Piloting universal preschool education for 3-4 year old children in 14 provinces and cities

The National Assembly is seeking comments on a draft Resolution on piloting universal preschooleducation for 3-year-old and 4-year-old preschool children in a number of provinces and cities. The Resolution proposes piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies on investment in school facilities, investment incentives, incentives and attraction for preschool teachers, and support for preschool children studying at preschool education facilities at the age of 3 and 4 in provinces and centrally-run cities participating in the pilot. Proposed pilot in 14 provinces and cities A report by the Ministry of Education and Training shows that in the 2022-2023 school year, the whole country mobilized 5,172,450 children to go to school to implement nurturing, care and education according to the Preschool Education Program, the mobilization rate of children reached 70.4%; in particular, the mobilization rate of 5-year-old preschool children reached 99.7%. The mobilization rate of children varies between regions. In which, the region with the highest mobilization rate is the Red River Delta, the region with the lowest mobilization rate is the Mekong River Delta. [caption id="attachment_603458" align="alignnone" width="768"] Universal education for children aged 3-5 ensures the right to go to school for all children.[/caption] According to the draft resolution, 14 localities participating in the pilot include: Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, Ninh Binh, Hai Phong, Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Son La, Hoa Binh, Kon Tum, Soc Trang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, Bac Lieu. Preschool children aged 3 and 4 will attend 2 sessions/day during a school year (9 months); the number of days off school will not exceed 45 days and the expected goals and results for children aged 3-4 and 4-5 will be achieved according to the regulations in the Preschool Education Program issued by the Ministry of Education and Training. For communes, wards and towns, the rate of children aged 3 and 4 attending school will reach at least 95%; for communes with particularly difficult socio -economic conditions, it will reach at least 90%. The rate of 3-year-old and 4-year-old children completing preschool education must reach at least 85%; for communes with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions, it must reach at least 80%. For provinces and centrally run cities implementing the pilot, the draft sets a target of having 100% of districts recognized as meeting the standards for universal preschool education for 3-year-old and 4-year-old children. Preschool children who are subject to the pilot will receive a minimum lunch allowance of 150,000 VND or 360,000 VND/month/child. The support period is calculated based on the actual number of months of study, but not exceeding 9 months/school year. Based on the socio-economic situation and the ability to balance the local budget, the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall develop and submit to the People's Councils of the same level for promulgation of specific norms on tuition exemption and reduction, lunch support, and study cost support for preschool children of universal preschool education age. In addition, the draft proposes that managers, teachers, and staff at preschools receive a minimum support of VND960,000/month, for no more than 9 months/school year. The specific support level will be considered and decided by the Provincial People's Council... Mr. Nguyen Ba Minh, Director of the Department of Preschool Education, Ministry of Education and Training (drafting agency) said that the network of preschools has been widely developed to all communes, wards, and villages across the country, increasingly meeting the needs of sending children to school. Currently, 63 provinces and cities have completed the goals of universalizing preschool education for 5-year-old children. The results of universalizing preschool education for 5-year-old children have had a positive effect on children's development (good preparation for grade 1) and created peace of mind and trust among parents and the community. However, preschool education still faces some difficulties and challenges such as the conditions to ensure the quality of universal preschool education for preschool children are still limited, especially related to the development, attraction, retention and capacity building of the team. The work of socialization and diversification of school and class types still has many limitations, leading to the burden still being placed on public preschool education institutions... Mr. Minh affirmed that the development and promulgation of the National Assembly Resolution on piloting universal preschool education for preschool children in some provinces and cities is urgent. Proposing to clarify many issues Agreeing on the need to develop a resolution, the representative of the Ministry of Finance requested the drafting agency to supplement the criteria, standards, teacher/class norms, etc. to achieve universal preschool education. From there, determine the number of new preschools that need to be built, the facilities and equipment that need investment, the number of teachers that need to be added, and the guaranteed funding source... [caption id="attachment_603488" align="alignnone" width="768"] Ensure that all children go to school and enjoy the benefits of educational development.[/caption] Article 14 of Decree No. 81/2021 of the Government regulating the mechanism for collecting and managing tuition fees stipulates that "preschool children (currently not subject to universal education) are exempt from tuition fees". Therefore, the drafting agency needs to review and unify the terminology used. Specifically, preschool children of universal education age attending public preschools are "exempt from tuition fees" or "do not have to pay tuition fees" to ensure consistency with current legal regulations. A representative of the Ministry of Planning and Investment analyzed that the 14 provinces and cities selected to participate in the pilot do not include provinces in the Central coastal region, provinces with sea and island areas. To ensure feasibility, the drafting agency considered selecting a number of more localities representing the regions; supplementing the reasons and process for selecting 14 provinces and cities to conduct the pilot. Deputy Minister of Justice Dang Hoang Oanh pointed out a number of problems and difficulties in implementing universal preschool education at present. Ms. Oanh suggested that the Ministry of Education and Training should supplement the basis for building a pilot resolution; research and analyze more international experiences, especially in universalizing preschool education for 3-4 year old preschool children. The Deputy Minister of Justice also suggested that the drafting agency consider selecting only 2-3 provinces representing each region to conduct the pilot; extend the implementation period to ensure the effectiveness of the pilot. The drafting agency reviewed and removed regulations on tasks under the authority of the Government and clarified further contents such as policies to support and encourage investment in developing the network of preschool schools and classes under the authority of the People's Councils of provinces and centrally run cities; the concept of children as vulnerable groups; the increase in budget expenditure when implementing the Resolution; etc.