Education is not free
School fees are required at every level of the education system in Vietnam. Elementary school students pay around $25 per year and high school students pay twice that amount. Higher education fees start at around $100 per year. Not expensive by Western standards, but a lot for an orphanage that survives on donations.
Almost all of the school-age children at Thien Binh Orphanage attend schools in the Bien Hoa area. Currently 66* children are enrolled at elementary, secondary and high schools- 32 at elementary school, 29 at secondary school (similar to junior high) and 5 at high school. School uniforms are compulsory in most schools. Uniforms along with text books and stationery all add to the cost of schooling. *8 of the older Thien Binh residents are involved in vocational training programs. Vision The orphanage management wants to upgrade the school support system but are hampered by lack of professional staff. Proficiency in English is the key to future professional study and jobs and the orphanage wants to run English classes for senior students. But finding and paying for suitably qualified teachers is difficult. The orphanage staff and management put great store on education as the way to ensure the children's future. However, many of the children focus on immediate employment and leave high school before graduating. Father Uy and his team hope to reverse that trend. Transport One of the difficulties school students face is simply getting to and from school. The orphanage has no motorized transport and hasn't been able to afford bicycles for all of the school age children. This means that many children have a long, hot dusty walk to and from school every day. This naturally dampens their enthusiasm for school. Transport is, of course, also needed for emergencies and taking children on outings as well as bringing in supplies. Special needs There are 22 young people at the orphanage who are intellectually disabled. Some have Downs Syndrome, others have suffered brain trauma at birth or as a result of accidents. The orphanage runs life skill classes for these young people. These classes are aimed at helping the students attain a level of self care and independence which will allow them to participate in sheltered workshop skills programs. ....is physically disabled Sen is deaf and mute and has been since birth. She attends a residential special school for the deaf during the week and lives at the orphanage at weekends and school holidays. |