Can students with disabilities enter 6th grade without completing primary education program in Vietnam?

Can students with disabilities enter 6th grade without completing primary education program in Vietnam?

Based on Article 4 of the Regulation on Secondary School Admissions and High School Admissions issued with Circular 11/2014/TT-BGDDT (as amended by Clause 2 Article 1 of Circular 05/2018/TT-BGDDT) stipulates:

LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

Admission Documents

1. A valid copy of the birth certificate.

2. Primary school record or other documents that substitute for the primary school record.

Admission Process

1. Admission candidates must have completed the primary education program program.

2. Secondary school admissions are conducted via assessment. In cases where schools have more applicants for 6th grade than the enrollment quota, the Department of Education and Training will guide the implementation of the admission plan via assessment or a combination of assessment and student aptitude examination.

3. The Department of Education and Training decides on the organization of lower secondary school admissions.

Thus, according to the aforementioned regulation, candidates for lower secondary school admission must have completed the primary education program program regardless of who they are.

Therefore, students with disabilities who wish to attend lower secondary school must also complete the primary education program program.

Can students with disabilities enter 6th grade without completing primary education program in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

Can a disabled student aged 18 still be eligible to enroll in a lower secondary school in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 2 Article 33 of the Charter of lower secondary school, upper secondary school, and multi-level school issued with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT, the age for lower secondary school students is regulated as follows:

Age of Secondary School Students

1. The age for students entering 6th grade is 11. The age for students entering 10th grade is 15. For students who advanced classes or entered school at an older age than stipulated, the age for entering 6th and 10th grades will be adjusted based on the graduation age of the previous education level.

2. Students of ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, students in especially difficult circumstances, and students returning from abroad may enter school at an age up to 3 years older than the stipulated age.

3. Students may not repeat a grade more than 3 times in one education level.

4. Students with good physical health and early intellectual development may enter school earlier or skip grades within the same education level. The assessment process for each specific case is as follows:

a) Parents or guardians submit an application to the school.

b) The principal establishes a Survey and Advisory Council consisting of essential members such as school leadership representatives and the school’s Parent Association; and the teachers of the student’s current class.

c) Based on the survey results of the Survey and Advisory Council, the principal makes the final decision.

5. Students of appropriate age returning from abroad, children of foreign nationals working in Vietnam, are allowed to study in lower secondary schools at their place of residence or at another school capable of accommodating them. The assessment process for each specific case is as follows:

a) Parents or guardians submit an application to the school.

b) The principal organizes an assessment of the student’s level and assigns them to an appropriate class.

Thus, according to the above age regulation, students with disabilities may enter school at an age higher than that stipulated by up to 3 years. Therefore, the maximum age for a disabled student entering lower secondary school (6th grade) is 14.

Consequently, when already 18 years old, a disabled student is no longer eligible to attend lower secondary school in the regular education system.

What policies are available for students with disabilities when enrolling in lower secondary school?

Based on the provisions of Clause 2 Article 2 Joint Circular 42/2013/TTLT-BGDDT-BLDTBXH-BTC, it is stipulated as follows:

Priority Enrollment and Admission

1. Priority Enrollment

Persons with disabilities are allowed to enroll at an age up to 3 years older than the general regulation.

2. Priority Admission

a) For Secondary Schools and High Schools

Persons with disabilities are entitled to direct admission to high schools as regulated for students of ethnic minority boarding schools and students of very small ethnic groups according to the Regulations on Secondary School and High School Admissions issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

b) For Vocational Intermediate Education

Persons with disabilities are entitled to direct admission to vocational intermediate schools according to the Regulations on Vocational Intermediate Education Admissions issued by the Ministry of Education and Training. The principal of vocational intermediate schools or schools with vocational intermediate programs will consider direct admission based on the student's high school academic records, health status, and the requirements of the training program.

c) For Universities and Colleges

Persons with severe disabilities are entitled to direct admission to universities and colleges. The principals of these institutions will consider direct admission based on the student's high school academic records, health status, and the requirements of the training program.

Persons with significant disabilities are entitled to priority admission when applying to universities and colleges according to the regulations on regular university and college admissions issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Thus, according to the above regulation, students with disabilities are entitled to priority direct admission when entering lower secondary school