What is a private preschool? How to differentiate between 3 types of preschools in Vietnam?

What is a private preschool in Vietnam?

Based on Article 2 of the Regulations on the Organization and Operation of Private Preschools, issued together with Circular 13/2015/TT-BGDDT, regulations on the position of private preschools, kindergartens and independent preschool education groups or classes are as follows:

Position of private preschools, kindergartens and independent preschool education groups or classes

1. Private preschools, kindergartens and independent preschool education groups or classes are preschool education institutions belonging to the national education system, established by social organizations, social-professional organizations, economic organizations, or individuals when authorized by the competent state authorities. The capital for building facilities and ensuring operational expenses comes from non-state budget sources.

2. Private preschools and kindergartens have legal status, their own seal, and can open separate bank accounts.

Therefore, according to the above regulations, a private preschool is a preschool education institution belonging to the national education system, established by social organizations, social-professional organizations, economic organizations, or individuals when authorized by the competent state authorities.

In addition, private preschools have capital investments for building facilities and ensuring operational expenses from sources outside the state budget.

Moreover, private preschools also have legal status, their own seal, and can open separate bank accounts.

What is a private preschool? How to differentiate between 3 types of preschools in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

Which authority shall manage private preschools in Vietnam?

Based on Article 5 of the Regulations on the Organization and Operation of Private Preschools, issued together with Circular 13/2015/TT-BGDDT, regulations on management decentralization are as follows:

Management Decentralization

1. People's Committees of districts, district-level towns, and cities directly under the province (hereinafter referred to as district-level People's Committees) perform state management functions over the education of private preschools, kindergartens, child groups, and independent kindergarten classes.

2. People's Committees of communes, wards, and commune-level towns (hereinafter referred to as commune-level People's Committees) perform state management functions over the education of independent private child groups and kindergarten classes.

3. The Education and Training Department is responsible for advising and assisting district-level People's Committees in performing state management functions over the education of private preschools, kindergartens, child groups, and independent kindergarten classes.

Thus, according to the above regulations, private preschools will be managed by district-level People's Committees.

How to differentiate between private preschools, people-founded preschools, and public preschools in Vietnam?

Private Preschools: are preschool education institutions belonging to the national education system, established by social organizations, social-professional organizations, economic organizations, or individuals when authorized by the competent state authorities. The capital for building facilities and ensuring operational expenses comes from non-state budget sources. (based on Article 2 of the Regulations on the Organization and Operation of Private Preschools, issued together with Circular 13/2015/TT-BGDDT)

People-founded preschools: are established by local communities consisting of organizations and individuals in villages, hamlets, residential groups, communes, wards, and commune-level towns. They invest in building facilities and ensure operational conditions.

*Note: The People-founded preschool type only applies to preschool education institutions. (according to Point b Clause 1 Article 47 of the Education Law 2019).

Public Preschools: are established, invested in, and ensured operational conditions by the State, representing the owner.

These three types are also regulated in Article 4 of the Preschool Charter issued together with Circular 52/2020/TT-BGDDT as follows:

Types of Preschools

1. Public preschools are established, invested in, and ensured operational conditions by the State, representing the owner.

2. People-founded preschools are established by local communities consisting of organizations and individuals in villages, hamlets, residential groups, communes, wards, and commune-level towns. They invest in building facilities and ensure operational conditions.

3. Private preschools are invested in and ensured operational conditions by domestic or foreign investors.

The comparison table would be as follows: