Reducing financial burden
Early in the morning, Ms. Pham Thi Nga (residing in Kim Chung commune, Dong Anh district, Hanoi) was busy taking her 3-year-old daughter to a private kindergarten nearly 1km from her home. One hand carries a bag of food and milk for the child, the other hand carries the things to work, to be on duty at 7.30.
Ms. Nga, 31 years old, from Phu Tho, is an assembly worker at an electronics factory. After giving birth to her second child, she had to return to work early because she was worried about losing her job. However, having children is always a constant worry for the couple. "public schools often prioritize people with household registration, but it is not suitable for overtime. I have to send my children to private schools, spending more than 2 million VND per month on food" - she shared.
Her husband drives a technology car from morning to night, with an unstable income, only about 7-8 million VND per month. The eldest son is studying in grade 4 at a public primary school near a boarding house, and luckily he will soon be exempted from tuition fees. However, the cost of living in a 15m2 rented room with an attic, plus tuition for young children, often makes the family's economy difficult.
Therefore, the information about the expected tuition support for private school students from the 2025-2026 school year makes Ms. Nga full of hope. "If we are supported with a part of the tuition fee, my husband and I will feel less pressure, can save for our children or take care of them when they arise" - she confided. According to her, if this policy is put into practice, it will help workers reduce the financial burden.
Sending both children to a private school
Not only Ms. Nga's family, thousands of illegal workers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong... are forced to choose private schools due to circumstances. Public schools often lack seats, enrollment is based on household registration, while workers work by shift, so there is only one way to send their children to private schools.
Ms. Nguyen Thuc Hien (renting a room in Nhue village, Kim Chung commune, Dong Anh district, Hanoi) is such a case. Ms. Hien and her husband have 2 children, one of whom is 5 years old this year, studying at a private kindergarten.
"My wife and I don't have grandparents to help, while public schools have to pick up at 4:30 p.m., but I have to finish work at 5:30 p.m. In addition, the private school also organizes daycare for the children on Saturdays" - Ms. Hien said.
According to Ms. Hien, if she sends her child to a public school, she has to pick him up early; if she has to send him to the teachers, she has to pay for extra hours. Each day, she spends an additional 10,000-20,000 VND; the whole month, she spends an additional 300,000-400,000 VND to send her children for extra hours.
"Therefore, private sector is the most feasible choice for workers' families like us" - Ms. Hien said.
Each month, the female worker has to pay a tuition fee of 1.4 million VND/month; the monthly allowance is 150,000 VND and food allowance.
Currently, her child is a subject of State support for monthly food expenses of VND240,000/month. After deducting the amount of food support, she has to pay a total of 2.1 million VND to go to school for her child per month.
Compared to sending her children to public schools, she had to pay about 600,000-700,000 VND/month when her child attended private school. However, according to her, the public school or many other revenues, while the private school only "encapsulated" in a revenue to the school. The second child was just 1 year old, but Hien planned to send a private school later.
I am very looking forward to and hopeful about the information expected at the beginning of the school year after the tuition reduction policy for students in private schools. This policy will reduce difficulties for workers' families like us" - Ms. Hien expressed.
