Are students with parents classified as poor households exempt from tuition fees in Vietnam?

Are students with parents classified as poor households exempt from tuition fees in Vietnam?

Based on Article 15 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP, the subjects eligible for tuition exemption are as follows:

Subjects eligible for tuition exemption

1. Subjects as stipulated in the Ordinance on Preferential Treatment for People with Meritorious Services to the Revolution if they are studying at educational institutions under the national education system.

2. Kindergarten children and disabled students.

3. Kindergarten children and students under 16 years of age without any source of nurturing and individuals from 16 to 22 years old, who are studying in general education or the first degree in higher education, and are entitled to monthly social allowance as stipulated in Clauses 1 and 2, Article 5 of Decree 20/2021/ND-CP dated March 15, 2021 of the Government of Vietnam regarding social assistance policies for social protection beneficiaries. Learners at intermediate and college levels who are orphans with no place of refuge as stipulated in the Law on Vocational Education.

4. Kindergarten children and general education students, learners at educational institutions following general education programs whose father, mother, or both parents or grandparents (in case of living with grandparents) are classified as poor households as per the regulations of the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.

...

Thus, students whose parents are classified as poor households according to the regulations of the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam are entitled to tuition exemption.

Note: The students eligible for tuition exemption in this case are general education students.

Are students with parents classified as poor households exempt from tuition fees in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What documents are included for the tuition fee exemption for students whose parents are classified as poor households in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 1, Article 19 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP (amended by Clause 2, Article 5 of Decree 104/2022/ND-CP), the documents required for requesting tuition exemption for students whose parents are classified as poor households as follows:

- Application for tuition exemption or reduction: The application form is according to Appendix 2 issued with Decree 81/2021/ND-CP.

- Certified copy or copy with the original for verification or a copy from the original record of the poverty certification issued by the commune-level People's Committee.

* Students whose parents are classified as poor households shall submit one set of documents for the first time for the entire study period. Additionally, at the beginning of each semester, an updated poverty certification must be submitted for consideration for the tuition exemption for the next semester.

For general education students who are both eligible for tuition exemption or reduction and for the support of study expenses, only one set of documents including required papers along with the application form according to Decree 81/2021/ND-CP needs to be submitted.

What are procedures and responsibilities for reviewing tuition exemption documents for students whose parents are classified as poor households in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 2, Article 19 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP:

Procedure for implementing tuition exemption, reduction, study expense support, and support for tuition payment at kindergartens, general education institutions, regular educational institutions, vocational education, and higher education institutions

...

2. Procedure implementation:

Within 45 working days from the beginning of the school year, parents (or guardians) of kindergarten children, general education students, or learners at regular educational institutions; students, learners at vocational education and higher education institutions who are eligible for tuition exemption, reduction, support for tuition payment, and study expenses must submit an application (according to the forms in Appendix II; Appendix III; Appendix IV; Appendix V; Appendix VI, Appendix VII of this Decree) and certified copies or copies with the original for verification or copies from the original records of one of the documents stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article to prove their eligibility for tuition exemption, reduction, and study expense support to the educational institution either directly, via postal mail, or electronic transaction system.

3. Responsibility for reviewing and appraising the documents:

a) For kindergarten, primary, and lower secondary schools, regular educational institutions managed by the Department of Education and Training: Within 10 working days from receiving the application for tuition exemption, reduction, and study expense support for private primary school students in areas without enough public schools, the principal is responsible for reviewing the documents and compiling a list of students eligible for tuition exemption, reduction, and study expense support, and submitting it to the Department of Education and Training for appraisal;

b) For upper secondary schools, regular educational institutions, and other educational institutions under the Department of Education and Training: Within 10 working days from receiving the application for tuition exemption, reduction, and study expense support, the principal is responsible for reviewing the documents and compiling a list of students eligible for tuition exemption, reduction, and study expense support, and submitting it to the Department of Education and Training for appraisal;

c) For public vocational education and higher education institutions: Within 10 working days from receiving the application for tuition exemption, reduction, the head of the vocational education and higher education institution is responsible for reviewing the documents and deciding on the tuition exemption, reduction for students and learners; simultaneously compiling a list of students and learners eligible for tuition exemption and reduction as per the form in Appendix IX and submitting it to the direct managing authority. The managing authority appraises, compiles the budget estimate following the form in Appendix X and submits it to the Ministry of Finance for consolidation and proposal to the competent authorities for budget allocation in the annual budget estimate;

d) For independent kindergartens and private regular educational institutions; private general education institutions; private regular educational institutions, vocational education, and higher education institutions: Within 10 working days from receiving the application for tuition exemption, reduction compensation, and study expense support, the independent kindergartens and private regular educational institutions; private general education institutions; private regular educational institutions, vocational education, and higher education institutions are responsible for issuing the student certification according to the regulations in Appendix VIII of this Decree.

...

Thus, the procedures and responsibilities for reviewing tuition exemption documents for students whose parents are classified as poor households are as follows:

(*). Procedure implementation:

Within 45 working days from the beginning of the school year, parents (or guardians) of general education students whose parents are classified as poor households must submit the application for tuition exemption to the educational institution either directly, via postal mail, or electronic transaction system.

(*). Responsibility for reviewing and appraising the documents:

- For primary and lower secondary schools: Within 10 working days from receiving the application for tuition exemption, the principal is responsible for reviewing the documents and compiling a list of students eligible for tuition exemption and submitting it to the Department of Education and Training for appraisal;

- For upper secondary schools: Within 10 working days from receiving the application for tuition exemption, the principal is responsible for reviewing the documents and compiling a list of students eligible for tuition exemption and submitting it to the Department of Education and Training for appraisal.