HCMC – The Government has proposed that the National Assembly issue a resolution on tuition exemptions and financial aid for preschoolers and general education students, including those attending non-public schools.
At a National Assembly session on May 22, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son presented a draft resolution outlining a broader tuition support policy targeting more student groups.
Currently, the state budget covers tuition waivers or reductions for certain groups of students. However, many preschool children under five and high school students, particularly those enrolled at private schools, are still required to pay tuition.
Under the draft proposal, additional groups would be eligible for tuition exemptions or support. These include children under five enrolled in preschool, high school students, and learners in general education programs at public and non-public institutions.
Son emphasized that expanding support to learners at private and semi-private schools aims to ensure equity and encourage the development of non-public education, contributing to the broader goal of mobilizing non-state resources in education.
Statistics showed that Vietnam has 23.2 million students in the 2023-2024 academic year, with 21.5 million in public schools (93%) and 1.7 million in non-public schools (7%). Preschool enrollment stands at 4.8 million, of whom one million attend non-public schools. The primary level has 8.8 million students, lower secondary 6.5 million, and upper secondary nearly three million.
The total cost for tuition support, based on the average minimum tuition fees across three regions, is estimated at VND30.6 trillion. Of this, VND28.7 trillion is allocated to public institutions, and VND1.9 trillion to non-public ones.
Provincial People’s Councils will determine specific funding levels based on local conditions. From September 1, 2025, the state budget is expected to provide tuition exemptions or support totaling around VND22.4 trillion under current policies, with VND21.8 trillion for public institutions and VND600 billion for non-public ones.
Should the proposed resolution be passed, an additional VND8.2 trillion will be required, including VND6.9 trillion for public schools and VND1.3 trillion for non-public ones.
An estimated VND774.2 billion would also be needed to support learners in general education programs at continuing education centers and other educational institutions, covering over 431,000 students.
