Decree No. 66/2025/NĐ-CP stipulates policies for preschool children, students, and trainees in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, coastal fringe areas, islands, and educational institutions benefiting from such policies.

DECREE

REGULATING POLICIES FOR CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTENS, STUDENTS, AND LEARNERS IN AREAS WITH ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AND MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS, COASTAL AREAS, ISLANDS, AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT BENEFIT FROM SUCH POLICIES

BASED ON THE LAW ON GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION dated February 18, 2015;

Pursuant to the Education Law dated June 14, 2019;

BASED ON THE CHILDREN LAW dated April 5, 2016;

BASED ON RESOLUTION NO. 41/2021/QH15 dated November 13, 2021 of the National Assembly on the questioning activities at the second session of the 15th National Assembly;

At the proposal of the Minister of Education and Training;

THE GOVERNMENT ISSUES THIS DECREE TO REGULATE POLICIES FOR CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTENS, STUDENTS, AND LEARNERS IN AREAS WITH ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AND MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS, COASTAL AREAS, ISLANDS, AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT BENEFIT FROM SUCH POLICIES.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

THIS DECREE REGULATES POLICIES FOR CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTENS, STUDENTS, AND LEARNERS IN AREAS WITH ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AND MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS, POORLY DEVELOPED COMMUNITIES IN COASTAL AREAS, ISLANDS, AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT BENEFIT FROM SUCH POLICIES, INCLUDING: APPLICABLE OBJECTS, CONDITIONS, PRINCIPLES, LEVEL OF POLICY BENEFITS, PROCEDURES FOR REVIEWING POLICY BENEFITS, DISTRIBUTION OF RICE AND FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES FOR CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTENS, STUDENTS IN GENERAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS, PRE-UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, AND LEARNERS IN CONTINUOUS EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN AREAS WITH ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AND MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS, POORLY DEVELOPED COMMUNITIES IN COASTAL AREAS, AND ISLANDS.

Article 2. Applicability

1. OBJECTS OF CHILDREN IN KINDERGARTENS, STUDENTS, AND LEARNERS INCLUDE:

a) CHILDREN IN DAY-CARE KINDERGARTENS ATTENDING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION;

b) DAY-SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTENDING GENERAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS;

c) DAY-SCHOOL LEARNERS ATTENDING CONTINUOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE LOWER SECONDARY AND UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVELS;

d) ETHNIC MINORITY BOARDING STUDENTS ATTENDING GENERAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS DESIGNATED BY AUTHORIZED AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE ETHNIC MINORITY BOARDING STUDENT EDUCATION, VIETNAM NORTH HIGH SCHOOL, FRIENDSHIP 80 SCHOOL, FRIENDSHIP T78 SCHOOL;

đ) PRE-UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ATTENDING PRE-UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS, VIETNAM NORTH HIGH SCHOOL.

2. OBJECTS OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT BENEFIT FROM POLICIES INCLUDE:

a) PUBLIC EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS PROVIDING LUNCH AND AFTERNOON NAP SERVICES FOR DAY-CARE KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN;

b) ETHNIC MINORITY DAY-SCHOOL SCHOOLS, GENERAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS PROVIDING LUNCH AND ACCOMMODATION SERVICES FOR DAY-SCHOOL STUDENTS;

c) ETHNIC MINORITY BOARDING SCHOOLS, GENERAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS DESIGNATED BY AUTHORIZED AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE ETHNIC MINORITY BOARDING STUDENT EDUCATION, PRE-UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS, FRIENDSHIP 80 SCHOOL, FRIENDSHIP T78 SCHOOL, VIETNAM NORTH HIGH SCHOOL BENEFITTING FROM POLICIES UNDER THIS DECREE FOR ETHNIC MINORITY BOARDING STUDENTS AND PRE-UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Decree, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. DAY-CARE KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN ARE CHILDREN AGED FROM 3 MONTHS TO 3 YEARS ATTENDING AND EATING LUNCH AND SLEEPING AT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS MEETING THE CONDITIONS SET OUT IN CLAUSE 1, ARTICLE 4 OF THIS DECREE.

2. DAY-SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS ATTENDING GENERAL EDUCATION SCHOOLS MEETING THE CONDITIONS SET OUT IN CLAUSE 2, ARTICLE 4 OF THIS DECREE, REMAINING AT SCHOOL OR NEARBY TO STUDY DURING THE WEEK BECAUSE THEY CANNOT TRAVEL TO AND FROM SCHOOL DAILY.

3. DAY-SCHOOL LEARNERS ARE LEARNERS ATTENDING CONTINUOUS EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT THE LOWER SECONDARY AND UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVELS MEETING THE CONDITIONS SET OUT IN CLAUSE 3, ARTICLE 4 OF THIS DECREE, REMAINING NEAR THEIR PLACE OF STUDY DURING THE WEEK BECAUSE THEY CANNOT RETURN HOME DAILY.

