International school in Ho Chi Minh City shuts down on first day students return, parents seek answers

Several parents of students at PennSchool's Ba Thang Hai campus in Hoa Hung Ward told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that the school had collected tuition fees but closed without prior notice or an explanation.

Parents arrive only to find school closed

The parents said they were instructed to take their children to the auditorium of the Ho Chi Minh City campus of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance on Ba Thang Hai Street instead of the school campus.

"Parents brought their children to school this morning and found the school shuttered," said parent T.K..

"We are very confused and do not know what happened or where our children will study."

The parent said the school had collected tuition fees for 60 classes from grade 1 to grade 7.

Nguyen Nam Hung said he had paid VND330 million (US$12,500) in tuition for his two children, who are entering grades 4 and 6 this school year.

"The new school year is about to begin. If the school closes, where will my children study?" Hung said.

According to parents, PennSchool had previously announced that students at the Ba Thang Hai campus would return on Monday and participate in beginning-of-year activities at the auditorium of the Ho Chi Minh City campus of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance.

Its students were scheduled to take part in orientation and school activities and have lunch at the venue.

The school said breakfast and an afternoon snack would not be provided on the first day and students would leave after lunch.

Regular classes were scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

Lease issue cited as possible reason

A parent of a grade 6 student said the homeroom teacher had informed the class that the school closed because it could not renew the lease for its premises.

Tuoi Tre reporters found a banner outside PennSchool's Ba Thang Hai campus on Monday afternoon announcing the recovery of a dormitory for Lao students operated by the Ho Chi Minh City campus of the Academy of Public Administration and Governance.

The banner said the dormitory building, which PennSchool was using, would be reclaimed from July 1, 2026.

It said the two sides had signed a contract liquidation agreement and that the extension given to PennSchool to relocate had expired on June 30.

Nguyen Thanh Trung, head of the culture and social affairs division of Hoa Hung Ward, said local authorities had asked PennSchool to submit a report on the matter.

He added that Hoa Hung Ward would ensure that students had places to study, depending on their parents' choice and an agreement with the school.

PennSchool was established in 2020 and provides education from preschool through grade 12.