Additional groups of students proposed for tuition exemption and reduction

The above content was presented by Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son - authorized by the Prime Minister to the 15th National Assembly with a draft Resolution on tuition exemption and support for preschool children, high school students, and students of generaleducation programs at educational institutions in the national education system, which took place this morning (May 22).

The draft resolution consists of 5 articles regulating the scope of regulation and applicable subjects; tuition exemption and support policies; implementation costs; implementation organization; and enforcement provisions.

According to Minister Nguyen Kim Son, the new point of the draft resolution stipulates tuition exemption for preschool children, high school students, and those studying general education programs at public educational institutions.

The provisions in the draft resolution also mention tuition support for preschool children, high school students, and students of general education programs at private educational institutions.

"The proposal to support tuition fees for preschool children, high school students, and students of general education programs at private and non-public educational institutions has been agreed upon by most central and local agencies, creating fairness in access to education," the Minister of Education and Training emphasized.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son spoke this morning, May 22.

Mr. Son added that according to statistics for the 2023-2024 school year, the country has 23.2 million students (of which, 21.5 million are public students; 1.7 million are non-public students).

The Government estimates that the total state budget expenditure required to implement the policy is about 30,600 billion VND (public sector is 28,700 billion VND; private sector is 1,900 billion VND).

If this policy had not been in place, from September 1, the State budget would still have had to ensure VND22,400 billion to pay for students exempted from tuition fees according to current regulations. "Thus, the additional amount of State budget that must be ensured when implementing the policy according to the National Assembly 's resolution is VND8,200 billion," said Minister Nguyen Kim Son.

According to him, the draft resolution only expands the beneficiaries of the policy, without creating any new administrative procedures. This policy also helps reduce the economic burden on poor families; promotes consumption of goods and services for the tuition fees saved, creating a positive mindset.

Reporting on the draft review, Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Society Nguyen Dac Vinh said that the Committee agreed with the necessity of issuing the resolution, in order to demonstrate the superiority of the regime, ensure fairness in access to education and the State's responsibility towards learners, care for the younger generation and ensure social security.

Regarding the policy of tuition exemption and support for preschool children and public, private and non-public primary and secondary school students, the review agency agreed, but proposed that the Government study and regulate the payment of tuition support for this group of subjects by directly providing it to the learners.

Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Social Affairs Nguyen Dac Vinh.

Regarding funding, the Committee on Culture and Society requested the drafting agency to carefully assess the budget balancing capacity of localities, especially localities with difficult socio-economic conditions.

The auditing agency also proposed to add the budget for students studying the General Education Program at continuing education institutions and other educational institutions to the total State budget demand to implement tuition exemption and support from the 2025-2026 school year for the subjects according to the draft Resolution.

According to Mr. Nguyen Dac Vinh, the Committee for Culture and Society proposed that the Government adjust the 2025 budget estimate for tasks arising in 2025 associated with the implementation of this resolution.

It is expected that this resolution will be voted on June 26 and applied from the 2025-2026 school year.

Ha Cuong

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/them-nhom-hoc-sinh-duoc-de-xuat-mien-giam-hoc-phi-ar944507.html