When is the 2024 back-to-school date in Vietnam?

When is the 2024 back-to-school date in Vietnam?

Currently, there is no specific timeframe for the 2024 back-to-school date. However, we can refer to the schedules of the past two academic years 2022 and 2023, where the back-to-school date was September 5th, typically a week before the official opening day. (Based on - Decision 2159/QD-BGDDT in 2022; - Decision 2171/QD-BGDDT in 2023).

In addition, Article 10(2) of Circular 40/2021/TT-BGDDT regulates that private educational institutions follow the time plan framework as stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training.

For secondary and high school levels, additional study time can be extended by no more than four weeks per school year compared to public schools, without charging extra tuition fees.

Thus, the back-to-school date for educational institutions nationwide across 63 provinces can start as early as August 28, 2024. Specifically, the first graders may go back to school earlier.

However, the official start date for the new school year still depends on the 2024-2025 school year schedule by the Ministry of Education and Training.

Therefore, to know the back-to-school schedule for 2024-2025 for the 63 provinces, we need to await the official document from the Ministry of Education and Training for the precise back-to-school dates 2024-2025.

This information is for reference only.

When is the 2024 back-to-school date in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What are the regulations on tuition fee exemption for 5-year-old preschool children in Vietnam in the 2023-2024 school year?

According to Article 15 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP, the tuition fee exemption for the 2023 - 2024 school year is regulated as follows:

(1) Persons covered under the Ordinance on Preferences for those with Meritorious Services to the Revolution if they are studying at educational institutions belonging to the national education system.

(2) Preschool children and students with disabilities.

(3) Preschool children and students under 16 years of age without means of support, and persons aged 16 to 22 years studying in school, pursuing a first degree in university education, eligible for monthly social assistance according to Article 5(1) and (2) of Decree 20/2021/ND-CP dated March 15, 2021, by the Government of Vietnam on social assistance policies for social protection beneficiaries. Learners at intermediate or college levels who are orphans of both parents and have no means of support according to regulations.

(4) Preschool children, students in regular educational programs at continuing education institutions with parents (or guardians in cases of living with grandparents) classified as poor according to the regulations of the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.

(5) 5-year-old preschool children in exceptionally disadvantaged villages, socioeconomic development areas, and islands classified by competent authorities.

(6) 5-year-old preschool children not classified under point 5 of this Article are exempt from tuition fees starting from the 2024-2025 school year (effective from September 1, 2024).

(7) Natural and legally adopted children of low-ranking officers or enlisted soldiers on active duty according to Article 6(2) of Decree 27/2016/ND-CP dated April 6, 2016, by the Government of Vietnam on various policies towards low-ranking officers or soldiers on active duty, discharged, and their dependents.

(8) Lower secondary school students in exceptionally disadvantaged villages, socioeconomic development areas, and islands from competent authorities are exempted from tuition fees starting from the 2022-2023 school year (effective from September 1, 2022).

(9) Lower secondary school students not classified under point 8 of this Article are exempt from tuition fees starting from the 2025-2026 school year (effective from September 1, 2025).

(10) Trainees and students in vocational and university education under the priority admission program (including those in boarding vocational training programs of more than three months) according to the Government of Vietnam policies on priority admission to higher education and vocational training institutions in the national education system.

(11) Students in ethnic minority boarding schools, preparatory universities, and university preparatory departments.

(12) Trainees and students pursuing vocational and university education from ethnic minorities with parents (or guardians in cases of living with grandparents) classified as poor or near-poor according to the regulations of the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.

(13) Students specializing in Marx-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought.

(14) Trainees, students, postgraduate students, or research candidates in majors such as Leprosy, Psychiatry, Forensic Medicine, Pathological Anatomy at public health training facilities as per State orders.

(15) Trainees and students from very small ethnic minority groups under Article 2(1) of Decree 57/2017/ND-CP dated May 9, 2017, by the Government of Vietnam on priority policies for admissions and study support for preschool children and students from very small ethnic minority groups in regions with socio-economic difficulties or special difficulties according to the current regulations of competent authorities.

(16) Learners under the programs and projects eligible for tuition exemption as per the Government of Vietnam's regulations.

(17) Graduates of lower secondary education continuing to intermediate education levels.

(18) Learners in intermediate and college levels within disciplines with low enrollment but societal demand according to the list published by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

(19) Learners in specific specialized major programs meeting the development requirements of socio-economic, defense, and security according to the vocational education law. Specialized major programs are stipulated by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.

Additionally, according to Official Dispatch 2179/BGDDT-KHTC in 2024, the tuition fees for the 2024-2025 school year will follow Decree 97/2023/ND-CP.

Implementation of policies on tuition exemption, reduction, study cost support, and tuition fee support is compliant with Chapter 4 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP. This decree defines that from the 2024-2025 school year, 5-year-old preschool children under Article 15(6) of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP are exempted from tuition fees (effective from September 1, 2024).

What will be the tuition range for preschools in Vietnam from 2024 onwards?

(This applies to educational institutions that have not yet ensured regular operating costs)

According to Article 9(3) of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP, amended by Article 1(1) of Decree 97/2023/ND-CP, it states:

Tuition fees for preschool and general education

...

3. Tuition fees from the 2023-2024 school year:

a) For educational institutions that have not yet ensured regular operating costs: Maintain the tuition fees from the 2023-2024 school year at the same level as the 2021-2022 school year fees set by the provincial People's Council applied locally.

b) For educational institutions that ensure regular operating costs, and for educational institutions that ensure both regular operating and capital investment costs: The educational institution is to establish tuition fees based on economic-technical norms, cost norms, submitted to the provincial People's Committee for the provincial People's Council's approval.

...

Thus, according to the regulations, the tuition range for preschools ensuring regular operating costs from 2024 onwards will be determined by the school, based on economic-technical norms and cost norms.

Afterwards, it must be submitted to the provincial People's Committee for the provincial People's Council's approval.