More groups of students are exempted from and supported with tuition fees

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son presented the draft Resolution of the National Assembly on tuition exemption and support for preschool children, high school students, and those studying general education programs at educational institutions in the national education system on the morning of May 22. Photo: QH

Ministerof Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, authorized by the Prime Minister, submitted to the 15th National Assembly a draft Resolution on tuition exemption and support for preschool children, high school students, and students of general education programs at educational institutions in the national education system.

The Draft Resolution consists of 5 articles stipulating: Scope of regulation and applicable subjects; tuition exemption and support policies; implementation costs; implementation organization; and enforcement provisions.

The new point of the draft Resolution is the regulation on tuition exemption for preschool children, high school students, and people 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 head of the education sector emphasized that 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 was agreed upon by most central and local agencies, creating fairness in access to education.

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 VND 30,600 billion (public sector is VND 28,700 billion; private sector is VND 1,900 billion). If this policy had not been in place, from September 1, the state budget would still have had to ensure VND 22,400 billion to pay for students who are exempted from or do not have to pay tuition fees according to current regulations.

Minister Nguyen Kim Son informed that the additional budget that the State must ensure when implementing the policy according to the National Assembly's resolution is 8,200 billion VND. The draft resolution only expands the beneficiaries of the policy, without creating current administrative procedures. This policy also contributes to reducing the economic burden on poor families; promotes consumption of goods and services for the saved tuition fees, creating a positive mentality.

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.

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.

The Committee on 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 and passed on June 26 and applied from the 2025-2026 school year.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/72/173066/them-nhom-hoc-sinh-duoc-mien-ho-tro-hoc-phi