Free tuition from kindergarten to high school, students do not need to apply

The Government's Decree requires that the method of implementing tuition exemption and support for learners be regulated in the direction of maximum administrative procedure reform, specifically: preschool children and high school students do not need to submit an application.

The Government has just issued Decree No. 238/2025/ND-CP regulating policies on tuition fees, exemption, reduction, tuition support, support for learning costs and service prices in the field of education and training.

Decree issued on September 3, 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.

From the next school year, tuition fees will be exempted and supported for preschool children and primary school students.

PHOTO: NGUYEN LAM

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

The purpose of the decree is to ensure stability in 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 the provisions of the law on prices.

In addition to inheriting previous regulations, the new decree supplements and provides specific guidance according to Resolution 217 of the National Assembly: "Exemption of tuition fees for preschool children, general education students, and those studying general education programs at public educational institutions.

Tuition support for preschool children, primary school students, and students of general education programs at private and non-public educational institutions is supported at a level prescribed by the Provincial People's Council, but not exceeding the tuition fee level of the private and non-public institution.

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.

The new Decree also adds policies to encourage the development of high-quality human resources to meet the human resource needs of new professions and economic breakthroughs, such as exempting tuition fees for 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.

In addition, the tuition exemption policy also applies to students who are eligible for tuition exemption programs and projects according to regulations of the Government and the Prime Minister.

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.

The Decree takes effect from the date of signing and is implemented from the 2025-2026 school year.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mien-hoc-phi-tu-mam-non-den-pho-thong-hoc-sinh-khong-can-nop-don-185250904175751923.htm