Frustration mounted among parents who were excluded from the meeting, prompting them to gather outside, demanding a dialogue with key stakeholders, including the school’s administration, the Parent-Teacher Association, and the local Ward People’s Committee.
Parents Seek Answers on Substandard Food Allegations
By 7 PM that evening, after a prolonged wait, parents engaged in discussions with Ms. Nguyễn Thái Quỳnh Nga, Principal of T.V. Elementary School, and Mr. Nguyễn Mậu Hà, Chairman of Xuân Hương Ward People’s Committee in Đà Lạt.
Notably, the meeting included Ms. T., who had publicly accused the school of procuring substandard food on social media.
During the meeting, parents demanded the school leadership confirm the accuracy of Ms. T.’s allegations. They questioned whether the school was aware of repeated deliveries of substandard food, if such food had been served to students, and who would be held accountable if it had.
Accuser Declares: “I Stand by My Statement”
Principal Nga began by apologizing to parents for the incident. She acknowledged that substandard food had indeed been delivered to the school but assured that it had not been served to students.
“While the issue occurred in the kitchen, we took immediate action to prevent students from consuming the substandard food,” Principal Nga stated.
She confirmed that the matter was under investigation by authorities and pledged to share official findings with parents as soon as they became available.
Principal Nguyễn Thái Quỳnh Nga addresses parents on the evening of September 18.
Ms. T., a former kitchen staff member who had posted the allegations, stood up to assert that the substandard food had been cooked and served to students, contrary to the school’s claims.
“Driven by conscience and ethics, I could not remain silent. I stand by my statement and am prepared to face legal consequences if proven wrong,” Ms. T. declared.
She added that she and other kitchen staff had filed a complaint with authorities on August 11, but no action had been taken to date.
Ms. T., the whistleblower who exposed substandard food procurement at T.V. Elementary School.
Regarding her departure from the school, Ms. T. claimed that the former kitchen team, who had filed the complaint, was unexpectedly terminated. She explained that the team had initially sought a meeting to address the substandard food issue, but the principal denied their request. It was only after they submitted a complaint to the Party Committee that a meeting was granted.
Ms. T. revealed that on June 2, after their contracts had expired on May 31, they were summoned for a meeting. “During this meeting, we exposed the irregularities, and it was then that the entire teaching staff realized they too had unknowingly consumed substandard food,” she said.
Commitment to Transparency in Investigation Results
Mr. Nguyễn Mậu Hà, Chairman of Xuân Hương Ward People’s Committee, explained that the evening meeting aimed to address the concerns of teachers and parents regarding the incident.
He assured that the authorities would thoroughly investigate the matter, ensuring fairness and accountability. “We will address the issue to its full extent, and those responsible will face consequences,” he stated.
Parents demand answers from T.V. Elementary School’s administration.
Regarding the earlier complaint about substandard food, Mr. Hà confirmed that the ward had received the petition and summoned the complainants for discussions. However, as the complaint was filed collectively, the ward requested that a single representative be designated to take responsibility for the allegations.
After providing guidance, the ward invited the complainants for further discussions, requesting relevant evidence to support their claims. At that time, the complainants could only provide photos, lacking sufficient documentation for a thorough investigation.
“Given the seriousness of the allegations and their impact on student health and public concern, we escalated the matter to specialized agencies and law enforcement for further action,” Mr. Hà explained.
Mr. Nguyễn Mậu Hà, Chairman of Xuân Hương Ward People’s Committee.
Mr. Hà reaffirmed that the investigation was ongoing, with law enforcement actively involved. He pledged to promptly share the final results with parents, urging them to remain calm.
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Multiple Complaints Regarding Food Quality at T.V. Elementary School As previously reported by Người Lao Động Newspaper, social media recently highlighted allegations of substandard food being supplied to T.V. Elementary School, endangering student health. The accusations claim that the supplier consistently delivered poor-quality food from late 2024 to April 2025. In the 2025-2026 academic year, the school enrolled 1,700 students, including 700 boarding students. Following the social media exposé, many parents expressed alarm, with some opting to take their children home rather than allowing them to dine at the school. The Lâm Đồng Provincial People’s Committee has directed the Xuân Hương Ward People’s Committee to collaborate with relevant agencies to thoroughly investigate the allegations of substandard food procurement at T.V. Elementary School. |
