Submit to the National Assembly a policy of tuition exemption and support for high school and preschool students from the 2025-2026 school year
The Government submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and approval a Resolution on tuition exemption and support for all preschool children, primary school students and students of general education programs at public and non-public educational institutions.
According to current regulations, up to now, many subjects have been exempted, reduced, or not collected tuition fees: exempted or supported tuition fees for all 5-year-old preschool children; public primary school students do not have to pay tuition fees, and tuition fee support is provided for primary school students in private educational institutions in areas without enough public schools.
Tuition is exempted for junior high school students in extremely disadvantaged villages/hamlets, communes in region III of ethnic minority and mountainous areas, especially disadvantaged communes in coastal and island areas according to regulations of competent authorities; junior high school graduates continue to study at intermediate level.
Exemption and support of tuition fees for some groups of ethnic minorities, mountainous areas, vulnerable groups, and other special groups. At the same time, reduce 50-70% of tuition fees and support study costs for many poor students, students in difficult circumstances, students under social policy, ethnic students (studying in public and private schools).
From September 1, 2025, the number of junior high school students outside of mountainous ethnic minority areas, especially disadvantaged areas, and coastal areas will be exempted from or supported with tuition fees.
In addition to the general regulations, there are currently 10 provinces/cities such as: Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Yen Bai, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Long An, Vinh Phuc that have supported tuition fees for the 2024-2025 school year for preschool and primary school students in the area.
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However, up to now, in addition to the policies that have been issued, there are still many preschool children under 5 years old, high school students, and students of general education programs at educational institutions who still have to pay tuition fees.
The draft Resolution submitted to the National Assembly this time aims to institutionalize the Party's major policy on ensuring fairness in access to education, in accordance with the 2013 Constitution, the Law on Education and the directions of the Politburo and the Secretariat.
According to the proposal, tuition fees will be exempted for preschool children, high school students, and students studying general education programs at public educational institutions; tuition fees will be supported for preschool children, high school students, and students studying general education programs at private educational institutions.
According to statistics for the 2023-2024 school year, the country has about 23.2 million students, of which 21.5 million students study at public institutions and 1.7 million students study at non-public institutions. Specifically, there are 4.8 million preschool children; 8.8 million primary school students; 6.5 million secondary school students; and 2.99 million high school students.
Based on the minimum average tuition fee in 3 areas (urban, rural, mountainous), the total State budget needed to ensure the implementation of the policy is estimated at about 30,600 billion VND per year (the specific level will depend on the tuition fee level prescribed by the People's Council of each province/city), of which the public sector is 28,700 billion VND; the private sector is 1,900 billion VND.
Currently, the State budget is still spending about 22,400 billion VND annually to implement the current tuition exemption and reduction policies. Thus, if the new policy is applied, the budget needs to allocate an additional 8,200 billion VND/year.
According to the Government's assessment, the draft Resolution only expands the beneficiaries of the policy, does not create current administrative procedures; contributes to reducing the economic burden on poor families; promotes consumption of goods and services for the saved tuition fees.
The policy also creates a positive mentality, strengthens trust in the Party and the Government; is consistent with and not contrary to international conventions and commitments related to Vietnam; does not affect or impact gender inequality; is not contrary to the Party's policies and viewpoints, legal regulations related to gender equality and ethnic policies; contributes to perfecting Vietnam's legal policy system; does not stipulate the authority of all levels.
This Resolution shall take effect from the date of its approval by the National Assembly and shall be applied from the 2025-2026 school year onwards until otherwise provided.
Also on the morning of May 22, the National Assembly heard a presentation and report on the review of the draft Resolution on universalizing preschool education for preschool children from 3 to 5 years old and discussed in the hall the draft Law on Inspection (amended).
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The meeting on February 28, 2025 of the Politburo concluded: Tuition is exempted for preschool and primary school students in the public school system; other students are subject to the provisions of law.
Next, in Document No. 14251-CV/VPTW dated April 11, 2025 of the Party Central Office, the Standing Secretariat directed "Promptly advise and propose to competent authorities to remove difficulties and obstacles and supplement the list of students of private and non-public schools to receive tuition support, ensuring fairness in accessing Party and State policies".
