What are cases of tuition exemption for preschool children in Vietnam?

What are cases of tuition exemption for preschool children in Vietnam?

Based on Article 15 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP regarding the subjects exempt from tuitions, as follows:

Subjects exempt from tuitions

1. Individuals as regulated by the Ordinance on Preferential Treatment for Revolutionary Contributors if they are studying at educational institutions within the national education system.

2. Preschool children and students with disabilities.

3. Preschool children and students under 16 years old without guardians and individuals from 16 to 22 years old who are studying at high schools, or first-degree higher education, belonging to the subjects receiving monthly social allowances as per Clauses 1 and 2, Article 5 of Decree No. 20/2021/ND-CP dated March 15, 2021, of the Government of Vietnam concerning social support policies for social protection beneficiaries. Learners at intermediate and college levels who are orphans with no parents or support under the Vocational Education Law.

4. Preschool children and pupils in high schools, students in non-formal educational institutions following the general education program whose parents or legal guardians belong to poor households as prescribed by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.

5. Five-year-old preschool children in particularly difficult villages/communes, regions of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas, disadvantaged coastal and island communes as per regulations of competent authorities.

6. Five-year-old preschool children not covered by Clause 5 of this Article will be exempt from tuitions from the academic year 2024-2025 (effective from September 1, 2024).

7. Preschool children and high school students, students in non-formal educational institutions following the general education program being biological or legally adopted children of enlisted non-commissioned officers and soldiers, as per Clause 2, Article 6 of Decree No. 27/2016/ND-CP dated April 6, 2016, of the Government of Vietnam regulating some policies for enlisted non-commissioned officers, soldiers, and their relatives.

8. Lower secondary school students in particularly difficult villages/communes, regions of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas, disadvantaged coastal and island communes as per regulations of competent authorities, will be exempt from tuitions from the academic year 2022-2023 (effective from September 1, 2022).

9. Lower secondary school students not covered by Clause 8 of this Article will be exempt from tuitions from the academic year 2025-2026 (effective from September 1, 2025).

10. Students in the government-assigned system (including students assigned to vocational education institutions with training lasting over three months) as per the Government of Vietnam's policies on assigning students to educational and vocational institutions within the national education system.

11. Students in ethnic boarding schools, pre-university schools, and pre-university departments.

12. Students in vocational and higher education institutions being ethnic minorities whose parents or legal guardians belong to poor or near-poor households as per the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam's regulations.

13. Students specializing in Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought.

14. Students, postgraduates, and doctoral candidates in one of the specializations such as Leprosy, Mental Health, Forensic Examination, Forensic Psychiatry, and Pathology at public health training institutions under state-assigned quotas.

15. Students who are very few ethnic minorities as defined in Clause 1, Article 2 of Decree No. 57/2017/ND-CP dated May 9, 2017, of the Government of Vietnam regulating policies on priority admissions and study support for very few ethnic minority preschool children and students in areas with difficult or particularly difficult socio-economic conditions as per current regulations of competent authorities.

16. Learners who are exempt from tuitions under government-assigned programs and projects as per the Government of Vietnam's regulations.

17. Lower secondary school graduates who continue their education at intermediate levels.

18. Learners at intermediate and college levels in hard-to-recruit fields needed by society as per the list defined by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs.

19. Learners in specialized fields satisfying economic, social development, defense, and security requirements as per the Vocational Education Law. Specialized fields as regulated by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.

Hence, preschool children qualify for tuition exemptions if they fall into the following categories:

- Children of persons with revolutionary contributions as per the Ordinance on Preferential Treatment for Revolutionary Contributors 2020.

- Disabled children.

- Children without guardians or orphans without both parents or any support.

- Children with full parental care but their guardians belong to poor households.

- Five-year-old preschool children in particularly difficult villages/communes, regions of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas, disadvantaged coastal and island communes as per regulations.

- Five-year-old preschool children will be exempt from tuitions in the academic year 2024-2025 even if they are not in particularly difficult areas, regions of ethnic minorities, or disadvantaged coastal areas or islands according to regulations. However, this policy is effective from September 1, 2024, for children who are five years old in the academic year 2024-2025.

- Biological or legally adopted children of enlisted non-commissioned officers and soldiers.

- Children from very few ethnic minorities.

Which preschool children are exempt from tuitions? (Image from the Internet)

When shall children attend preschool in Vietnam?

Based on Article 32 of the Preschool Regulations issued together with Circular 52/2020/TT-BGDDT regarding the age and health of preschool children as follows:

Age and health of preschool children

1. Children from 3 months to 6 years old are eligible to enroll in preschool.

2. Disabled children are allowed to enroll at an older age than the general regulation, i.e., at age 3.

Thus, the age for children to attend preschool is from 3 months to 6 years old. For disabled children, the enrollment age is higher than the usual 3 years old.

What are the rights and obligations of preschool children in Vietnam?

Regarding rights:

According to Article 33 of the Preschool Regulations issued together with Circular 52/2020/TT-BGDDT, the rights of children are as follows:

- To be nurtured, cared for, and educated appropriately to their travel conditions and the capacity of the preschool.

- To be nurtured, cared for, and educated according to the early childhood education program appropriate to their abilities and needs.

- Disabled children are entitled to inclusive education and the educational policies for people with disabilities as prescribed.

- To be ensured physical and mental safety; to be cared for, respected, and treated equally; to be ensured legitimate rights and interests; to be ensured physical, sanitation, and safety conditions at the preschool.

- To participate in activities promoting individual potential.

- To enjoy policies as prescribed.

- To enjoy other rights as prescribed by law.

Regarding obligations:

According to Article 34 of the Preschool Regulations issued together with Circular 52/2020/TT-BGDDT, the obligations of preschool children are as follows:

- To be polite to grandparents, parents, teachers, and elders; to unite, love, and help friends and younger siblings.

- To actively and enthusiastically participate in nurturing, caring, and educational activities appropriate to their abilities and ages.

- To dress neatly, appropriately to their age, and convenient for activities at the preschool.

- To maintain personal hygiene; to participate in school and class hygiene maintenance according to their ability, contributing to environmental protection.

- To comply with preschool regulations.