Post by : Shakul
Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training has elucidated the guidelines surrounding tuition and educational cost support for students from underprivileged areas. This clarification follows an inquiry from Nguyen Huu Loi of Quang Tri province regarding eligibility for high school students from disadvantaged coastal communes who are pursuing studies in better-developed regions.
As per the ministry, these rules fall under Clause 4, Article 17 of Government Decree No. 238/2025/ND-CP, issued on September 3, 2025. The decree details support measures for tuition fees, exemptions, reductions, and financial assistance in education and training. The primary objective is to enable students from impoverished and remote backgrounds to pursue their education without financial strain.
Support for learning costs is available to preschoolers, primary and secondary students, as well as trainees in continuing education, provided they reside permanently in particularly disadvantaged regions, including Zone III ethnic minority areas and coastal communities identified by authorities.
The decree also states that students can attend educational institutions beyond their local disadvantaged areas if suitable schools are unavailable in their own communes. These students may remain eligible for financial support as per the decree's guidelines. This measure aims to provide equitable access to education for those in remote and underdeveloped regions.
However, the ministry pointed out that Nguyen Huu Loi's query did not specify if the communal area in question has a high school. Eligibility for support is contingent on the presence of educational facilities in the student’s home area. If a high school is not available locally, attending another commune may still qualify them for assistance.
This government initiative aims to address educational inequality and motivate students from less privileged backgrounds to continue their education. Numerous coastal, mountainous, and minority regions in Vietnam confront challenges related to inadequate educational infrastructure, transportation issues, and economic hardships that impact school enrollment.
Education experts assert that financial support initiatives, including tuition aid and learning cost subsidies, significantly enhance literacy rates and access to education in rural areas. The ministry stressed that local authorities should meticulously assess individual cases to ensure genuine eligibility for funding.
Recently, Vietnam has been broadening its social welfare and educational support policies as part of an overarching strategy to enhance human resource development and alleviate poverty in underprivileged communities. Officials anticipate that such initiatives will foster improved educational prospects and bolster long-term social and economic development nationwide.
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