The State budget compensates for the exempted, reduced or increased portion of secondary school tuition fees.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam: The education sector has also looked more directly at the shortcomings and weaknesses due to subjectivity, which are the responsibility of the sector. Photo: VGP/Dinh Nam

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam stated that to ensure the quality of education, tuition fees must be calculated correctly and fully, and according to development trends, tuition fees must increase.

However, the tuition fee paid by parents will not increase. At the same time, based on specific conditions, the roadmap for reducing or exempting the tuition fee paid by students' families will be accelerated.

The local budget, or the central budget (for localities that have not yet balanced their budgets) will compensate for exempted, reduced or increased tuition fees to ensure revenue for general schools.

Overcoming difficulties in school year

Assessing that the 2021-2022 school year continues to be a "year of overcoming difficulties", Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam appreciated the efforts of the entire team of teachers and students who have made efforts and achieved remarkable results. Vietnamese education continues to maintain international rankings; implement the roadmap for curriculum and textbook innovation; and handle staffing issues.

The Deputy Prime Minister also shared the difficulties of the education sector in ensuring the quality of education (schools, teachers), along with the high concerns and demands of the people and society.

"Education must be linked to the conditions and level of economic development of the country. Vietnam is still a developing country with a low average income, but the people's and society's wishes and aspirations for the education sector are to be like those of the most developed countries. That interest is fortunate for the education sector but also a great deal of pressure. Therefore, the education sector needs to pay more attention to communication activities, gathering opinions from the people, experts, and the community on education policies," the Deputy Prime Minister shared.

In addition, the education sector has also looked more directly at the shortcomings and weaknesses due to subjectivity, which are the responsibility of the sector. For example, the cause of the frustrations in exams, tests, assessments, extra teaching - extra learning, reference books, etc. is because at times, in some places, some teachers are still dishonest and lacking objectivity.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam proposed further promoting the teaching of arts subjects in schools. Photo: VGP/Dinh Nam

Continue to innovate general school management

In the 2022-2023 school year, the Deputy Prime Minister outlined 10 specific tasks for the education sector.

The firstis to continue to closely follow Resolution 29-NQ/TW on fundamental and comprehensive innovation in education and training, implement innovation at all stages, and coordinate with Party committees and committees of the National Assembly on each topic.

MondayThe education sector must carry out teaching and learning more substantially in the direction of comprehensive development of Morality - Intelligence - Body - Aesthetics for students, in which it is necessary to further promote the teaching of art subjects in schools.

TuesdayIt is necessary to be truly resolute in innovating state management in the field of education. The Ministry of Education and Training must truly be a state management ministry, mobilizing the strength of the entire political system and society to create conditions to ensure that the quality of education is improved faster and more sustainably.

"In addition to general education, university education and vocational education still require improving quality and world rankings," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

From the innovation of state management of education, the education sector needs to continue to innovate the management of general schools after initial successes in implementing university autonomy. General schools must truly be cultural and democratic environments, mobilizing community participation. The Deputy Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and local leaders to pay special attention to this issue.

WednesdayThe Ministry of Education and Training must review and proactively propose tuition fee mechanisms and implement autonomy to have an appropriate proportion of schools in suitable locations and areas that can take care of teachers' salaries to reserve payrolls from the State budget for rural and disadvantaged areas to have enough teachers, schools, and classes for students to study 2 sessions/day conveniently with the number of students per class according to the Ministry's instructions.

ThursdayThe Ministry of Education and Training further accelerates the application of information technology, closely grasps educational resources nationwide in terms of teachers and facilities, and links them with population information in each locality and commune, thereby proactively ensuring "enough schools, enough classes, and enough teachers for students".

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam requested the Ministry of Education and Training to continue to review the substantive regulations on extra teaching, extra learning, testing, use of reference books, etc. Photo: VGP/Dinh Nam

FridayThe Ministry of Education and Training will proactively coordinate closely with the Ethnic Committee to have a plan to organize learning for students in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the direction that they "board and semi-board but study in harmony", improving the quality of learning for ethnic minority and mountainous students. "This must be done persistently for 15-20 years and requires the close attention of local authorities", the Deputy Prime Minister suggested.

SaturdayThe Ministry of Education and Training needs to seriously review all standards and criteria for emulation and rewards in the education sector, in accordance with the conditions of each region and locality.

EighthThe Ministry of Education and Training must preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to review and supplement regulations on mobilizing community contributions for schools in a public and transparent manner.

NinthThe Ministry of Education and Training continues to review the regulations on extra teaching, extra learning, testing, use of reference books, etc. to prevent students from "voluntarily" asking for extra classes, asking to organize classes, asking to buy reference books, etc. "This situation has been rectified. Many places do very well, but there are still exceptions. We must resolutely review and strictly handle them," the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

TenthThe Ministry of Education and Training must promote digital transformation in state management and school administration, promote electronic learning materials and online learning as long-term supplementary activities; promote STEM education; strongly apply information technology to fundamentally innovate from requirements, instructions to production and distribution of teaching equipment and supplies.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam: The Ministry of Education and Training must direct localities to allow art schools to conduct normal enrollment to ensure the rights of students and parents. Photo: VGP/Dinh Nam

Early implementation of purchasing textbooks for students to borrow

Regarding some immediate tasks, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Education and Training to have a plan and detailed instructions for supplementing and consolidating knowledge for students after a long period of online learning for each class and level; together with localities to organize the recruitment of additional teachers; closely monitor university admissions; closely coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to promptly submit to the Government the necessary documents to implement the policy of purchasing textbooks for students to borrow and use.

"The Ministry of Education and Training must closely monitor and provide written instructions on admission to art schools. We will resolve any problems or documents, but the Ministry must direct localities to allow art schools to conduct normal admissions to ensure the rights of students and parents," the Deputy Prime Minister stated.

The Deputy Prime Minister hopes and wishes the education sector and all teachers to continue to make efforts to overcome difficulties and hardships to be worthy of the great trust and expectations of the Party, State and people.