Are Five-Year-Old Kindergarten Children Exempt from Tuition Fees for the 2024-2025 School Year?

Are 5-year-old preschoolers exempt from tuition fees in the school year 2024-2025?

Based on Article 15 of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP which stipulates tuition fee exemptions for the following subjects:

Article 15. Subjects eligible for tuition fee exemption

1. Subjects as specified in the Ordinance on Incentives for People with Meritorious Services to the Revolution, if attending educational institutions within the national education system.

2. Preschool children and disabled students.

3. Preschool children and students under 16 years of age without a source of care, and individuals from 16 to 22 years of age studying general education, first-degree higher education who are entitled to monthly social assistance as specified in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of Article 5 of Decree No. 20/2021/ND-CP dated March 15, 2021 of the Government of Vietnam on social assistance policies for social protection beneficiaries. Students in intermediate, college levels who are orphans of both parents and without a place to rely on as stipulated in the Vocational Education Law.

4. Preschool children and students in regular educational institutions under the general education program who have either father, mother, or both parents, or grandparents (if living with grandparents) in a household classified as poor under regulations by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.

5. 5-year-old preschool children in extremely difficult villages/hamlets, communes in area III ethnic minority and mountainous regions, particularly difficult coastal, island communes, as stipulated by competent authorities.

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

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According to the above regulation, 5-year-old preschool children are exempt from tuition fees starting from the school year 2024-2025 (effective from September 1, 2024).

Are 5-year-old preschoolers exempt from tuition fees in the school year 2024-2025? (Image from the Internet)

What requirements must the preschool education program meet?

Based on Article 25 of the Education Law 2019, the preschool education program must meet the following requirements:

Article 25. Preschool education program

1. The preschool education program must meet the following requirements:

a) Reflect the goals of preschool education;

b) Specify the required achievements for each age group, educational activities, methods, forms of organizing educational activities, educational environment, assessment of children's development;

c) Be unified nationwide and implemented flexibly, suitable to the specific conditions of localities and preschool educational institutions.

2. The National Council for Appraisal of Preschool Education Programs, established by the Minister of Education and Training, appraises the preschool education programs. The Council consists of educators, educational managers, experienced and reputable scientists in education, and representatives of relevant agencies and organizations. The Council must have at least one-third of its members being teachers currently teaching in preschool education. The Council and its members are responsible for the content and quality of the appraisal.

3. The Minister of Education and Training issues the preschool education program after appraisal by the National Council for Appraisal of Preschool Education Programs; stipulates standards, processes for compiling, editing the preschool education program; stipulates standards and selection of toys, educational materials used in preschool educational institutions; stipulates tasks, powers, operating methods, standards, number and structure of members of the National Council for Appraisal of Preschool Education Programs.

Thus, the preschool education program must meet the following requirements:

- Reflect the goals of preschool education- Specify the required achievements for each age group, educational activities, methods, forms of organizing educational activities, educational environment, assessment of children's development- Be unified nationwide and implemented flexibly, suitable to the specific conditions of localities and preschool educational institutions

What institutions are included in preschool educational institutions?

Based on Article 26 of the Education Law 2019, preschool educational institutions include:

Article 26. Preschool educational institutions

Preschool educational institutions include:

1. Nurseries, independent nursery groups accepting children from 3 months to 3 years old;

2. Kindergartens, independent kindergarten classes accepting children from 3 years to 6 years old;

3. Preschools, independent preschool classes are educational institutions combining nurseries and kindergartens, accepting children from 3 months to 6 years old.

Thus, preschool educational institutions include the following:

- Nurseries, independent nursery groups- Kindergartens, independent kindergarten classes- Preschools, independent preschool classes