No tuition increase to share difficulties and support students during the Covid-19 epidemic

Nghe An Provincial People's Committee has just issued a document on implementation.sharedifficulties, support students and parents in the Covid-19 epidemic situation. Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee requested the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Finance, Universities and Pedagogical Colleges to strictly implement the contents as required by the Ministry of Education and Training in Official Dispatch No. 3277/BGDĐT - KHTC dated August 4, 2021.

Previously, through the grasp ofMinistry of Education and TrainingSince April 2021, the Ministry has sent document No. 1505/BGD DT - KHTC to localities and educational and training institutions requesting to maintain stable levels.tuitionThe 2021-2022 school year is the same as the 2020-2021 school year to share with people across the country affected by the epidemic and natural disasters. At the same time, the Ministry has also submitted to the Government for consideration to issue a new Decree to replace Decree No. 86/2015/NDD-CP on the mechanism for collecting and managing tuition fees for institutions in the national education system, policies on tuition exemption, reduction, and support for learning costs from the 2015-2016 school year to the 2020-2021 school year (expected to be applied from the 2021-2022 school year).

Candidates arrive to enroll at Nghe An University of Economics. Photo: MH

However, in recent times, there are still some localities and educational and training establishments that have not properly implemented the Government's policies and the Ministry's documents, leading to a situation where some units still increase tuition fees and collect some illegal fees in the context of people's lives and economy facing many difficulties.

To overcome these shortcomings, the Ministry recommends that sectors, localities and educational institutions need to review and organize teaching and learning activities reasonably, ensure quality requirements and cut down and save as much as possible on costs to reduce unnecessary educational and training support service revenues and maintain the tuition fees for the 2021-2022 school year as issued for the 2020-2021 school year. If the organizationonline teachingIt is necessary to accurately calculate a reasonable fee based on the actual implementation of teaching and learning activities according to the principle of sharing common difficulties between educational institutions and students and families in difficult circumstances.

The Ministry also requested that in addition to supporting study costs for subjects in accordance with state regulations, units need to have policies to exempt, reduce, and extend payment time for tuition fees and service fees to support educational activities for students and families in difficult circumstances.

Immediately after this document, the Provincial People's Committee also issued a document requesting universities and colleges to strictly implement measures to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic. The purpose is to promptly detect, prevent and handle cases of citizens, including students from areas where the Covid-19 epidemic has been announced, when returning to school, to avoid a high risk of infection in the community.

Accordingly, the Provincial People's Committee requested that the Principals of universities, colleges and intermediate schools notify and require all teachers, students and pupils from localities where Covid-19 epidemics have been announced nationwide to strictly implement epidemic prevention measures according to regulations and make health declarations when returning to school for the new school year.

Schools also need to develop specific and effective plans for epidemic prevention, regularly inspect, supervise, and handle violations according to regulations. At the same time, they must take responsibility if an epidemic breaks out within their management.