Principal resigns as police probe student meals being cut

Tran Ngoc Ha, the principal of Hoang Thu Pho 1 Primary School in Bac Ha District, said in the resignation letter that he "take responsibility in leadership and management, causing negative public opinion," the district People's Committee said Friday.

Prior to his resignation, Ha was suspended on Dec. 18 after images of the school students having reduced meal portion with plain instant noodles soup were shared on national television.

A televised report by VTV24 on Dec. 16 showed that lunches at the school had signs of portions being cut.

A table with 11 students only had two instant noodle packages boiled as soup to be served with rice as breakfast, while the menu said each student would get one instant noodle package and one egg for their meals.

For lunch and dinner, students got a bit of minced pork paste and vegetable broth, even though the menu for lunches and dinners on Nov. 14 said there would be 14 kg of pork and 11 kg of bones available. Some of the vegetables in the kitchen were spoiled, and students were told to go to the kitchen to pick them out.

Another VTV report on Dec. 17 showed another meal at the school only had tofu and vegetables, lacking meat as the menu stated.

At the time, the authorities of Bac Ha District said there needed to be more verification of the matter.

In its latest report, the district confirmed that all information as it appeared on TV was accurate.

It said the school had committed many violations such as not having a list of payments for students' leftover meals, and the principal had not signed food import and export documents. 

In addition, the cash payment receipt had no figures indicating the money, or the principal’s signature.

Meanwhile, information in the daily food purchase entry table did not match that on the month's food table.

The case has now been transferred to the police for further investigation.

In the first semester of the 2023-2024 school year, starting in September, Hoang Thu Pho 1 School had 174 boarding students, all subject to a government's support policy. 

The cost for students' meals alone, as funded by the government, is more than VND501 million (US$20,450) for four months and the salary for five cooks is VND54 million for four months.

By the end of October, this school had disbursed more than VND250 million.