Primary education should be tuition-free.

Many teachers and parents also proposed to retain the regulation that "primary education is compulsory and does not require tuition" in the draft amendment to the 1992 Constitution so that children from poor families do not have to drop out of school.



There are more opinions suggesting to keep the regulation of free tuition for primary school. In the photo: a class of students at Minh Tan B Primary School (Minh Tan Commune, Vi Xuyen, Ha Giang) - Photo: Minh Tam B

Ms. Truong Lien Lam (parent of a 2nd grade student in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City): Poor students can drop out of school.

Actually, since my child started first grade until now, I still did not know that he was exempted from regular tuition fees. Because in the monthly payments, there is still a second-session tuition fee. Generally, a tuition fee of several tens of thousands of VND/month is not difficult for my family. However, for a relative of mine in Binh Chanh district who also has a child in second grade, the amount of several tens of thousands of VND is very large.

Every new school year, she rushes to my house to ask for some textbooks, notebooks, pens and even old clothes for her child. If she were required to pay tuition fees, she would probably let her child stay home. Right in Ho Chi Minh City, there are all kinds of people, so don’t compare Ho Chi Minh City with the poor provinces in the North or the provinces in the Southeast. Therefore, I suggest keeping the sentence “Primary education is compulsory, no tuition fees” in the new Constitution.

At the same time, the State should issue a regulation on socialization of education to mobilize potential for education in well-off families.

Ms. Le Thi Lien (a retired teacher in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City): Not enough food

The draft only states in general terms that “Citizens have the right and obligation to study” is unclear, it is like a denial of the provision “Primary education is compulsory, no tuition fee” of the 1992 Constitution. This is a “regression” that is not in line with the general development of the world. In developed countries, they subsidize both education and health care. In our country, the economy is still difficult, if we cannot subsidize everything, at least we must maintain the exemption of tuition fees for primary education.

I have spent four years teaching in poor rural areas. In big cities, free tuition may not matter, but in remote areas, it is very important. Many children go to school in the morning and have to go out in the afternoon to earn a living. If they do not have enough to eat, how can they afford to pay tuition? If tuition is not free, many children will have to stop or drop out of school.

Mr. Tran Van Tam (Trung Lap Ha Primary School, Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City): Long-term need to exempt tuition fees for the second session

My school has 357 students, nearly 20 of whom have a poor household registration book so they are exempted from the second session tuition (currently, the main primary school tuition is exempted, but students still have to pay the second session tuition if they study two sessions/day - PV). However, in reality, the number of students who do not pay the second session tuition at my school is up to more than 50 students. Although they are not yet recognized as poor households, if their families cannot afford to pay the second session tuition, the school still has to implement the exemption policy.

Primary education is the foundation level, so the regulation of free tuition for students should be maintained. If possible, the State should also consider exempting tuition for the second session in schools that teach two sessions a day to create opportunities for students to study better. If tuition is not exempted, the situation of absenteeism and dropout will be more serious, and we will have to mobilize students to general education classes, which is not only disadvantageous for the students but also costs the State more money to do this work.

Mr. Vu Hoang Tung (parent in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City): Free tuition for all secondary schools

The State has identified education as the top national policy, so policies and regimes for education should be carefully considered before deciding. As early as 1992, when the country was still facing countless difficulties, the State was still able to exempt primary school tuition fees. More than 20 years later, the country has had many innovations, and the view on education is also viewed more correctly. I propose that the new Constitution not only stipulates free primary school tuition but also exempts secondary school tuition fees. This will open up many learning opportunities for students in remote areas and will be a necessary "stepping stone" to improve people's knowledge, train human resources, and nurture talents.