Is preschool education compulsory education in Vietnam?

Is preschool education compulsory education in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 14 of the Law on Education 2019, regulations on universal education and compulsory education are as follows:

Universal Education and Compulsory Education

1. Primary education is compulsory.

The State implements universal preschool education for 5-year-old children and universal lower secondary education.

2. The State is responsible for implementing compulsory education nationwide; deciding on plans, and ensuring conditions to implement universal education.

3. Every citizen within the prescribed age range has the obligation to study to fulfill universal education and complete compulsory education.

4. Families and guardians have the responsibility to create conditions for members of the family within the prescribed age range to study to fulfill universal education and complete compulsory education.

Thus, preschool education is not compulsory. However, the state will ensure conditions for implementing preschool education for 5-year-old children.

Is preschool education compulsory education in Vietnam?​ (Image from the Internet)

What are methods for preschool education in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 24 of the Law on Education 2019, regulations on requirements for the content and methods of preschool education are as follows:

Requirements for Content and Methods of Preschool Education

1. The content of preschool education must ensure suitability with the psychological and physiological development of children; a harmonious balance between protection, care, nurturing, and educating children; comprehensive development in physical, emotional, social skills, intellectual, and aesthetic aspects; respect for differences; suitable for various ages and linked with primary education.

2. Preschool education methods are regulated as follows:

a) Nursery education must create favorable conditions for children to actively engage in activities, play, fostering bonds between adults and children; stimulate sensory, emotional, and psychophysiological development;

b) Kindergarten education must create conditions for children to play, experience, explore, and discover the surrounding environment in various ways, meeting the needs and interests of children.

Thus, there are two methods of preschool education including nursery education and kindergarten education:

- Nursery education must create favorable conditions for children to actively engage in activities, play, fostering bonds between adults and children; stimulate sensory, emotional, and psychophysiological development;

- Kindergarten education must create conditions for children to play, experience, explore, and discover the surrounding environment in various ways, meeting the needs and interests of children.

What are requirements for the preschool education program in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 25 of the Law on Education 2019, the preschool education program must meet the following requirements:

- Reflect the goals of preschool education;

- Specify requirements to be achieved at each age level, educational activities, methods, forms of organizing educational activities, educational environment, assessment of child development;

- Uniform across the country and organized flexibly, suitable to the specific conditions of localities and preschool educational institutions.

What are conditions for establishing an independent preschool educational institution in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 10 of Decree 125/2024/ND-CP, the conditions for establishing independent daycare groups, independent kindergarten classes, independent public or private preschools, or collectively known as independent preschool educational institutions are as follows:

- Have a location, minimum facilities, equipment, toys, and teaching materials that meet the program requirements of preschool education as regulated by the Ministry of Education and Training.

- Have education plans, materials, and teaching resources that meet the program requirements of preschool education as regulated by the Ministry of Education and Training.

- Have a management team, teachers, staff, and employees that ensure adequate numbers and meet the standards as regulated by the Ministry of Education and Training to organize nurturing, care, and education activities for children, meeting the requirements of the preschool education program.

- The scale of groups, classes within an independent preschool educational institution is regulated by the Ministry of Education and Training.