Nghe An considers issuing a policy to support training of Lao students studying abroad under the educational and training cooperation agreement.

Accordingly, Lao students studying the 2018 General Education Program at the high school level (including the Vietnamese language preparatory program and supplementary knowledge for junior high school); training at intermediate, college, university, master's and doctoral levels (including training in the form of articulation from college to university) are proposed to receive living expenses support including: Food, accommodation, pocket money, school supplies and other personal expenses at the rate of 3,696 million VND/person/month.

For international students participating in training and certification of the Vietnamese language preparatory program according to the Vietnamese language competency framework for foreigners, and training to improve professional knowledge, the proposed living expense support amount is 3 million VND/person/month.

Support period for Lao students studying at intermediate, college, university, master's and doctoral levels (including training in the form of articulation from college to university) is 12 months/school year.

As for Laotian students studying the 2018 General Education Program at the high school level (including the Vietnamese language preparatory program and supplementary knowledge for middle school); Vietnamese language preparatory program according to the Vietnamese language competency framework for foreigners; training to improve professional knowledge, with a training period of less than 12 months, supported according to actual study time every year.

In addition, the draft policy also proposes to support Lao students with travel expenses, health insurance and activities.

At the same time, universities, vocational training institutions, general education institutions; related organizations and individuals in Nghe An province are proposed to support expenses for teaching and learning; translation and interpretation of documents (if any); repair of facilities and equipment for teaching, practice, equipment for living of Lao students staying in dormitories; training management expenses; expenses for making admission procedures, expenses for summarizing and ending courses, rewarding students; expenses for general medical examination at the beginning of the course, expenses for general medical examination every year;...

Currently, the Provincial People's Committee is seeking opinions on the draft "Regulations on Policy to support training of Lao students studying abroad under the agreement on educational and training cooperation between Nghe An province, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the provinces of the Lao PDR, studying at educational and training institutions in Nghe An province", aiming to complete and submit to the Provincial People's Council for consideration and promulgation of a Resolution at the regular meeting at the end of 2023.

Nghe An has the longest common border with Laos in the country, more than 468km; adjacent to 3 provinces of Xieng Khouang, Hua Phan and Bolikhamxay.

The terrain, history and culture of the border area between Nghe An and the localities of Laos have many similarities. The friendly and cooperative relations between Nghe An and the localities of Laos have always been maintained and developed.

Implementing the Party and State's policies and guidelines on consolidating and strengthening the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with the Lao PDR, up to now, in addition to traditional cooperation with the three provinces sharing the border, namely Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay, Nghe An has expanded its cooperative relations with the provinces of Vientiane, Khammouane, Savannakhet, Xay Som Boon in many fields, including education and training.

From 2011 to present, Nghe An province has deployed human resource training for 7 provinces of Laos, with 2,322 students studying the Basic Vietnamese Language Preparatory Training Program, undergraduate and postgraduate, at training facilities in the province (including 1,157 cooperation areas of the province).

Currently, there are over 600 international students studying in cooperation programs. Nghe An province has allocated a total budget of nearly 171 billion VND to support human resource training for Lao provinces; including expenses for education and training, teaching, purchasing personal equipment, living expenses, etc.

In general, the work of supporting human resource training has helped Lao provinces achieve many good results with increasingly improved quantity and quality; contributing to supporting the provinces of the neighboring country to build and develop a team of cadres, meeting the human resource needs in the new situation.

At the same time, it contributes to strengthening and promoting close cooperation in all fields between Nghe An province and Lao provinces in particular and between Vietnam and Laos in general.

Implementing policies to expand training for high school students; from the 2023-2024 school year, Nghe An is the first province in the country to organize the reception and admission of 31 Lao international students from 6 provinces (Hua Phan, Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay, Vientiane, Khammouane, Savannakhet) to study preparatory Vietnamese and supplement secondary school knowledge before studying the 2018 general education program at high school level (grades 10, 11 and 12).

Thereby, helping Lao students to develop their Vietnamese language skills in particular; the capacity and qualities of high school students to meet the requirements of international integration and early experience of the Vietnamese cultural environment; ensuring transition conditions and improving the quality of university education, vocational education, and postgraduate education in Vietnam.