The Government has just issued Decree No. 353/2026/ND-CP regulating universal preschool education for children from 5 to 6 years old, compulsory education and literacy. This Decree takes effect from November 1, 2020.
According to the Decree, the subjects of universal preschool education for children from 5 to 6 years old are children from 5 to 6 years old who have not completed the preschool education program.
The education program to implement universal preschool education for children from 5 to 6 years old is the Preschool Education Program issued by the Minister of Education and Training.
The implementation of universal preschool education for children from 5 to 6 years old is organized through educational institutions under the national education system and educational institutions under the armed forces according to the provisions of law.
The Decree clearly states that the state prioritizes investment and ensures conditions to implement universal preschool education for children aged 5 to 6 years old.
Children who are subject to universal preschool education for children aged 5 to 6 years old are entitled to tuition fee exemption, reduction, and support policies; supporting tuition fees and other support policies according to the provisions of law on education, children, people with disabilities, ethnic minority policies, social assistance and related laws.
Teachers, management officials of educational institutions and people assigned or mobilized to participate in universalizing preschool education for children from 5 to 6 years old are entitled to regimes and policies suitable to their positions, tasks and working areas according to the provisions of law on teachers, officials, civil servants, public employees, laborers and related laws.
Agencies, organizations, businesses, communities, international organizations, foreigners and overseas Vietnamese participating in investing, sponsoring, assisting or supporting the implementation of universal preschool education for children from 5 to 6 years old, compulsory education and literacy are subject to incentive and preferential policies in accordance with the provisions of law on education, investment, tax, land, sponsorship, aid and related laws.
The Decree also stipulates the standards for recognizing the achievement of universal preschool education standards for children from 5 to 6 years old:
1. For individuals: Complete the preschool education program for children from 5 to 6 years old.
2. For communes:
a) The mobilization rate of children aged 5 to 6 to attend classes reaches at least 95%; for communes with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions, it reaches at least 90%;
b) The rate of children completing preschool education programs for children aged 5 to 6 years old annually reaches at least 85%; for communes with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions, it reaches at least 80%.
