Public school students nationwide will be exempted from tuition fees from the 2025-2026 school year.

On the afternoon of June 26, the National Assembly passed a Resolution on tuition exemption and support, applicable to preschool children, high school students and those studying general education programs in educational institutions within the national education system.

The resolution takes effect from the date of its adoption.

According to the resolution, the State exempts tuition fees for all preschool children, primary school students and students of generaleducation programs at public educational institutions. Students studying at private educational institutions will receive tuition support.

The policy applies to Vietnamese citizens and people of Vietnamese origin whose nationality has not been determined and who are living in Vietnam. The level of tuition support at private and non-public institutions is decided by the Provincial People's Council according to the tuition fee framework prescribed by the Government , but does not exceed the actual tuition fee of non-public educational institutions.

The funding source for implementation is guaranteed by the state budget according to the provisions of the law on budget management decentralization. The central budget will support localities that have not yet balanced resources to implement this policy.

First graders at the opening ceremony at Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School, Thu Duc City. Photo: Nhu Quynh

The Government said that the Resolution on tuition exemption and support has fully covered preschool children from 3 months to 6 years old, students from grades 1 to 12 and those studying general education programs at regular educational institutions, within the national education system. The policy applies to Vietnamese citizens and people of Vietnamese origin whose nationality has not been determined and who are living in Vietnam, regardless of whether they study at public, private or non-public institutions, in any region or area.

The Government emphasized that tuition exemption and support is not only to ensure fairness in access to education, but also the political responsibility and determination of the Party and State in caring for the young generation - the future of the country.

Assigning the provincial People's Council to decide on the level of tuition support helps to match the socio-economic conditions and budget capacity of each locality, while avoiding too large a gap between localities. The support level must be within the tuition fee framework prescribed by the Government, not lower than the floor level and not exceeding the actual collection level of non-public and private educational institutions.

By 2030, 100% of localities will meet universal preschool education standards.

On the same afternoon, the National Assembly passed a Resolution on universalizing preschool education for children aged 3 to 5. Accordingly, by 2030, 100% of provinces and centrally-run cities must meet the standards of universalizing preschool education for children in this age group.

Universalization will be implemented according to a roadmap, in accordance with the socio-economic development conditions of each locality, ensuring that universalization criteria are met as prescribed. The State invests in developing the network of schools and classes; ensuring that facilities, teaching equipment and teaching staff are sufficient in quantity and meet quality requirements.

The resolution requires ensuring policies and regimes for children aged 3 to 5, managers, teachers and staff in preschools. At the same time, mobilizing social resources to participate in the development of preschool education; prioritizing investment in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions, ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, border areas, islands, densely populated areas, areas with industrial parks and export processing zones.

Implementation costs are guaranteed by the state budget; the central budget will support localities that have not yet balanced resources for implementation.

In late 2024, during a group discussion in the National Assembly, General Secretary To Lam affirmed that the State's universal education policy aims to ensure that all children go to school and have the opportunity to learn. This process is implemented step by step, starting from primary school, then expanding to higher levels of education. The State not only creates conditions for children to go to school but also aims to provide financial support, such as tuition exemptions and free meals.

On February 28, 2025, the Politburo decided that students from kindergarten to high school nationwide will be exempted from tuition fees from the 2025-2026 school year, after reviewing the Government's report on the ability to balance finances during and after the process of streamlining the political system's apparatus.

Each year, the country has about 23 million preschool and primary school students. According to current regulations, preschool tuition ranges from 50,000 to 540,000 VND per month; primary school tuition ranges from 50,000 to 650,000 VND per month depending on the level of education, urban or rural areas, ethnic minorities and mountainous areas. The specific tuition level of each locality is decided by the People's Council and is within the framework prescribed by the Government.

The government said the total estimated budget for implementing the policy of exempting and supporting tuition fees for students from kindergarten to grade 12 nationwide is VND30,600 billion. The estimated budget for exempting tuition fees for 5-year-old preschool children, primary and secondary school students in the 2025-2026 school year is VND22,500 billion. To fully implement the policy of expanding tuition exemption and support according to the conclusion of the Politburo, the state budget needs to increase by VND8,200 billion.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/hoc-sinh-cong-lap-toan-quoc-duoc-mien-hoc-phi-tu-nam-hoc-2025-2026-post290630.html