Da Nang authorities are reviewing foreign language centres after the director of Thiên Lập Nhân English Centre was arrested for allegedly defrauding parents through an unauthorised education programme marketed under the name of a United States-based international school. The Department of Education and Training said it would step up inspections of foreign language and IT centres and work with local authorities to help 200 children previously enrolled at the centre return to mainstream education.
Trương Văn Thiên Tư, born in 1970, the centre's director and investor, was arrested and placed in temporary detention on October 29. The case is being investigated as alleged property appropriation through fraud under Article 174 of the Penal Code, according to the Da Nang Police Security Investigation Agency.
The centre was licensed to provide English language training for children and teenagers, but had no authorisation to teach the national general education curriculum or conduct education partnerships with foreign institutions. Investigators said Tư had organised full-time schooling under the Prinberk Academy name, following a homeschooling model, for more than 200 children aged five to 16 since 2019. Tuition ranged from VNĐ7 million to VNĐ8 million (US$270–310) per student per month.
Investigators said Tư introduced himself as Prinberk Academy's principal and claimed it was based in Huntington Beach, California. He promoted the programme with commitments about its curriculum, academic records and overseas transfer opportunities. They said he provided misleading information to gain parents' trust and persuaded some families to withdraw their children from regular schools. He allegedly instructed staff to issue receipts described as “educational support”, “physical development” and “recreational activities”.
Centre had previously been inspected and penalised
The centre was established in 2017 under a licence to provide English programmes for children and operated three facilities on Hải Phòng, Văn Tiến Dũng and Nguyễn Tất Thành streets. The department received a public complaint on August 28, 2024, about the Nguyễn Tất Thành site allegedly operating without authorisation.
After meeting Tư, the department examined the Prinberk Academy curriculum, teaching of lower and upper secondary students, full-day schooling and boarding services. Inspections on October 16 and November 15, 2024, found violations. The department ordered the centre to stop assigning classes to unqualified teachers, publish operational information, protect employees' and learners' rights, and discontinue boarding.
The centre was administratively penalised, then completed corrective measures and complied with the penalty decision. On November 29, 2024, the department and Da Nang Police required Tư to clarify to parents that Thiên Lập Nhân English Centre and Prinberk Academy were separate entities and to review written commitments. In January 2025, the department again ordered the centre to disclose information, revise commitments and comply with regulations. It issued a dissolution decision on January 7, 2026, following a proposal from the establishment.
Measures to protect students' education
The department said commune- and ward-level authorities would review school-age children, especially primary and lower secondary pupils not enrolled in mainstream institutions. Local authorities would advise parents and guide enrolment at nearby schools.
Foreign language and IT centres must submit reports every six months on enrolment, training activities, teaching staff, curricula and tuition fees. The department said it regularly coordinates with local authorities and other agencies to monitor centres, detect violations and act.
In 2024, it inspected 16 foreign language centres, handled complaints involving four foreign language centres and one life-skills centre, temporarily suspended two centres and dissolved 10 establishments. In 2025, it inspected 18 centres, addressed complaints involving two and dissolved 19. As of October 30, 2026, it had inspected 10 centres, handled seven complaints and dissolved 122 centres that did not meet operating conditions.
The department said stronger inspections and supervision were intended to bring non-public educational establishments into compliance, protect learners' interests and give parents adequate information when choosing educational programmes and providers.
Sources: Viet Nam News
