Issuing a new Decree on tuition policy and support for learning costs

GD&TĐ - The Decree regulating policies on tuition fees, exemption, reduction, tuition support, support for learning costs, and service prices in the field of education and training has just been issued.

Implementing the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, based on Resolution No. 217/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly on exemption and support of tuition fees for preschool children, general education students, and students of general education programs in educational institutions in the national education system, the Ministry of Education and Training has coordinated with relevant agencies to develop and submit to the Government for promulgation Decree No. 238/2025/ND-CP dated September 3, 2025.

This Decree takes effect from September 3, 2025, replacing Decree No. 81/2021/ND-CP dated August 27, 2021 and Decree No. 97/2023/ND-CP dated December 31, 2023 of the Government . The Decree consists of 06 Chapters, 29 Articles, with the following basic contents:

Tuition and tuition schedule remain stable

Regulations on tuition fee framework (floor - ceiling) or tuition fee ceiling of all levels and tuition fee roadmap inherit the provisions of Decree No. 81/2021/ND-CP and Decree No. 97/2023/ND-CP.

The goal is to ensure stable tuition policy, create initiative and convenience for learners, educational institutions and management agencies, and at the same time implement a roadmap to gradually compensate for salary costs, direct costs, management costs and depreciation of fixed assets, and other costs according to regulations of the law on prices.

Encourage the development of high quality human resources

In addition to inheriting previous regulations, Decree 238/2025/ND-CP supplements and provides specific guidance according to Resolution No. 217/2025/QH15: (1) exempting tuition fees for preschool children, primary school students, and students studying general education programs at public educational institutions; (2) supporting tuition fees for preschool children, primary school students, and students studying general education programs at private educational institutions at a level prescribed by the Provincial People's Council, but not exceeding the tuition fees of private educational institutions.

The new Decree also adds policies to encourage the development of high-quality human resources, meeting the human resource needs for new occupations and economic breakthroughs according to Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW such as: Article 14 "Students studying specialized majors that meet the requirements of socio-economic development, national defense and security according to the provisions of the Law on Higher Education. The list of specialized majors is prescribed by the Government and the Prime Minister" and Clause 11, Article 15 "Students who are subjects of programs and projects are exempted from tuition fees according to the provisions of the Government and the Prime Minister".

The method of implementing tuition exemption and support for learners is regulated in the direction of maximum administrative procedure reform, specifically: preschool children and high school students do not need to submit applications for tuition exemption and support; at the same time, it is regulated the method of handling administrative procedures through exploiting electronic data available in the National Population Database, other specialized databases and adding the form of submitting documents through the national public service portal to facilitate learners.

Implemented from the 2025 - 2026 school year

The Decree clearly stipulates the authority of state management, principles of price determination, pricing roadmap and clarifies the content of services serving and supporting educational activities to ensure consistency in implementation.

Pursuant to Decree No. 238/2025/ND-CP, the Government assigns ministries, central agencies, local authorities and educational institutions to urgently prepare sufficient conditions and resources to implement policies on tuition fees, exemption, reduction, support for tuition fees, support for study costs and service prices in the field of education and training from the 2025-2026 school year, ensuring full and timely implementation.

See full text of the Decree HERE.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/ban-hanh-nghi-dinh-moi-ve-chinh-sach-hoc-phi-ho-tro-chi-phi-hoc-tap-post747075.html