 (Illustrative photo: taichinh.vn) |
At a meeting on February 28, 2025, after the Government reported on state budget optimization by streamlining the state apparatus, the Politburo announced it will waive all tuition fees in the next academic year for pupils from preschool to high school across the country.
According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the state budget will allocate approximately 1.26 billion USD annually to cover the education costs of over more 23 million schoolchildren.
Ensuring children’s right to education
The Vietnam Education Fact Sheet 2022 issued by UNICEF showed that some Vietnamese children do not complete a basic education due to their family’s economic circumstances. The new tuition-free policy aims to reduce dropout rates and provide equal learning opportunities for all children, including children from low-income families and children living in remote areas, where the dropout rate is higher than in urban areas.
The Khmer and the Mong and ethnic groups with less than 1 million people have school dropout rates 4 to 7 times higher than those of the Kinh, Hoa, Tay, Thai, Muong, and Nung groups.
Nong Thi Vui, Principal of Kien Moc Boarding Primary School in Dinh Lap district, Lang Son province, said: "The tuition-free policy will make a significant contribution to the advancement of education. In disadvantaged areas, this policy will be highly beneficial, helping more children attend school and easing the financial burden on their parents. For Lang Son province, this policy is especially beneficial, particularly for remote, mountainous, and border regions."
Parents can save money for other educational purposes such as buying learning aids or providing them with extra lessons on social and soft skills.
Nong Van Hoan, a resident of Cho Moi district, Bac Kan province, said: “My family relies primarily on seasonal farming and forestry for income, which is barely enough to support our three children’s education. The tuition-free policy is an incredible financial relief for families in mountain areas.”
Providing free education through high school will open doors for students to pursue higher education or enter the workforce with strong qualifications, better preparing them for the demands of a skilled labor market.
Building an advanced society and sustainable development
The tuition-free policy benefits families and also fosters a more progressive and sustainable society. By ensuring equal access to education, this policy aims to create a more inclusive system where all pupils, regardless of their background, can complete their general education. It is expected to boost enrollment rates, particularly in disadvantaged communities, and narrow the education gap between regions.
The policy highlights Vietnam’s strong social security and public governance, and reinforces public trust in the Party and the State. It’s a big step toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in education and greater equality.
Investing in a learning society through strategic measures like tuition-free education underscores the Party and State’s commitment to nurturing future generations and fostering long-term national development.