On October 5, at the regular Government press conference in September, the press raised questions about the recurrent situation of overcharging for many years, voluntary socialization contributions are still made mandatory.
Responding to this issue, Deputy Minister of Education and Training (MOET) Le Tan Dung affirmed that recently, the Ministry of Education and Training, as well as authorities at all levels, have issued many documents to rectify and remind the situation of overcharging at educational institutions across the country, in many different forms.
For the 2025-2026 school year, the ministry issued Document No. 5542 dated September 12, 2025 to ministries, branches, localities and educational institutions on the implementation of tuition policies, tuition exemptions and support in the field of education and training.
However, according to press reports and from practice, there is still a situation of overcharging, or turning from voluntary to mandatory. Faced with that reality, Mr. Le Tan Dung said that the Ministry of Education and Training has identified and implemented groups of tasks and solutions including both short-term and long-term to rectify and handle this situation.
Accordingly, the ministry has issued a document requesting all levels and sectors to strictly implement educational policies, specifically regulations on tuition fees, tuition exemptions and support in accordance with Decree No. 238 dated September 3, 2025 of the Government.
This is a decree issued on the basis of a National Assembly resolution, which clearly stipulates the subjects eligible for tuition exemption, reduction, and support. Therefore, the first requirement is to strictly and decisively implement this decree.
The management and regulation of service fees for education and training activities must be decided by competent authorities.
"prohibit all educational institutions from setting up fees that are contrary to the provisions of law or beyond the authority of the management agency," said Deputy Minister Le Tan Dung.
According to the Deputy Minister of Education and Training, the reality in recent times shows that there is still a situation of mobilization, collection and use that is not in accordance with regulations, so the Ministry of Education and Training requires ensuring compliance with procedures and legality.
The leaders of the ministry also requested units to strictly implement the disclosure and posting of information about prices, educational equipment, and textbooks in the area, ensuring publicity and transparency so that parents, students, and management levels can monitor.
This is a very important task group, aiming to increase transparency in financial management at educational institutions.
Through the Ministry's monitoring, many localities have directed educational institutions in the area to properly implement the list of issued revenues. The Ministry requires not to combine many fees; not to collect many fees in advance; not to take advantage of the name of the parent-teacher association to collect in violation of regulations.
"In fact, this phenomenon still exists in some places. However, in recent times, many localities, especially provincial and commune-level authorities, have implemented very drastic instructions to overcome the above situation" - said the Deputy Minister of Education and Training.
The Ministry will strengthen inspection, supervision and strict handling of violations. When receiving feedback and petitions, the ministry will conduct an administrative inspection to promptly detect and handle them according to the provisions of law.
The Ministry of Education and Training also recommends that the agencies of the National Assembly, the National Assembly Standing Committee, and the monitoring delegations regularly pay attention to and supervise this field at both the central and local levels.
The Ministry also requested local Party committees and authorities, especially provincial and commune levels, to regularly inspect, examine, and promptly direct the rectification of violations at educational institutions in the area.
