Welcoming new joy
For many families of workers and laborers in industrial parks or working for hire, preparing for the new school year is always a big concern. Tuition fees, books, uniforms, and health insurance (HI) are constantly piling up at the beginning of the school year, causing many people to struggle, even borrowing money.
However, the 2025-2026 school year has brought a new breeze when many support policies have been applied, helping parents ease their burden.
With 2 school-age children, Ms. Dinh Thi Huyen (a freelancer working for hire at a restaurant in Can Tho City), and her husband who works as a security guard, often have a hard time at the beginning of the new school year, because their monthly income is just enough to cover their living expenses.
A few years ago, at the beginning of the school year, the whole family worried. The tuition fee, then the money to buy books and health insurance for the two children was also limited to a few million. My wife and I have to spend frugally to save money. This year is different, hearing that my two children have just been exempted from tuition fees and have also been supported with health insurance contributions, the family is very happy because the economic burden has decreased significantly," Ms. Huyen said.
Similarly, Ms. Le Thi Chua (a worker in Tra Noc Industrial Park, Can Tho City), whose daughter is just entering grade 6, also expressed her joy about the tuition exemption policy and support of at least 50% of the health insurance premium.
According to the female worker, with the situation of escalating prices, the monthly salary is almost just enough to cover expenses in the family. Therefore, the first months of the new school year are always a big concern for families because they lack the right time to take care of their children's education.
Having left his hometown of Ca Mau to Can Tho for 5 years, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tai (a worker at Tra Noc Industrial Park) said that at the beginning of each school year, he and his wife often have to ask for additional grandparents in the countryside to take care of their children's education.
"The couple's salary is just enough to live in the city. The children's education is the largest expense. Being exempted from tuition fees and supported to pay health insurance, no matter how little or much, will help my family reduce a big worry, Mr. Tai shared.
Improving the quality of life for children
Saving on large expenses such as tuition and health insurance not only reduces financial pressure but also helps Ms. Huyen's family have more conditions to invest in their children's education.
Ms. Huyen said that the money saved from these fees will be used by the couple to buy clothes as well as reference books and better quality school supplies for their two children.
"In previous years, seeing my children having to wear old clothes made me feel so sorry but I had to endure. This year, we will buy new uniforms and quality school supplies to help them study better, Ms. Huyen confided.
For Ms. Chua, the remaining amount will be used to buy a new bicycle for her daughter to go to school: "My house is quite far from school. In the past, children had to walk or walk with acquaintances. Now that I have a bicycle, I can take the initiative to go to school, and I am more assured to exercise.
As for Mr. Tai, this saved money will help improve family life, especially taking care of his children more carefully: "Not only do we have to borrow money at the beginning of each school year to make ends meet, my wife and I still have a little extra to buy more milk and nutritional foods to take care of their children's better development".
