Is there an age limit for secondary school students in Vietnam, who request to repeat a grade?

Is there an age limit for lower secondary school students in Vietnam, who request to repeat a grade?

According to Clause 2, Article 4 of the Regulations on student transfers and re-enrollment at lower secondary schools and upper secondary schools, issued together with Decision 51/2002/QD-BGDDT:

Subjects for Student Transfers and Re-enrollment.

1. Student Transfers:

a) Students transferring their residence along with their father, mother, or guardian.

b) Students facing particularly difficult family circumstances or having genuinely legitimate reasons for transferring schools.

2. Re-enrollment:

Students applying for re-enrollment after a period of absence but still within the age limit prescribed for each educational level.

Based on the provisions of Article 33 of the Regulations on lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools, and multi-level schools issued together with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT, the age of students in lower secondary schools is as follows:

Age of Secondary Students

1. The entry age for grade 6 students is 11 years. The entry age for grade 10 students is 15 years. For students who have skipped grades in the previous level of education or students entering a level of education older than the prescribed age, the age for grade 6 and grade 10 will be adjusted based on the age of graduation from the previous level of education.

2. Students who are ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, students with particularly difficult circumstances, and students returning from abroad may enter a level of education up to 3 years older than the prescribed age.

3. Students are not allowed to repeat a grade more than 3 times within one educational level.

4. Students with good physical and mental development may start school early or skip a grade within the same educational level. The consideration for each specific case is carried out as follows:

a) Parents or guardians must submit a petition to the school.

b) The principal establishes a Survey and Advisory Council with basic components including: a representative of the school board and the school's Parent Representative Committee; the teacher of the student's current class.

c) Based on the survey results of the Survey and Advisory Council, the principal will consider and decide.

5. Students within the prescribed age, who returned from abroad, or children of foreigners working in Vietnam may study in lower secondary schools at their place of residence or other lower secondary schools if the schools can accommodate them. The consideration for each specific case is carried out as follows:

a) Parents or guardians must submit a petition to the school.

b) The principal organizes an examination to assess the student's proficiency and places them in the appropriate class.

Thus, secondary students applying for re-enrollment are subject to age restrictions (this includes both lower secondary and general secondary education levels).

Is there an age limit for secondary school students in Vietnam, who request to repeat a grade? (Image from the internet)

What documents are required for secondary students applying for re-enrollment in Vietnam?

According to Clause 1, Article 6 of the Regulations issued together with Decision 51/2002/QD-BGDDT, the documents needed to re-enroll in grade 6 include:

Therefore, secondary students applying for re-enrollment need to prepare the following documents:

- A re-enrollment application signed by the student.

- The original transcripts of the class or level previously attended.

- A notarized copy of the graduation certificate from the lower educational level.

- A confirmation from the local government where the student resides attesting to their compliance with state policies and laws.

What are the procedures for secondary students applying for re-enrollment?

Regarding the procedures for secondary students applying for re-enrollment, Clause 2, Article 6 of the Regulations issued together with Decision 51/2002/QD-BGDDT stipulates as follows:

Documents and Procedures for Re-enrollment

...

Re-enrollment Procedures.

a) In the case of re-enrollment at the former school:

The principal of the school will allow admission after verifying the documents.

b) In the case of re-enrollment at a different school:

Additional documents and procedures are carried out similarly to transferring schools.

c) In the case of re-enrollment into the first grade of upper secondary school:

The Director of the Department of Education and Training will consider and decide based on the student's entrance exam or assessment results prior to their leave of absence.

Thus, based on the above regulations, if a secondary student is applying for re-enrollment at their former school, they must submit the complete set of documents mentioned above to the school.

The principal will consider and approve the re-enrollment after verifying the documents and meeting the eligibility criteria.

*Note: In the case of secondary students applying for re-enrollment at a different school, they must follow additional documents and procedures similar to those for transferring schools.

For secondary students applying for re-enrollment into the first grade of upper secondary school, the Director of the Department of Education and Training will consider and decide based on the results of their entrance exams or assessments prior to their leave of absence.