On the afternoon of July 9, continuing the 25th session, the Hanoi People's Council passed a Resolution regulating the mechanism for supporting boarding meals for primary school students in Hanoi in the 2025-2026 school year, with an absolute consistency.
According to the submission of the Hanoi People's Committee, the development of support policies aims to implement the suggestive opinions of General Secretary To Lam at the meeting with voters before the 9th session of the 15th National Assembly on April 17, 2025 and continue to pay attention to the education cause, school policies, ensure teaching and learning quality, and create the best learning conditions for children in the capital.
According to the submission, students studying at educational institutions in mountainous areas and communes on the banks of the Red River are supported with 30,000 VND/student/day.
Primary school students studying at educational institutions in the remaining area are supported with 20,000 VND/student/day.
In case parents and schools agree on a higher food allowance than the state's support level, the difference will be collected from students (ensuring the minimum food allowance is 30,000 VND/student/day).
The support is applied to primary school students studying at educational institutions in Hanoi who voluntarily participate in using boarding services (excluding educational institutions with foreign investment).
According to calculations, the estimated cost of supporting boarding meals for 100% of primary school students in the 2025-2026 school year is more than VND 3,063 billion (public VND 2,824 billion; private VND 239 billion).
The number of Hanoi primary school students supported is about 768,000%, of which public is 707,720; private is 60,270.
The Hanoi People's Committee explains that support for primary schools is because this school has the largest number of students compared to other levels. Primary school is a compulsory level of education with two sessions a day, and all schools organize boarding meals. Regarding the facilities for serving boarding meals, schools basically meet the needs such as dining rooms, kitchens, tables and chairs, equipment and items for organizing boarding meals...
Next, primary school students are at the age of strong physical and intellectual development, requiring adequate energy and nutrition, so organizing boarding meals for 100% of students at school is necessary.
In addition, students can have lunch at school, parents will not have to take their children in the middle of the class, save time and effort, thereby focusing on work.
After implementing the policy for primary school students in the 2025-2026 school year, based on the actual situation and the ability to balance the budget, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training will summarize and coordinate with relevant units to report to the City People's Committee on supporting the remaining school levels.
The city has explained that the reason for not supporting boarding meals for students studying at foreign-invested educational institutions is that most of the students here are foreigners, all from families with economic conditions, willing to pay tuition and boarding meals many times higher than that of public and private educational institutions.
In addition, students studying at these educational institutions often fluctuate because their children depend on their parents' working and residing time in Vietnam.
According to statistics, the whole city currently has 778 primary schools (728 public; 50 private schools). Of which, 22 schools are in mountainous communes and communes on the banks of the Red River.
