From November 15, 2026, Circular 81/2026/TT-BGDĐT on the Regulations of the Parent-Teacher Association will come into effect. Accordingly, the Parent-Teacher Association is not allowed to impose mandatory contributions, set average or minimum support levels, or impose support periods; nor should it force or pressure parents to make contributions.
The parent representative board is also prohibited from collecting, receiving, or managing financial support. When there is a need for support for activities, the content, requirements, and methods must be made public so that parents can voluntarily decide. If the support is insufficient, the scale, content, or method of implementation must be adjusted; no additional contributions should be required.
According to Circular 81, the use of support funds is not permitted for the construction or repair of facilities, the purchase or maintenance of teaching equipment, or the performance of tasks that fall under the responsibility of the school.
"Voluntary" must be in the truest sense.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Dung (whose child attends Nguyen Tuan Primary and Secondary School in Thanh Xuan Ward, Hanoi ) believes that if the support is set at a specific amount and parents feel obligated to pay, then it is no longer voluntary.
According to this parent, the class once had about 10 million VND donated by parents, but that money was later returned and the class no longer maintains the fund.
"No matter how much you donate, it must be in accordance with regulations. Parents can support activities when they are organized, but creating a fund and keeping the money to spend gradually is not allowed now," Ms. Dung shared.
Meanwhile, Mr. Le Tri Tien Thanh (a parent with a child attending 8/3 Kindergarten, Bach Mai Ward, Hanoi) does not object to participating in the class's activities, but the support must have a clear purpose, be transparent, and not put pressure on parents.
"When parents have the right to say 'no' without worrying about it affecting their children, then 'voluntariness' truly becomes meaningful," said Mr. Thanh.
According to a parent whose child attends class D1 at 8/3 Kindergarten, tightening regulations on fees and expenses is necessary but shouldn't be too rigid. This parent believes the class still has activities, and therefore, the contributions and cooperation of parents are needed.
Specifically, parents can support individual activities, openly state their needs, and decide for themselves how much they participate. This approach both limits the pooled funds and prevents support from becoming an obligation.
Don't let "voluntary" become mandatory.
Master's degree holder Nguyen Van Quy (a math teacher in Hanoi) believes that Circular 81 is necessary in clarifying the role of the Parent-Teacher Association. In some places, the fees are called "voluntary," but the amount is set almost fixed, making it difficult for parents to refuse.
However, it is also necessary to consider the practical needs of the class, such as group activities, visits, decorations, encouragement, and rewards.
"In life, everything requires financial resources . Without a shared fund, how will supplementary activities for the children be organized, and where will the money come from?" – Mr. Quy questioned.
According to Mr. Quy, if parents' contributions are truly voluntary, reasonable, and the income and expenditure are transparent, then it is a normal need. It's unacceptable to hold a parent-teacher meeting, announce a figure, and claim it's voluntary. It's also unacceptable to publicly list those who haven't paid, send private messages to pressure parents, or make them feel like their children will be targeted if they don't participate. Most importantly, students should not be treated differently because their parents haven't paid.
If all students benefit but only a small group of parents consistently contribute, it can eventually lead to resentment. Voluntariness cannot become compulsion, but it should not be interpreted as placing all responsibility on those who are conscientious about the common good, while everyone else is completely excluded.
It is necessary to clearly distinguish which expenses are for the class as a whole, which are for extracurricular activities, and which are the responsibility of the school. The school should also not allow the Parent Representative Committee to collect fees that are its responsibility, avoiding turning the Parent Representative Committee into an "extension" of the school.
Teacher Nguyen Van Quy also stated that it is necessary to distinguish between excessive fees and voluntary contributions. It's not the case that every time parents pool money together, it constitutes excessive fees, nor is every activity that requires money necessarily unnecessary.
Another issue is that if the Representative Board is not allowed to collect or retain funds, the actual need will still exist and may have to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. The regulations may be very clear, but in practice, would that approach be more convenient?
Cracking down on illegal fees is necessary, but the realities of classroom life must also be considered, so that genuinely enthusiastic parents can still participate in group activities.
“I support cracking down on illegal fees, shady practices, and the abuse of the Parent-Teacher Association's name to exert pressure. But we also need to look at the real-life situation of a classroom. Combating excessive fees is right, but please don't let the past wrongdoings in some places make it difficult to fulfill the legitimate needs of parents and students,” emphasized Master Nguyen Van Quy.
Source: https://anninhthudo.vn/tien-ho-tro-cua-phu-huynh-ranh-gioi-nao-giua-tu-nguyen-va-bat-buoc-post670973.antd
