Vietnam minister proposes making middle school free next year

Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son has proposed that education fees be waived for all public middle schools across the country.

The education minister put forward the proposal during an online conference with central- and local-level leaders on Monday morning.

Son expects that his proposal will benefit students from grade sixth to ninth starting the 2022-23 school year, which is set to begin in less than two months.

He requested the education ministry's sub-units to work with the Ministry of Finance on evaluating the impacts of the proposed tuition exemption and calculating the state budget needed for this plan.

Such tuition exemption is not a new proposition of the Ministry of Education and Training.

In 2016, the government assigned the ministry to coordinate with the finance ministry in drawing up a similar scheme with a specific timeline while prioritizing investments for kindergarten and elementary education.

Vietnam has made elementary school compulsory and tuition-free for all children aged six to 11.

Hai Phong City is the first locality in the country to have provided free education for children from kindergarten to middle school levels from the 2020-21 school year and those in high school starting the 2021-22 school year.

At Monday’s meeting, Son also reported on the education ministry's preparations for the national high school graduation examination, to be organized for 12th graders and independent candidates on July 7 and 8.

Considered as one of the most important events in the life of every school student, the exam results are used for both high school graduation and enrollment in universities and junior colleges.

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