Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An: It is necessary to clearly define the subjects eligible for tuition exemption and reduction.

Regarding the tuition fee reduction policy, the Draft Law stipulates a very specific policy of not having to pay tuition fees for students in compulsory education (primary school), and tuition fee support for primary school students studying in private educational institutions.

However, according to the delegate, for universal education, including 5-year-old preschool children and junior high school students (except for 5-year-old preschool children in extremely disadvantaged villages and communes, ethnic minority areas, remote areas, coastal areas, and islands), the Draft Law only stipulates tuition exemption according to the roadmap prescribed by the Government, regardless of public, private, and non-public types (for preschools).

Deputy Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An Province Nguyen Thanh Hien speaks at the discussion hall. Photo: Thanh Loan

According to delegate Nguyen Thanh Hien, this regulation does not clearly state whether 5-year-old preschool children and junior high school students in private and non-public schools are exempt from tuition fees or not, while primary school students in private educational institutions are subject to even stricter conditions, only receiving tuition support in areas where there are not enough public schools.

Therefore, he suggested that there should be very specific regulations on beneficiaries, conditions for support, calculation levels... In addition, private educational institutions have the right to proactively set tuition fees, so it is necessary to clearly regulate whether students in these institutions are "exempt" or "supported".

Delegate Nguyen Thanh Hien suggested that it is necessary to issue a decree guiding the process of articulation between educational levels and training qualifications in the national education system, in which it is necessary to clarify the criteria on "amount of study" and "same profession" for articulation between qualifications in the 8-level qualification framework.

Because National Assembly delegates are concerned about whether students who have completed junior high school can continue their studies at college level? Or whether students who have completed college level but do not have a high school diploma can continue their studies directly to university level?

Therefore, to resolve the above concerns, he suggested that the Drafting Committee should supplement the draft Decree guiding the above content according to the provisions of the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents.

A 10th grade entrance exam review class for students in Vinh city, Nghe An. Photo courtesy

Regarding the organization of exams to grant high school graduation certificates, the draft Law does not stipulate the method or scale of organizing the exam. However, according to delegate Nguyen Thanh Hien, it is necessary to clarify the above issues in the Law because Article 34 does not stipulate that localities are assigned to conduct exams to grant high school graduation certificates, but Article 96 assigns the provincial People's Committee to stipulate the mechanism for collecting and using the fee for enrollment services at all levels managed by the locality after being approved by the provincial People's Council.

Thus, it is necessary to clarify whether the “admission service fee” includes the high school exam fee or not? Although the Law does not stipulate the scale of the exam organization, it assigns the provincial People's Committee to stipulate the admission service fee, so it is necessary to clarify this content in the Law.

Delegate Nguyen Thanh Hien also expressed his opinions on contents such as: equivalent diplomas, regulations related to learners, school councils, duties and powers of schools...