Lighting up STEM dreams with credit policies

GD&TĐ - Many students in Ca Mau have access to capital from Decision 29/2025/QD-TTg on credit for students, master's students, and doctoral students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM - Decision No. 29).

Supporting poor students

On August 28, 2025, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 29 on credit for students, master's students, and postgraduates in the fields of Science , Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. This is considered a core group of industries, playing an important role in the country's development in the digital age.

As soon as the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 29, the Social Policy Bank of Ca Mau province proactively and actively advised the local Party Committee and authorities to promptly implement credit policies according to this Decision. At the same time, closely following the direction and guidance documents on lending operations of the Central Social Policy Bank, coordinating to implement instructions on processes, documents, and procedures for borrowing capital and promptly supporting households, students and pupils who are beneficiaries to access capital sources, quickly disburse and meet the borrowing needs of pupils and pupils in the area.

Based on the unit's advice, the People's Committee of Ca Mau province issued Official Dispatch No. 04566 dated September 22, 2025 directing relevant departments, branches, sectors, units and the Bank for Social Policies to closely coordinate, organize information, propaganda, guidance, review, and confirm subjects to effectively implement credit policies in the area.

The People's Committees of communes and wards direct hamlet/quarter heads, entrusted socio- political organizations, and Savings and Loan Groups to coordinate with the Social Policy Bank where loans are made to widely disseminate policies and support loan application procedures in a convenient and proper manner; at the same time, organize screening of subjects, synthesize capital needs, conduct evaluation, provide loans and timely disbursements for eligible cases with capital needs.

Up to now, in Ca Mau province, there are more than 10 students who have received loans under Decision No. 29 with an amount of more than 600 million VND. Mr. Nguyen Phuong Nam - Director of the Transaction Office of Cai Nuoc Social Policy Bank said that up to now, the unit has disbursed loans to 2 cases in Luong The Tran commune with a total amount of 140 million VND.

Mr. Dang Van Loc (Luong The Tran, Ca Mau) came to Cai Nuoc Social Policy Bank to receive disbursement money according to Decision No. 29. Photo: QM

Mr. Dang Van Loc (Co Xuoc Hamlet, Luong The Tran Commune) shared that he borrowed money to cover tuition, living expenses and study costs for his child, Dang Thuy Trang, currently a 3rd year student majoring in Food Technology in the Production and Processing group of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade.

“My child has excellent academic performance at school. Now he is in his third year and is about to graduate, but due to the difficult economic conditions of the family, I am afraid that I will not be able to support him to finish his studies. Through propaganda, I learned about the loan policy from Decision No. 29, so I applied for a loan. With enthusiastic guidance on the procedures from the local Social Policy Bank and the early disbursement of the loan, I feel very happy and no longer worry that my child might drop out of school because of insufficient financial resources,” Mr. Loc shared.

Another case that has just received a loan disbursement under Decision No. 29 is Mr. Le Van Thuong's household (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 sells small household appliances, and sending his child to a school with high tuition fees is a concern. Thanks to this preferential loan policy, he was able to borrow an amount of VND 125 million/school year, helping to reduce the family's financial burden and his child can study with peace of mind.

A family in Ngoc Hien (Ca Mau) goes to the bank to receive disbursement of money to support their children's education expenses according to Decision No. 29. Photo: QM

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 have had good academic performance for 3 years of high school, and in grade 12, all 4 subjects: Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology were above 8 points, so I am eligible for a loan according to Decision No. 29.

“My family proposed to borrow a total of 256 million VND, for a loan period of 108 months, and so far, a part of the money has been disbursed. I am very happy, no longer worried about having to drop out of school because I don’t have enough money to cover tuition fees. I find this policy really meaningful and brings hope to disadvantaged students like me to realize their dream of going to university, especially pursuing STEM majors. When I have enough finances, I just need to focus on studying and researching to get the best academic results during my university years,” Ngoc Thu shared.

“I have a passion for technology, when I passed the entrance exam to FPT University in Ho Chi Minh City, I was very happy, but quite worried about the tuition fees. When my family was informed that the local social policy bank had disbursed a loan under Decision No. 29 with an amount of 125 million VND/school year, helping to pay for both tuition and living expenses during the entire study period, I was very excited, extremely happy, because there was no more financial pressure.

“The Prime Minister’s Decision No. 29 is truly timely, creating great motivation for students with difficult circumstances like us to realize our dreams and conquer the pinnacle of technology,” said Le Duc Huy, a first-year student at FPT University, Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Dong - Deputy Director of the Ca Mau Social Policy Bank commented that Decision No. 29 of the Prime Minister has great significance and profound humanity. The new policy not only continues to support children in difficult circumstances but also aims to encourage young people to pursue highly applicable fields of study, bringing practical value, contributing to creating high-quality human resources, in line with the current trend of digital transformation and technological innovation.

“The successful disbursement of over 10 applications in a short period of time is a clear demonstration of the timeliness and practicality of implementing the new policy. We will continue to closely coordinate with local authorities and schools in the area in propaganda work and provide maximum support in procedures so that all eligible students can easily access this capital source in a timely and transparent manner,” Mr. Dong shared.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Dong added that, in addition to lending according to Decision No. 29, up to now, the Social Policy Bank of Ca Mau province has supported loans for students from poor households, near-poor households, households with average living standards, and households with difficult circumstances according to Decision No. 157 of the Prime Minister with a total amount of over 350 billion VND, with nearly 7,000 borrowers, serving well the learning needs of students in the area.

According to Decision No. 29, students studying in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics can borrow not only tuition fees but also living expenses, up to 5 million VND/month. The preferential interest rate is only 4.8%/year and repayment only begins 12 months after graduation, creating conditions for 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