Is primary education compulsory in Vietnam? What is age of primary school students in Vietnam?

Is primary education compulsory in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 14 of the 2019 Education Law, regulations on universalization of education and compulsory education are as follows:

1. Primary education is compulsory.

The State shall provide the universalization of preschool education to 05-year-old children and provide the universalization of lower secondary education.

2. The State shall be responsible for implementing compulsory education throughout the country; planning and facilitating the universalization of education.

3. All citizens within defined age groups shall have the obligation to learn in order to contribute to the universalization of education and complete the compulsory education programme.

4. Families and guardians shall enable their members in defined age groups to receive education in order to contribute to the universalization of education and complete the compulsory education programme.

In addition, Clause 1, Article 35 of the Primary School Charter issued with Circular 28/2020/TT-BGDDT stipulates rights of students as follows:

1. Get educated

a) Be educated and study to develop comprehensively and maximize your potential; to study in a school or class that implements the primary general education program and is convenient for you to travel to in your area of ​​residence.

b) Students can choose a school or transfer to another school outside their area of ​​residence, if that school has the capacity to accept it.

c) Primary school age students returning home from abroad, children of foreigners studying and working in Vietnam, children who have not been able to attend school because of difficult circumstances, if they wish to transfer to school. In an primary school, the principal conducts a proficiency survey to place students in the appropriate class.

Thus, according to current regulations in Vietnam, primary education is compulsory education. Therefore, even if your child is an adult but still of primary school age, he or she can still go to the primary school to present to the school principal for survey and placement in the appropriate class.

Is primary education compulsory in Vietnam? What is age of primary school students in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What is age of primary school students in Vietnam? 

Pursuant to Article 33 of the Primary School Charter issued with Circular 28/2020/TT-BGDDT, regulations on the age of primary school students are as follows:

1. The age of a student entering first grade is 6 years old and is calculated in years. Children with disabilities, poor physical or mental development, children in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions, children from ethnic minorities, orphans with no one to rely on, children returning home from abroad and children of foreigners studying and working in Vietnam can enter first grade at a higher age than prescribed but not more than 3 years old. In cases where children entering first grade are 3 years older than the prescribed age, the decision will be made by the Head of the Department of Education and Training.

2. Primary school students study at an age higher than the prescribed age in the case of students repeating grades, students in areas with extremely difficult socio-economic conditions, students who are ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, students with poor physical or mental development, orphans without support, students returning home from abroad and other cases as prescribed by law.

According to this Article, your child who is 8 years old is 2 years older than the first grade admission age and still belongs to the age of an primary school student, so he can absolutely apply for first grade in Vietnam.

Best regards!