English school faces suspension after abrubtly closing with $250,000 payment from parents
Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are considering suspending the Australia International English School (AIES) which has abruptly shut down after collecting more than VND6.5 billion ($250,400) in prepaid tuition.
In a report submitted to the municipal People’s Committee on Monday, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education highlighted that the school had failed to officially announce its closure. The department confirmed that licenses were renewed in 2023 for AIES’s two facilities on Le Van Kiet and Kha Van Can streets in Thu Duc City.
According to its first-quarter report, AIES catered to 316 students with 12 Vietnamese teachers and eight support staff, maintaining stable operations through consistent reports and meetings with education authorities. However, following recent events, the department has suggested suspending the school’s operations and urged the city police to revoke the company’s official seals.
The alarm was raised by hundreds of distressed parents who discovered they could no longer contact the school’s management. Many parents reported the school had initially notified a temporary closure from May 8 to 14 for maintenance purposes. However, the facilities never reopened.
The school’s official website is inaccessible.
AIES is operated by the Duy Khang Training and Education Company, established in 2007, which also runs branches in nearby Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces.
By Le Nguyen – VnExpress.net – May 20, 2025