Vietnam: Can an 18-year-old student apply for admission to the 10th Grade of upper secondary school?

Can an 18-year-old student in Vietnam apply for admission to the 10th grade?

Under Article 28 of the Law on Education 2019, the educational levels and entry ages are regulated as follows:

Educational levels and entry ages

1. Educational levels and age groups of general education are regulated as follows:

a) Primary education lasts for 05 school years, from the first to the fifth grade. The entry age for the first grade is 06;

b) Lower secondary education lasts for 04 school years, from the sixth to the ninth grade. Students must complete the primary educational programme before entering the sixth grade. The entry age for the sixth grade is 11;

c) Upper secondary education lasts for 03 school years, from the tenth to the twelfth grade. Students must complete the lower secondary educational programme before entering the tenth grade. The entry age for the tenth grade is 15;

The age of students in secondary schools is regulated in Article 33 of the lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school charter issued along with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT as follows:

Secondary school age

1. Children shall start the sixth grade at the age of 11 and the tenth grade at the age of 15. For students skipping a grade or over-age students, the sixth grade and tenth grade starting ages shall be adjusted based on the age at which these students graduate from the previous education level.

2. For ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, disadvantaged students and students returning to Vietnam from abroad, maximum secondary school starting age shall be 03 years older than the compulsory starting age.

3. At an education level, students may not repeat a grade more than 03 times.

4. Students with good physical capacity and early intelligence development may enter the sixth or tenth grade before the compulsory starting age or skip to the next grade within the same education level. Consideration shall be given on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the following procedures:

a) The student’s parent or guardian submits an application to the school.

b) The school principal establishes a survey and advisory council with the following main members: representatives of school leaders and parent committee of the school; and teachers teaching the student's class.

c) The school principal considers and makes a decision based on the result of the survey conducted by the survey and advisory council.

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Thus, the age for students entering the 10th grade is 15 years old. For students entering educational levels at an older age than prescribed, repeating a grade, etc., the age for starting 10th grade also increases based on the age at which they graduated from the previous level.

Current Vietnamese law does not specifically regulate whether an 18-year-old student can be admitted to upper secondary school. Therefore, an 18-year-old student can still apply for admission to 10th grade of upper secondary school.

Can an 18-year-old student in Vietnam apply for admission to the 10th grade? (Image from the Internet)

What documents are required for admission to the 10th Grade in Vietnam?

Under Article 6 of the Regulation on Enrollment for Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary Schools issued by Circular 11/2014/TT-BGDDT (certain phrases annulled by Article 2 of Circular 05/2018/TT-BGDDT), the documents required for admission to the 10th Grade include:

- A valid copy of the birth certificate.

- A lower secondary graduation certificate or temporary graduation certificate or a copy of the lower secondary graduation certificate.

- Academic record of lower secondary education.

- Confirmation of priority policies issued by competent authorities (if any).

- Confirmation issued by the People's Committee of the commune, ward, or town (for those who graduated from lower secondary school in previous years) not currently serving a prison sentence; not undergoing community service or violating the law.

What are the duties of a 10th-grade student in Vietnam?

Under Article 34 of the lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school charter issued along with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT, the duties of a 10th-grade student include:

- Learn and train according to curricula and education plans of their schools.

- Respect their parents, officials, teachers and staff of their schools, and those older than them; maintain solidarity and mutual support in learning and training; conform to the charter and rules of their schools; and abide by the law.

- Take exercises and maintain personal hygiene.

- Participate in group activities of their schools and classes, Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization and Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union; help their families, join physical and social activities and environmental protection activities, and maintain traffic order and safety.

- Protect school and public property; contribute to fostering, preservation and enhancement of school traditions.