy for students, parents, teachers and staff during the pandemic
For students, in addition to maintaining online learning under the simplified curriculum framework provided by MOET and Cambrige, VAS also makes plan on students’ learning, assessments and alternative examinations to cultivate students with all the necessary knowledge and achieved the certificates and diplomas corresponding to their programmes (as an appendix attached to the Letter to Parents dated April 9th, 2020). In addition, we also prepare students in terms of psychological and learning readiness when the school resumes.
For parents, in addition to extending the payment deadline for the 4th term of the school year 2019 - 2020 by 4 weeks; the school has also extended the dateline for reservation register for the new school year, as well as adding an additional “Unsure" option in case parents need to have more time for careful consideration during this period. Student’s space in the next grade will still be kept by the school for as long as possible, before the new school year begins.
In addition, to share the financial and business difficulties that parents may encounter, VAS Board of Directors decided to support parents with 10% discount on all tuition fees paid before 15th of May 2020. Please understand that this is a significant effort of VAS as we keep the salaries of all teachers, staff and continue the essential maintenance, upgrade facilities, curriculum and our recruitment process for the new school year. This offer is an optional option to help parents save part of the cost and proactively prepare financial plans for children in the next school year.
For VAS staff and teachers, we have ensured all our staff and teachers, from drivers, security guards, nannies to teachers and managers were paid as per usual. Many of our staff and teachers come from abroad and other provinces across Vietnam. We understand that our assurance for keeping their normal salary rate is a nessessity to help them continue to live, support and take care of their families during this crisis.
Above are the sensible solutions that we have carefully considered to protect and bring the best support for the VAS community during this time. We strongly believe and hope that you will accompany and share with us to maintain the solidarity, health and peace for the whole community.
Sincerely,
VAS Board of Management
