Supporting underprivileged students
On August 28, 2025, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 29 on credit for students, including undergraduates, master's students, and doctoral candidates in Science , Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. These are considered core fields, playing a crucial role in the country's development in the digital age.
Immediately after the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 29, the Social Policy Bank of Ca Mau province proactively and actively advised the local Party committee and government to promptly implement the credit policy according to this Decision. At the same time, closely following the directives and guidance documents on lending operations from the Central Social Policy Bank, coordinating the implementation of guidance on loan procedures, documents, and processes, and promptly supporting eligible households, students, and pupils to access capital, quickly disburse funds, and meet the borrowing needs of students and pupils in the area.
Based on the unit's recommendations, the People's Committee of Ca Mau province issued Official Letter No. 04566 dated September 22, 2025, directing relevant departments, agencies, and units, as well as the Social Policy Bank, to closely coordinate, organize information dissemination, propaganda, guidance, review, and verification of eligible individuals to effectively implement credit policies in the province.
The People's Committees of communes and wards shall direct village/hamlet heads, entrusted political and social organizations, and Savings and Loan Groups to coordinate with the Social Policy Bank in the lending area to widely disseminate policies, support loan application procedures to ensure convenience and compliance with regulations; and at the same time, organize the review of eligible individuals, compile capital needs, conduct assessments, and disburse loans promptly to those who meet the criteria and have a need for capital.
To date, more than 10 students in Ca Mau province have received loans under Decision No. 29, totaling over 600 million VND. Mr. Nguyen Phuong Nam, Director of the Cai Nuoc branch of the Social Policy Bank, said that the unit has disbursed funds to 2 cases in Luong The Tran commune, totaling 140 million VND.
Mr. Dang Van Loc (Co Xuoc hamlet, Luong The Tran commune) shared that he borrowed money to cover tuition fees, living expenses, and study costs for his daughter, Dang Thuy Trang, who is currently a third-year student majoring in Food Technology within the Production and Processing group at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade.
“My child has excellent academic performance at school and is now in their third year, nearing graduation. However, due to financial difficulties, I was worried we wouldn't be able to afford to support them through the entire course. Through public awareness campaigns, I learned about the loan policy under Decision No. 29 and proceeded with the application. Thanks to the enthusiastic guidance on procedures from the local Social Policy Bank and the prompt disbursement of the loan funds, I am very happy and no longer worried about my child dropping out of school due to insufficient financial resources,” Mr. Loc shared.
Another case that recently received loan disbursement under Decision No. 29 is that of Mr. Le Van Thuong (Ly Van Lam ward), whose son, Le Duc Huy, is a first-year student at FPT University Ho Chi Minh City. Mr. Thuong shared that his family runs a small household goods business, and sending his son to a school with high tuition fees was a major worry. Thanks to this preferential loan policy, he was able to borrow 125 million VND per academic year, easing the family's financial burden and allowing his son to focus on his studies.
Spreading humane policies
Phan Ngoc Thu (O Ro hamlet, Phan Ngoc Hien commune), a first-year student majoring in Natural Sciences (Can Tho University), said: "I achieved a good or excellent academic record for all three years of high school, and in my 12th grade year, all four subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, scored above 8 points, so I am eligible for a loan under Decision No. 29."
“My family requested a total loan of 256 million VND, with a repayment period of 108 months. A portion of the money has already been disbursed. I am very happy and no longer worry about having to drop out of school midway due to insufficient funds to cover tuition fees. I find this policy truly meaningful and gives hope to disadvantaged students like me, enabling us to pursue our dream of attending university, especially in STEM fields. With sufficient finances, I can focus all my efforts on studying and researching to achieve the best possible academic results during my university years,” Ngoc Thu shared.
“I have a passion for technology, and I was very happy when I passed the entrance exam to FPT University in Ho Chi Minh City, but I was quite worried about tuition fees. When my family informed me that the local Social Policy Bank had disbursed a loan under Decision No. 29 with an amount of 125 million VND/academic year, helping to cover both tuition fees and living expenses throughout my studies, I was overjoyed and incredibly happy, because I no longer had any financial pressure.”
"The Prime Minister's Decision No. 29 is truly timely, creating a great impetus for students from disadvantaged backgrounds like us to realize our dreams and conquer the heights of technology," shared Le Duc Huy, a first-year student at FPT University Ho Chi Minh City.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Dong, Deputy Director of the Social Policy Bank of Ca Mau, commented that Decision No. 29 of the Prime Minister has great significance and profound humanistic value. The new policy not only continues to support disadvantaged children but also aims to encourage young people to pursue highly applicable fields of study that bring practical value, contributing to the creation of a high-quality workforce suitable for the current trend of digital transformation and technological innovation.
“The successful disbursement of funds for over 10 applications in a short period of time is clear evidence of the timeliness and practicality of the new policy. We will continue to closely coordinate with local authorities and schools in the area in disseminating information and providing maximum support regarding procedures so that all eligible students can easily access this funding in a timely and transparent manner,” Mr. Dong shared.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Dong further stated that, in addition to lending under Decision No. 29, the Social Policy Bank of Ca Mau province has so far provided loans to students from poor, near-poor, middle-income, and disadvantaged households under Decision No. 157 of the Prime Minister, totaling over 350 billion VND, with nearly 7,000 borrowers, effectively serving the educational needs of students in the area.
According to Decision No. 29, students studying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics can borrow not only tuition fees but also living expenses, up to a maximum of 5 million VND per month. The preferential interest rate is only 4.8% per year, and repayments only begin 12 months after graduation, allowing students to stabilize their lives before repaying the loan.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/thap-sang-uoc-mo-stem-tu-chinh-sach-tin-dung-post753204.html
