Final article: Joy for the people and the authorities at all levels

Last article: Support level raised - Photo: VGP/Son Hao

Before the Government issued this Decree, localities had to make efforts to balance their budgets to continue to maintain support policies in areas that have just escaped poverty according to Decision No. 861/QD-TTg dated June 4, 2021 approving the list of communes in Region III, Region II, Region I in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021 - 2025.

For example, in Lao Cai province, after Decision No. 861/QD-TTg, the whole province had 135,000 students (accounting for about 60% of the province's total students) who did not enjoy the policy of food allowance, rice allowance, and tuition reduction according to Decree No. 116/2016/ND-CP. To maintain the number of students and ensure that students graduate as planned, on July 16, 2021, the Lao Cai Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 12/2021/NQ-HDND on continuing to support students in communes in Region II and Region III to complete the new rural area in Lao Cai province; the support level for students is implemented according to Resolution No. 29/2020/NQ-HDND stipulating specific policies to support the development of education and training in Lao Cai province for the period 2021 - 2025 dated December 4, 2020 of the Provincial People's Council.

Students of the Bo Y ethnic group - one of the ethnic groups with special difficulties - receive support to study at the Ethnic Minority High School in Lao Cai province - Photo: VGP

However, Resolution No. 12/2021/NQ-HDND is only effective in the 2021-2022 school year. To ensure support for poor students in extremely difficult areas so that they do not miss out on their studies, while waiting for a new decree from the Government, on November 13, 2023, the Lao Cai Provincial People's Council continued to issue Resolution No. 15/2023/NQ-HDND on amending, supplementing and abolishing a number of provisions on specific policies to support the development of education and training in Resolution No. 29/2020/NQ-HDND.

Resolution No. 15/2023/NQ-HDND has abolished the regulation that only students in communes in region III and extremely disadvantaged villages are supported in their studies, and the policy is applied to students in communes in region II and communes in region III that have just been recognized as meeting new rural standards. This is a very timely adjustment to support students, avoiding reducing the overall educational and training development results of the province.

Like Lao Cai province, after Decision No. 861/QD-TTg was issued, many localities in ethnic minority and mountainous areas have proactively and flexibly issued or amended specific policies to continue supporting students in areas that have just escaped poverty. In the context that most localities in ethnic minority and mountainous areas are still facing difficulties, the effort of saving every penny to continue maintaining student support policies when there are no new regulations is a very commendable effort of the provinces.

Therefore, the fact that Decree No. 66/2025/ND-CP does not stipulate the permanent residence of students and the location of educational institutions as a condition for enjoying learning support policies is good news not only for the people but also for authorities at all levels. In addition, compared to Decree No. 116/2016/ND-CP, Decree No. 66/2025/ND-CP has increased the support level for students enjoying semi-boarding regime but having to provide their own accommodation from 10% of the basic salary (according to the current basic salary, students receive 234,000 VND/month) to 360,000 VND/month.

Before the Government issued Decree No. 66/2025/ND-CP, the Ministry of Education and Training said that since 2009, the Ministry has implemented a number of financial policies for students in ethnic minority boarding schools (PTDTNT) and university preparatory schools (DBDH) according to Joint Circular No. 109/2009/TTLT/BTC-BGDDT. The policies implemented have actively supported the organization of teaching and learning, nurturing, caring for and educating students in these schools; thereby contributing to improving the quality of training and creating human resources for ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

However, the Ministry of Education and Training also assessed that many contents and financial support levels stipulated in Joint Circular No. 109/2009/TTLT/BTC-BGDDT are currently very inappropriate to reality. For example: policy scholarship levels, rewards, support for personal items, support for school supplies, support for transportation costs for students; the content and support levels for schools are no longer suitable to current market prices.

Students of the Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities - High School of Dien Bien Dong district, Dien Bien province - Photo: VGP

This is also the concern of most teachers and students in ethnic minority boarding schools as well as vocational training schools. As shared by Mr. Vu Xuan Hong, Principal of Dien Bien Dong District Ethnic Minority Boarding High School (Dien Bien Province), when entering school, 10th grade students are supported by the school with one-time personal items such as: cotton blankets, mosquito nets, personal mats, cotton jackets, nylon raincoats, pants, long-sleeved shirts (uniforms)... However, blankets, mosquito nets, and mats are easily damaged, so it is difficult for students to use them throughout the 3 years of high school. Students are in the age of development, so cotton jackets and uniforms cannot be used throughout the 3 years of school.

Or with the transportation fee support regime, in Joint Circular No. 109/2009/TTLT/BTC-BGDĐT, it is stipulated that students are supported with money once a year (both round trip) to visit their families during Tet or summer vacation. However, according to Mr. Hong, many areas in ethnic minority and mountainous areas do not have public transportation, so it is not possible to calculate the transportation fee for students...

The shortcomings in the financial regime in Joint Circular No. 109/2009/TTLT/BTC-BGDĐT have been amended and supplemented in Decree No. 66/2025/ND-CP. Specifically, with the support regime for travel expenses, from 2025, students of ethnic minority boarding schools and vocational training schools will be provided with travel expenses twice on the occasion of Lunar New Year and summer vacation (both round trip); in cases where there is no public transportation in the area, it will be calculated based on the distance and regular fare of public transportation in other similar areas.

According to the assessment of the Ministry of Education and Training, the adjustment and supplementation of policies for children in kindergartens, students, and trainees in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, especially disadvantaged communes in coastal areas, islands, and educational institutions with children in kindergartens and students enjoying policies in Decree No. 66/2025/ND-CP is very necessary, in accordance with the Party's guidelines and policies on ethnic policies, the policies of the National Assembly and the Government; meeting the aspirations and expectations of the people.

The policy from Decree No. 66/2025/ND-CP will resonate with the decision to exempt tuition fees for students from kindergarten to high school nationwide starting from the 2025-2026 school year, creating more motivation for students from disadvantaged areas to go to school, build a future for themselves and their families, and contribute to the development of the country in the new era.

Along with the policy under Decree No. 66/2025/ND-CP and tuition exemption from the 2025-2026 school year, ethnic minority students whose houses are far from school are expecting to live in spacious dormitories in the near future. At the ceremony to announce the National Assembly's Resolution on the establishment of the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions on March 1, 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh assigned the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions to coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to immediately develop a project on building boarding schools nationwide in 2025 so that students can have boarding schools without having to travel far, not having to walk dozens of kilometers to go to school, and at the same time take care of their food and accommodation.

Son Hao