What are the requirements for opening a family-based kindergarten class in Vietnam? What are procedures for applying for permission to operate a family-based kindergarten class?

What is a family-based kindergarten class in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 2, Article 6 of the Education Law 2019:

The national educational system

1. The national educational system is an open, transferrable educational system consisting of formal education and continuing education.

2. Educational levels and training qualifications of the national educational system include:

a) Preschool education including junior kindergartens (for children aged 03 – 36 months) and senior kindergartens (for children aged 3 – 5 years);

b) General education with primary education, lower secondary education, and upper secondary education;

c) Vocational education and training at elementary-level, intermediate-level, or college-level and other vocational training programmes;

d) Higher education with university education, master education and doctoral education.

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At the same time, based on Article 26 of the Education Law 2019, institutions of preschool education are as follows:

Institutions of preschool education

Institutions of preschool education include:

1. Junior kindergarten centers and classes for children aged 03 – 36 months;

2. Senior kindergartens and independent senior kindergarten classes for children aged 03 – 06 years;

3. Combined kindergartens and independent preschool classes for children aged 03 months – 06 years.

Therefore, family-based junior kindergarten classes are independent senior kindergarten classes and are preschool institutions caring for and educating children from 3 months to 3 years old.

What are the conditions to open a family-based kindergarten class in Vietnam?

Based on the regulations in Article 10 of Decree 46/2017/ND-CP (amended by Clause 5, Article 1 of Decree 135/2018/ND-CP, effective from November 20, 2018):

Conditions for the establishment and operation of independent senior kindergarten classes

1. Teachers must meet the standard qualification requirements as regulated.

2. There must be a room for nurturing, caring for, and educating children safely; the area of this room must ensure at least 1.5 m2 per child; there must be a playground, a fence, and a safe gate for children; places providing meals for children must have separate, safe kitchens; ensuring fire and explosion prevention and food hygiene and safety. There must be enough clean water for daily activities and drinking water for children every day.

3. Equipment for an independent nursery group must include:

a) Minimum equipment for children includes: mats or play rugs, beds, blankets, pillows, mosquito nets for sleeping, drinking water containers, supplies, toys and shelves, towel racks, cups, and enough portable toilets and materials for purposeful play activities;

b) Materials for caregivers include a set of guidelines for implementing children's care and education activities; child monitoring books; asset tracking books of the nursery group; materials for disseminating parenting knowledge to parents.

4. Equipment for an independent kindergarten class must include:

a) Minimum equipment for children includes: tables, chairs of the right size for children (especially 5-year-olds): one table and two chairs for two children; one table, one chair, and one board for the teacher; supplies, toys, and shelves; water containers for drinking and daily activities; materials for purposeful play and learning activities.

For day classes: Mats or beds, blankets, pillows, mosquito nets, and fans;

b) Materials for nursery teachers include: A set of guidelines for implementing children's care and education activities; child monitoring books; activity recording books for organizing children's daily educational activities; materials for disseminating parenting knowledge to parents.

5. In places where the preschool education network does not meet the demand for bringing children to school, individuals may organize groups of children to meet parents' needs for nurturing and caring for their children and must register their activities with the commune-level People's Committee, ensuring the following registration conditions:

a) The maximum number of children in the group is 07 children;

b) Caregivers must be healthy, competent in civil liability, and have a certificate of training in child care and nurturing as required;

c) Facilities must meet minimum conditions such as a room for nurturing and caring for children with a minimum area of 15 m2; ensuring safety, ventilation, and coolness; appropriate toys for the children's age; adequate supplies and equipment for nurturing and caring for children; sufficient drinking and daily activity water for children; suitable toilets and sanitary equipment for children; and materials for implementing children's care and education activities.

Therefore, according to the regulations, opening a family-based kindergarten class in Vietnam requires the following conditions:

[1] Teachers must meet the standard qualifications.

[2] There must be a safe room for nurturing, caring for, and educating children.

[3] Equipment for an independent nursery group.

In places where the preschool education network does not meet the demand for bringing children to school, individuals may organize groups of children and must register their activities with the commune-level People's Committee, ensuring the following registration conditions:

{1} The maximum number of children in the group is 07 children.

{2} Caregivers must be healthy, competent in civil liability, and have a certificate of training.

{3} Facilities must meet minimum conditions.

What are the requirements for opening a family-based kindergarten class in Vietnam? What are procedures for applying for permission to operate a family-based kindergarten class?​ (Image from the Internet)

What are procedures for applying for permission to operate a family-based kindergarten class in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 3, Article 11 of Decree 46/2017/ND-CP (amended by Clause 6, Article 1 of Decree 135/2018/ND-CP), the procedures for applying for permission to operate a family-based kindergarten class in Vietnam are as follows:

Step 1: Organizations or individuals submit directly or via postal service 01 set of documents as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 11 of Decree 46/2017/ND-CP to the commune-level People's Committee;

Step 2: The commune-level People's Committee receives and organizes the appraisal of the documents. Within 05 working days from the date of receiving the documents, if the documents are unsatisfactory, they will notify in writing the contents that need to be corrected and supplemented for the organization or individual. If the documents are satisfactory, they will send a written request to the Department of Education and Training to check the actual conditions for establishing independent nursery groups and kindergarten classes;

Step 3: Within 10 working days, the Department of Education and Training organizes an on-site inspection and provides written feedback to the commune-level People's Committee stating whether the independent nursery group or kindergarten class meets the conditions for establishment;

Step 4: Within 05 working days from the date of receiving the feedback from the Department of Education and Training, the Chairman of the commune-level People's Committee issues a decision to establish or permit the establishment; if no decision is made, a written notice is sent to the organization or individual and the Department of Education and Training stating the reasons.