Do primary school students have to pay tuition? Who are the students eligible for tuition exemption in Vietnam?

What is tuition?

According to Clause 1, Article 99 of the Education Law 2019, tuition is a contribution made by learners to partially or fully cover the expenses of educational and training services.

The tuition rate is determined based on road maps for assurance of expenses for educational and training services prescribed by the Government. For institutions of vocational education and higher education, this rate is calculated based on the Vocational Education Law 2014 and the Higher Education Law 2012.

Do primary school students in Vietnam have to pay tuition?

Under Clause 3, Article 99 of the Education Law 2019 on tuition and expenses of educational and training services in Vietnam:

Tuition and expenses of educational and training services

...

3. Students at primary education level in public educational institutions are not required to pay tuition; in areas lacking public schools, primary school students in private educational institutions shall receive subsidies on tuition from the State, with the support rate specified by provincial People’s Councils.

In addition, Article 14 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP specifies the eligibility for not having to pay tuition:

Eligibility for not having to pay tuition

1. Students of public primary schools.

2. Learners studying in specific majors satisfying socio-economic development demands, national defense and security according to Law on Higher Education. Specific majors regulated by Prime Minister.

Under the above provisions, students at the primary education level in public educational institutions are not required to pay tuition; in areas lacking public schools, primary school students in private educational institutions shall receive subsidies on tuition from the State, with the support rate specified by provincial People’s Councils.

Do primary school students in Vietnam have to pay tuition? Who are the students eligible for tuition exemption in Vietnam? (Image from Internet)

Who are the students eligible for tuition exemption in Vietnam?

According to Article 15 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP, the following students are eligible for tuition exemption in Vietnam:

1. Individuals mentioned under the Ordinance on Preferences for those with Meritorious Services to the Revolution 2020 when studying in education institutions affiliated to national education system.

2. Preschool students and students with disabilities.

3. Preschools students and students under 16 years of age lacking any care and individuals from 16 years of age to 22 years of age and studying in formal education, the first degree of higher education and eligible for monthly social benefits according to Clause 1 and Clause 2 Article 5 of Decree 20/2021/ND-CP. Learners in intermediate-education level or college level who are left without both parents and shelter according to Vocational Education Law 2014.

4. Preschool students, students of formal education, learners in continuous education facilities pursuing formal education program whose parent or parents or grandparents (if living with grandparents) are poor households according to regulations of Prime Minister.

5. Preschool children with 5 years of age living in hamlets with difficulties, communes in category III areas with ethnic minorities and mountainous regions, communes with particularly difficulties in coastal areas and islands according regulations of competent authority.

6. Preschool children with 5 years of age not specified under Clause 5 of Article 15 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP shall be exempted from tuition for the school year of 2024 - 2025 (starting from September 1, 2024).

7. Preschool children, students of formal education, and learners in continuous education facilities pursuing formal education program who are foster children or biological children of active servicemen and soldiers according to Clause 2 Article 6 of Decree No. 27/2016/ND-CP dated April 6, 2016 of the Government.

8. Students in lower secondary education in particularly difficult hamlets, communes in category III areas with ethnic minorities in mountainous regions, communes with particular difficulty in coastal areas, and islands according to regulations of competent authority are eligible for exemption from tuition from the school year of 2022 – 2023 (starting from September 1, 2022).

9. Lower secondary education students not specified under Clause 8 of Article 15 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP shall be exempted from tuition for the school year of 2025 - 2026 (starting from September 1, 2025).

10. Students pursuing education via special admission (including students pursuing boarding vocational education under special admission method for 3 months or higher) according to regulations of the Government on special admission to higher education institutions and vocational education institutions affiliated to national education system.

11. Students in secondary boarding schools for ethnic minorities, pre-universities:

12. Students in vocation education institutions and higher education institutions, ethnic minorities whose parent, parents, or grandparents (if living with grandparents) in poor households or near-poor households according to regulations of Prime Minister.

13. Students pursuing Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh’s Thought.

14. Students, higher education students, and researchers specialized in tuberculosis, leprosy, psychology, forensic examination, psychology examination, and autopsy in public medical personnel training facilities as per order of the Government.

15. Ethnic students under Clause 1 Article 2 of Decree 57/2017/ND-CP.

16. Learners subject to tuition exemption programs or schemes according to regulations of the Government.

17. Graduates of secondary education and pursuing intermediate education.

18. Learners pursuing intermediate-level education, college level education for majors that have difficulty in students but are required by the society according to lists regulated by the Ministry of Labor - War Invalids and Social Affairs.

19. Learners studying in specific majors satisfying socio-economic development demands, national defense and security according to Vocational Education Law 2014. Specific majors are regulated by the Prime Minister.