This Decree takes effect from September 3, 2025, replacing Decree 81/2021/ND-CP and Decree 97/2023/ND-CP of the Government . The Decree consists of 6 chapters and 29 articles.

According to this new Decree, the regulations on tuition fee framework (floor - ceiling) or tuition fee ceiling of all levels and tuition fee roadmap inherit the provisions of Decree 81/2021/ND-CP and Decree 97/2023/ND-CP.

In addition to inheriting previous regulations, the new decree supplements and provides specific instructions according to Resolution No. 217/2025/QH15 such as exempting tuition fees for preschool children, high school students, and students studying general education programs at public educational institutions.

At the same time, the decree clearly states that the subjects eligible for tuition support include:

- Preschool children, high school students, and students of general education programs (students studying continuing education programs at junior high and high school levels) in private educational institutions in the national education system.

- Postgraduate students with master's, doctoral, level I specialist, level II specialist, resident physician specializing in psychiatry, pathology, forensic medicine, forensic psychiatry, infectious diseases and emergency resuscitation at private educational institutions in the health sector.

According to the Decree, the State directly provides tuition exemption, reduction, and tuition support for subjects eligible for tuition exemption, reduction, and support studying in non-public and private educational institutions in the national education system as follows:

- The level of tuition support for students at private and non-public preschools, private general education institutions, and private educational institutions implementing general education programs is prescribed by the People's Councils of provinces and centrally-run cities according to the Government's tuition framework but does not exceed the tuition fees of private and non-public institutions.

- The level of tuition exemption and reduction for students at vocational training institutions and private universities is based on the actual tuition fees of the training institution for each industry and major, but is not higher than the tuition fee ceiling of public vocational training institutions and universities that are not self-sufficient in regular expenses corresponding to each industry and group of industries as prescribed in Articles 9 and 10 of this Decree.

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Illustration: Thanh Hung.

The method of implementing tuition exemption and support for learners is also regulated in the direction of maximum administrative procedure reform. Specifically, preschool children and primary school students do not need to submit applications for tuition exemption and support; at the same time, regulations are made on the method of handling administrative procedures through exploiting electronic data available in the National Population Database, other specialized databases and supplementing the form of submitting documents through the national public service portal to facilitate learners.

Implemented from the 2025-2026 school year

The Decree clearly stipulates the authority of state management, principles of price determination, pricing roadmap and clarifies the content of services serving and supporting educational activities to ensure consistency in implementation.

Pursuant to Decree 238/2025/ND-CP, the Government assigns ministries, central agencies, local authorities and educational institutions to urgently prepare sufficient conditions and resources to implement policies on tuition fees, exemption, reduction, support for tuition fees, support for study costs and service prices in the field of education and training right from the 2025-2026 school year, ensuring completeness and timeliness.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/hoc-sinh-truong-dan-lap-tu-thuc-duoc-ho-tro-hoc-phi-2439305.html