In 2024: What year were 8th-grade students in Vietnam born? How old are 8th-grade students?

In 2024: What year were 8th-grade students in Vietnam born? How old are 8th-grade students?

Based on the provisions stipulated in Clause 1, Article 28 of the Education Law 2019:

Education levels and age of general education

1. The education levels and age of general education are specified as follows:

a) Primary education is conducted over 5 school years, from the first grade to the end of the fifth grade. The age of students entering the first grade is 6 years, calculated by the year;

b) Lower secondary education is conducted over 4 school years, from the sixth grade to the end of the ninth grade. Students entering the sixth grade must have completed the primary education program. The age of students entering the sixth grade is 11 years, calculated by the year;

c) Upper secondary education is conducted over 3 school years, from the tenth grade to the end of the twelfth grade. Students entering the tenth grade must have a lower secondary education diploma. The age of students entering the tenth grade is 15 years, calculated by the year.

2. In the case of students skipping a grade or studying at an age higher than the age specified in Clause 1 of this Article, including:

a) Students skip a grade if they develop early intellectually;

b) Students study at an age higher than the specified age in cases of repeating a grade, students in areas with especially difficult socio-economic conditions, students who are ethnic minorities, disabled students, students with physical or intellectual developmental delays, orphans without support, students from poor households, students returning from abroad, and other cases as prescribed by law.

3. General education is divided into the basic education phase and the career-oriented education phase. The basic education phase includes primary and lower secondary education; the career-oriented education phase is upper secondary education. Students in vocational education institutions can learn the amount of upper secondary cultural knowledge.

4. The Minister of Education and Training provides for the teaching and learning of Vietnamese for ethnic minority children before entering first grade; the teaching of upper secondary cultural knowledge in vocational education institutions; the cases prescribed in Clause 2 of this Article.

Except in cases where students are retained or enroll earlier/later than the prescribed age, the age and birth year of students for the academic year 2024-2025 can be determined as follows:

In 2024: What year were 8th-grade students in Vietnam born? How old are 8th-grade students?​ (Image from the Internet)

What optional subjects can 8th-grade students in Vietnam study?

According to Section 1, Part 4 of the general education program issued with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT:

Basic education phase

...

1.2. Lower secondary education

a) Curriculum content

Compulsory subjects and educational activities: Literature; Mathematics; Foreign Language 1; Civic Education; History and Geography; Natural Sciences; Technology; Informatics; Physical Education; Arts (Music, Fine Arts); Experiential activities, career orientation; Local educational content.

Optional subjects: Ethnic minority languages, Foreign Language 2.

b) Educational duration

Each day consists of one session, with each session consisting of no more than 5 periods; each period is 45 minutes long. Lower secondary schools that have sufficient conditions are encouraged to implement two-session days in accordance with the guidance of the Ministry of Education and Training.

...

The optional subjects in the curriculum for 8th-grade students (13-year-olds) include two subjects: Ethnic minority languages, Foreign Language 2.

>> See the Appendix issued with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT: Download (Note: Some contents in the above document have been amended by Articles 1 and 2 of Circular 13/2022/TT-BGDDT)

What are rights of 8th-grade students in Vietnam?

According to Article 35 of the Regulations on lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools, and schools with multiple education levels issued with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT, 8th-grade students have the following rights:

(1) To be treated equally in receiving comprehensive education, to be guaranteed conditions of time, facilities, hygiene, and safety for studying in class and self-study at home, to receive information about their studies and training, and to use the school's equipment and facilities for educational, cultural, and sports activities according to the regulations.

(2) To be respected and protected, to be treated equally and democratically, to have the right to complain to the school and educational management levels about decisions concerning themselves; to have the right to transfer schools for justifiable reasons according to current regulations; to be allowed to study ahead of age, skip grades, or study at an age higher than the prescribed age according to Article 33 of the Regulations on lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools, and schools with multiple education levels issued with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT.

(3) To participate in activities organized by the school to develop talents in subjects, sports, and arts if they meet the conditions.

(4) To receive scholarships or other aids according to regulations for students who benefit from social policies, students with difficult living conditions, and students with special abilities.

(5) To transfer schools if they meet the conditions as regulated; the procedure for transferring schools is implemented as per the regulations of the Minister of Education and Training.

(6) To enjoy other rights according to the provisions of the law.