Regulations on collection of educational and training fees for the academic year 2024-2025 in Vietnam

What are regulations on collection of educational and training fees for the academic year 2024-2025 in Vietnam?

On August 30, 2024, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Official Dispatch 4916/BGDDT-KHTC in 2024 (Download) to implement regulations on fees in the field of education and training for the school year 2024-2025.

The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) requests that ministries, central agencies, central agencies of political and social organizations, People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities direct relevant agencies, units, and affiliated educational institutions to seriously implement regulations concerning fees in the field of education and training for the school year 2024-2025. To be specific:

(1). Implement the contents of Official Dispatch 2179/BGDDT-KHTC in 2024, which the MOET has sent to the units regarding the implementation of fees in the field of education and training for the school year 2024-2025.

(2). Direct the Department of Education and Training to enhance communication, propagate, thoroughly disseminate, and widely publicize documents directing the rectification of fee and expenditure practices to educational institutions and educational management agencies.

It is required that educational institutions disseminate, propagate, and make parents, parent representative committees, and teachers understand and comply with regulations on fees and expenditures for the school year 2024-2025.

(3). Guide and direct local educational management agencies to strengthen state management over the implementation of fees and expenditures in local educational institutions; be responsible for guiding, inspecting, checking, and applying strong penalties for violations of fee and expenditure regulations in educational institutions in the locality.

(4). Publicly disclose commitments on education and training quality, quality assurance conditions, and financial revenues and expenditures according to Circular 09/2024/TT-BGDDT issued by the MOET, which stipulates the regulations on public disclosure for educational institutions under the national education system.

Regulations on collection of educational and training fees for the academic year 2024-2025 in Vietnam​ (Image from the Internet)

What are fees in the field of education and training for the school year 2024-2025 in Vietnam?

Based on Official Dispatch 2179/BGDDT-KHTC in 2024, the regulations on fees in the field of education and training for the school year 2024-2025 include:

(1). Tuition fees for the school year 2024-2025

Implement the tuition fee collection level according to regulations in Decree 97/2023/ND-CP of the Government of Vietnam, which amends and supplements a number of articles of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP on the mechanism for collecting and managing tuition fees for educational institutions under the national education system and policies on fee exemptions, tuition fee reduction, and support for study expenses.

(2). Fees for services supporting educational activities in public preschools and general education institutions

The level of fees for services supporting educational activities outside tuition fees that meet the needs of students in educational institutions shall be implemented according to the Resolution of the Provincial People's Council issued in accordance with the actual conditions of the locality as stipulated in clause 3, Article 7 of Decree 24/2021/ND-CP of the Government of Vietnam regarding management in public preschools and general education institutions.

(3). For pricing textbooks and educational equipment

According to the Price Law 2023 (effective from July 1, 2024), textbooks are listed as items priced by the State, with the MOET setting the maximum prices.

Implementing policies on tuition fee exemption, reduction, study expense support, and fee payment support

Implement policies on tuition fee exemption, reduction, study expense support, and fee payment support according to regulations in Chapter IV of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP of the Government of Vietnam.

It is stipulated that, from the school year 2024-2025, five-year-old preschool children as mentioned in clause 6, Article 15 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP are exempt from tuition fees (effective from September 1, 2024).

Who are eligible for tuition fee exemption according to the latest regulations in Vietnam?

According to Article 15 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP, there are 19 subjects eligible for tuition fee exemption as follows:

(1). Subjects pursuant to the Ordinance on Incentives for People with Meritorious Services to the Revolution 2020 if they are studying in educational institutions under the national education system.

(2). Preschool children and students with disabilities.

(3). Preschool children and students under 16 years old who have no source of support and individuals aged 16 to 22 who are studying at general education, higher education levels, and are benefiting from the monthly social assistance according to clauses 1 and 2, Article 5 of Decree 20/2021/ND-CP. Students at intermediate and college levels who are orphans of both parents and have no place to depend on, as stipulated by the Law on Vocational Education 2014.

(4). Preschool children and students in general education programs studying at continuous education institutions whose parents or guardians (if living with grandparents) belong to poor households as defined by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.

(5). Five-year-old preschool children in particularly difficult villages and communes in ethnic and mountainous areas, particularly difficult coastal and island regions as designated by the competent authorities.

(6). Five-year-old preschool children not belonging to subject (5) are exempt from tuition fees starting from the school year 2024-2025 (effective from September 1, 2024).

(7). Preschool children and students in general education programs studying at continuous education institutions who are offspring, legitimate children of non-commissioned officers, soldiers on active duty as per clause 2, Article 6 of Decree 27/2016/ND-CP.

(8). Secondary students in particularly difficult villages and communes in ethnic and mountainous areas, particularly difficult coastal and island regions as designated by the competent authorities, are exempt from tuition fees for the school year 2022-2023 (effective from September 1, 2022).

(9). Secondary students not belonging to subject (8) are exempt from tuition fees from the school year 2025-2026 (effective from September 1, 2025).

(10). Students admitted through the nomination system (including nominated students in internal vocational training programs with a training duration of 3 months or more) according to regulations of the Government of Vietnam on nominating policies to institutions of higher education and vocational education under the national education system.

(11). Students of ethnic boarding schools, pre-university schools, preparatory university departments.

(12). Vocational and higher education students of ethnic minorities whose parents or guardians (if living with grandparents) belong to poor or near-poor households as defined by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.

(13). Students majoring in Marx-Lenin Ideology and Ho Chi Minh Thought.

(14). Students, graduate students, doctoral candidates, and researchers studying one of the specialties of Leprosy, Psychiatry, Forensic Medicine, Forensic Psychiatry, and Pathology at public health training institutions ordered by the State.

(15). Vocational and higher education students of ethnic minorities with very few people as defined in clause 1, Article 2 of Decree 57/2017/ND-CP in regions with difficult or particularly difficult socio-economic conditions as currently prescribed by competent authorities.

(16). Learners in the subjects of projects and programs receiving tuition exemptions according to regulations of the Government of Vietnam.

(17). Graduates of secondary education pursuing intermediate-level training.

(18). Learners in intermediate and college levels for disciplines that are difficult to recruit but socially needed according to the list prescribed by the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs.

(19). Learners in disciplines and specializations meeting the socio-economic, defense, and security needs as regulated by the Law on Vocational Education 2014. Disciplines and specializations are designated by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.