Enrollment for primary school does not charge 'reservation fees' or 'deposit fees'.

The Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training has instructed schools to strictly adhere to regulations regarding enrollment at the beginning of the school year, avoiding any incidents that could cause public outrage. Accordingly, public schools are absolutely prohibited from conducting entrance examinations for first-grade students at the start of the school year, and from holding entrance exams in any form whatsoever.

There are no regulations that permit the collection of "deposit fees" or "reservation fees".

This was the directive of the Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, Nguyen Van Hien, on April 2nd, at a conference guiding enrollment into preschools, grade 1, grade 6, and grade 10 for the 2026-2027 school year, and guiding the organization of the 2026 high school graduation exam. The conference was held in a hybrid format, connecting with districts, towns, and educational institutions throughout the city.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hien emphasized that schools are not allowed to collect or solicit contributions from parents outside of regulations, and must prevent situations where parents queue and jostle to register their children for school. In particular, regarding the phenomenon of some private schools collecting deposit fees to reserve places, Mr. Nguyen Van Hien affirmed that there are currently no regulations allowing the collection of "deposit fees" or "reservation fees".

According to Mr. Hien, collecting reservation fees before providing educational services is against regulations and creates inequality in access to education. "Widespread deposit fees, not to mention fees as high as a person's entire month's salary, are unfair to students," Mr. Hien emphasized.

The head of Hanoi's education department suggested that private schools should change their mindset. Instead of collecting deposit fees, they could implement incentive policies such as reducing tuition fees for students who register early online to build trust with parents.

He also requested that the People's Committees of wards and communes closely monitor the enrollment situation in their areas, promptly handle any arising issues, and ensure that the enrollment process is orderly, transparent, and in accordance with regulations. According to the leaders of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, with the application of digital technology, integration of population data, and expansion of school choices for students, the enrollment process for the 2026-2027 school year is expected to be more transparent and convenient, while ensuring fairness in access to education for all students in the city.

Conference scene

First time applying GIS digital mapping.

For the 2026-2027 school year, Hanoi's primary school enrollment process will undergo several notable changes. These include the first-ever application of GIS (Geographical Information System) mapping to identify schools near students' residences, and the introduction of three preferences for any public high school across the city. These innovations are expected to make the enrollment process more transparent, convenient for parents and students, and to maximize the rights of learners.

According to Nghiêm Văn Bình, Head of the Examination Management and Quality Assurance Department, a notable new feature in the enrollment process for preschool, first grade, and sixth grade in the 2026-2027 school year is the city's adoption of an online enrollment system integrated with GIS digital maps. The application of digital maps aims to identify the school closest to the student's residence, thereby scientifically and transparently allocating enrollment zones. This ensures students attend schools near their homes, making commuting easier, while also reducing traffic congestion and preventing parents from trying to secure school placements.

According to the plan, public kindergartens, primary schools, and junior high schools will implement a student admission method based on their place of residence from July 1st to July 9th on the city's primary and secondary school admission portal at https://tsdaucap.hanoi.gov.vn

The online enrollment system will integrate population data, geographic maps, and school data to determine the distance from students' residences to educational institutions, thereby supporting accurate placement in schools.

Notably, the priority group for preschool, first grade, and sixth grade admissions is divided into two specific cases, applied uniformly across the city. Priority Group 1 includes students of admission age residing in the area with the closest school proximity. Priority Group 2 includes students residing in border areas but with a school in another area that is closer than the nearest school within their residential area. This regulation is expected to flexibly address cases where students live in border areas but have a school closer than in another area, ensuring convenience for their studies and transportation.

Regarding the verification of residential information for student enrollment purposes using GIS digital maps, a representative from the Hanoi City Police Department stated that the police force has directed commune-level police to review, update, and complete population data to support the enrollment process.

Accordingly, all citizens need a personal identification code, citizen ID card, and an electronic identification account when eligible. During the review process, the police prioritize processing applications from graduating high school students and exam candidates, ensuring data accuracy and preventing complaints related to admission rights.

Representatives from the Hanoi City Police emphasized that schools are absolutely prohibited from requiring parents to submit residence confirmation documents. All student residence data will be directly accessed from the National Population Database, ensuring accuracy and consistency. In cases where students do not yet have a personal identification code or their residence information is incomplete, parents should contact the local police for guidance on updating the data. For students who are of age but have not yet been issued a citizen identification card, parents should proactively arrange to take their children to complete the procedures as notified by the school and local police, ensuring completion before the enrollment period.

According to the current review, the entire city still has over 7,900 cases of individuals who have not yet been issued citizen identification cards, mainly those born in 2011. Units are coordinating with school principals to focus on processing these cases, striving to complete the process before April 10th.

Expand your options when registering for 10th grade.

Another notable new feature for the upcoming school year is the change in admissions to 10th grade in public high schools. According to the new regulations, this is the first year students can register for three preferences at any three public high schools across the city, no longer limited by the enrollment area as in previous years. Students register their preferences online through the city's online admissions portal. They can register using their Level 2 electronic identification account (VNeID) from April 10th to 24:00 on April 17th. During this period, students can still adjust their preferences if necessary.

According to the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, the online registration system will publicly display the number of students registering for each school in real time. This helps students and parents understand the level of competition, allowing them to adjust their preferences to match their abilities and chances of admission.

The entrance exam for 10th grade in public high schools in Hanoi in 2026 is scheduled to take place on May 30th and 31st. This year, approximately 147,000 students across the city are graduating from junior high school, and the number of registered candidates is expected to increase compared to last year. Therefore, the Department of Education and Training is requesting localities and schools to urgently review facilities and prepare all necessary conditions for the exam.

The high school graduation exam will now only have one type of question.

According to Nguyen Thi Thuy Bach, Deputy Head of the Examination Management and Education Quality Assurance Department, the 2026 high school graduation exam will take place on June 11th and 12th.

A new feature of this year's exam is that there is only one type of exam paper based on the 2018 General Education Program, instead of two types of papers existing simultaneously as in the previous transitional period. In addition, the exam registration period coincides with a holiday, so schools need to pay attention to informing and reminding students to complete all registration procedures to avoid missing the registration deadline.

At the same time, Director Nguyen Van Hien emphasized that the city's overarching principle in student enrollment is to put the learner at the center, prioritizing students who can study near their place of residence. According to Mr. Hien, 2026 will be the first year Hanoi implements a new enrollment and management model, in which many processes are digitized and data is linked with the population database. During the implementation process, specific situations will inevitably arise, especially regarding the verification of residential information.

However, the most important principle is to ensure the best interests of the students are protected. Any problems that arise will be promptly addressed by the Education sector in coordination with the police and local authorities.

The Department of Education and Training has also established direct communication channels with localities and schools to address specific cases during the enrollment process. Mr. Hien also noted that localities and schools must strictly implement the enrollment plan, including fully publicizing enrollment quotas, zoning according to digital maps, and regulations on enrollment documents at least 30 days before the enrollment period.

Schools need to strengthen guidance for parents to self-declare information, including residency data, and promote online enrollment through electronic identification accounts. For parents with limited IT skills, schools should assign staff to assist them so that the enrollment process runs smoothly.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/tuyen-sinh-dau-cap-khong-thu-phi-giu-cho-phi-dat-coc.html