HCM City seeks to reduce tuition fees

Kids participating in an outdoor activity at the HCM City Preschool in HCM City’s District 3. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — Local officials have proposed that tuition fees be reduced for all levels of education in HCM City for the new school year.

The municipal People’s Committee has submitted a proposal to the People’s Council to issue a resolution regulating tuition fees for public pre-school and general education from the upcoming 2024-25 school year onwards.

Accordingly, the proposed tuition fees are divided into two groups. Group 1 includes Thủ Đức City and districts of 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, Bình Thạnh, Phú Nhuận, Gò Vấp, Tân Bình, Tân Phú and Bình Tân.

Group 2 comprises Bình Chánh, Hóc Môn, Củ Chi, Nhà Bè and Cần Giờ districts.

Parents of children aged from three to 36 months in Group 1 will pay VNĐ200,000 (US$7.9) per month per child, while their peers in Group 2 will pay VNĐ120,000 ($4.7).

Parents of children aged three to six years in Group 1 will pay VNĐ160,000 ($6.3) per month per child, and their peers in Group 2 will pay VNĐ100,000 ($3.9).

Parents of middle school students in Group 1 will pay VNĐ60,000 ($2.4) per month per child, and their peers in Group 2 will pay VNĐ30,000 ($1.2).

Parents of high school students in Group 1 will pay VNĐ120,000 per month per child, and their peers in Group 2 will pay VNĐ100,000.

The proposed tuition fees for the 2024-25 school year are equivalent to the fees charged in the 2021-22 school year and represent a reduction compared to the 2023-24 school year.

The tuition fees for online learning are set at 50 per cent of the fees charged by public educational institutions for in-person learning.

In addition, the municipal People’s Committee has also proposed a resolution to the People’s Council that would regulate the rates, collection, and allocation of resources for services that support educational activities, replacing Resolution 04 applicable to the 2023-24 school year, which has expired.

Specifically, it proposes to adjust a number of educational service fees. Following the committee’s adjustment, the maximum fees for air conditioning services would increase from VNĐ50,000-110,000 ($2-4.3) per student per month for classrooms that are not equipped with air conditioning and must be rented.

The fee for organising the care and education of pre-school children in the summer to become an after-hours childcare and education service, which includes the service of babysitting on days off (not including holidays, Tết and meals), will surge.

The regulation of fees and the proposed rates for after-hours care services in pre-schools aim to create favourable conditions for parents to work with peace of mind.

For non-public pre-schools, this regulation ensures that they have sufficient legal grounds to provide services that meet social needs in accordance with set standards.

It serves as a basis for relevant authorities to monitor, manage, and supervise activities of pre-school educational institutions, ensuring quality care and safety for children. — VNS