Brian Jeffrey
Parents of students enrolled at the Australia International English School (AIES) in Ho Chi Minh City are facing bewilderment after the institution abruptly closed its doors for purported “repairs” and has not reopened since.
Efforts to reach the school’s director have been fruitless, fueling concerns that he may have fled with substantial amounts of advance tuition payments.
Families with children at the AIES facility located on Kha Van Can Street received news on May 8 that the school would be temporarily shuttered for a week due to structural problems from intense rainfall.
This notification was shared on Zalo parent groups as well as at the school itself, indicating classes would resume on May 15.
However, shortly thereafter, all lines of communication with the director were cut off. Staff indicated that on the morning of May 8, management informed them of the abrupt cessation of classes and activities starting at noon. By 11 a.m., employees from all branches were unable to reach the director.
When some staff members reached out to his spouse, they were told he had traveled abroad a few days prior, and they too were unable to get in touch with him.
By May 9, the director’s wife’s phone number had been disconnected. Additionally, the center’s website, social media pages, and internal communication platforms were taken offline.
All employee access credentials were suspended, raising further concern. The staff reported this series of events to local authorities in Tang Nhon Phu B Ward for guidance.
As of noon on May 15, no official communication or direction had been received from the director. Employees expressed their regret in a letter to parents, stating: “We sincerely apologize and ask for your understanding. Our teachers and staff are also impacted, with unpaid salaries and interrupted contracts, but we are committed to cooperating with the authorities to address the situation.”
Although the initial reason for the closure was attributed to storm damage and safety renovations, the promised reopening on May 15 did not occur. Discontented parents are now lodging formal complaints with the police and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training.
A parent, Mr. H., shared with VietNamNet that just eight days before the closure, he had signed his child up for a three-year English course at AIES and paid VND 31 million (roughly USD 1,220) in tuition, with the assurance that classes would start as planned. Instead, the school abruptly closed, dismantled its signage, and ceased all communication.
“I haven’t received any communication or refund. This seems like a planned exit. I will file a formal complaint,” he remarked.
Now, over 200 parents have come together to compile a joint report detailing the payments made to the institution, with individual losses ranging from tens of millions to nearly VND 100 million (about USD 3,900).
AIES is managed by Duy Khang Education and Training Co., Ltd., under the leadership of Ho Dang Duy. The company, founded in 2007, is located at 182-184-186 Le Van Viet Street, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City.
As of this moment, the AIES website remains inaccessible. VietNamNet has reached out to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, and a spokesperson confirmed they are aware of the issue.
