Hundreds of Parents Keep Children Home Amid School Merger Dispute in Nghe An

Hundreds of students at the Tiến Sơn school point in Quỳnh Tam commune, Nghệ An province, have not attended classes since the start of the new academic year due to parental opposition to a school merger. The merger was proposed due to the severe deterioration of the Tiến Sơn school's facilities, built in 1998, which posed safety risks. The school previously had 5 classes with 166 students. The new main campus and branch campuses are located 6-7 km away, with convenient transportation links. Parents are protesting the relocation, fearing increased travel distances and inadequate boarding facilities. Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thu, a 32-year-old mother, expressed concerns about the 6-7 km commute, stating, "My husband and I both work far from home, so we cannot always arrange to pick up and drop off our children." She emphasized that while they support improving educational quality, they need concrete plans for transportation and boarding before transferring their children. Mr. Nguyễn Văn Khoa, Director of the provincial Department of Education and Training, explained that the merger aims to ensure student safety and provide a better learning environment. He noted the alarming condition of the Tiến Sơn school's infrastructure during an inspection. To address the distance issue, Mr. Nguyễn Văn Phú, Secretary of the Quỳnh Tam Commune Party Committee, stated that the commune plans to organize three daily bus trips for students and provide boarding meals. Support for transportation costs and learning materials is also being considered to alleviate financial burdens on families. Despite these assurances, many parents remain undecided about sending their children back to school. School officials are continuing efforts to persuade parents and are preparing measures to compensate for any learning gaps caused by the absences.