4. POORLY DEVELOPED COMMUNITIES INCLUDE: COMMUNITIES IN AREA III, POORLY DEVELOPED VILLAGES IN AREAS WITH ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS AND MOUNTAINOUS REGIONS; POORLY DEVELOPED COMMUNITIES IN COASTAL AREAS, ISLANDS ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONS OF AUTHORIZED AUTHORITIES.

Chapter II
CONDITIONS, PRINCIPLES, AND BENEFIT LEVELS OF THE POLICY

Article 4. Conditions for Enjoying the Policy for Children in Boarding Kindergartens, Students in Boarding Schools, and Trainees in Boarding Training Centers

1. Children in boarding kindergartens must meet one of the following conditions:

a) Children who are permanent residents of communes, villages with special difficulties and are studying at public kindergarten institutions located in communes in Region III, Region II, Region I, communes with special difficulty villages among ethnic minorities and mountainous areas, communes with special difficulties in coastal, seaside, and island areas;

b) Ethnic minority children who are permanent residents of communes in Region II, Region I in ethnic minority and mountainous areas and are studying at public kindergarten institutions located in communes in Region III, Region II, Region I, communes with special difficulty villages among ethnic minorities and mountainous areas, communes with special difficulties in coastal, seaside, and island areas, and fall under one of the following cases:

Children belonging to poor households according to the multi-dimensional poverty standard as prescribed by the Government;

Children without a source of support as defined in Clause 1, Article 5 of Decree No. 20/2021/NĐ-CP dated March 15, 2021 of the Government on social assistance policies for beneficiaries of social welfare;

Children of martyrs, children of Heroes of the People's Armed Forces, children of war invalids, children of persons receiving benefits equivalent to those of war invalids, children of other policy beneficiaries as stipulated in the Preferential Treatment Ordinance for Persons Contributing to the Revolution (if applicable);

Children with disabilities attending inclusive education.

2. Students in boarding schools must meet one of the following conditions:

a) Elementary school students and lower secondary school students studying at general education institutions (or branch schools) located in communes in Region III, Region II, Region I, communes with special difficulty villages among ethnic minorities and mountainous areas, communes with special difficulties in coastal, seaside, and island areas, living more than 4 kilometers away from their school for elementary school students and more than 7 kilometers away for lower secondary school students, or living in difficult terrain with transportation difficulties requiring passage through seas, lakes, rivers, streams, mountains, highlands, landslides, rocks, and falling under one of the following cases:

The student themselves and their father or mother or guardian are permanent residents of communes, villages with special difficulties;

Ethnic minority individuals belonging to poor households according to the multi-dimensional poverty standard as prescribed by the Government, and the student themselves and their father or mother or guardian are permanent residents of communes in Region II, Region I in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

b) Upper secondary school students studying at general education institutions, living more than 10 kilometers away from their school or living in difficult terrain with transportation difficulties requiring passage through seas, lakes, rivers, streams, mountains, highlands, landslides, rocks, and falling under one of the following cases:

The student themselves and their father or mother or guardian are permanent residents of communes, villages with special difficulties;

Han Chinese individuals belonging to poor households according to the multi-dimensional poverty standard as prescribed by the Government, and the student themselves and their father or mother or guardian are permanent residents of communes, villages with special difficulties.

Ethnic minority individuals belonging to poor households according to the multi-dimensional poverty standard as prescribed by the Government, and the student themselves and their father or mother or guardian are permanent residents of communes in Region II, Region I in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

3. Trainees in boarding training centers studying at regular education institutions where the trainee themselves and their father or mother or guardian are permanent residents of communes, villages with special difficulties, living more than 7 kilometers away from their place of study for trainees studying the regular education program at the lower secondary level, more than 10 kilometers away for trainees studying the regular education program at the upper secondary level; or living in difficult terrain with transportation difficulties requiring passage through seas, lakes, rivers, streams, mountains, highlands, landslides, rocks, and falling under one of the following cases:

They are ethnic minorities;

They are Han Chinese individuals belonging to poor households according to the multi-dimensional poverty standard as prescribed by the Government.

Article 5. Principles for Enjoying Policies

1. Children attending daycare centers, students, and trainees who fall under the application objects of policies stipulated in this Decree and also under the application objects of similar policies prescribed in other regulatory legal documents shall only enjoy the highest level of such policy.

2. Students and trainees who are entitled to receive preferential allowances, social allowances, and scholarships for academic encouragement shall still be entitled to enjoy the policies stipulated in this Decree.

3. If students and trainees are held back in their studies, they will still be entitled to enjoy the policies stipulated in this Decree during their first year of retention. In cases where students and trainees must temporarily stop their studies due to illness, accidents, or force majeure not caused by disciplinary actions or voluntary withdrawal, they will still be entitled to enjoy the support policies stipulated in this Decree during the period of temporary cessation of studies.

Article 6. Levels of Enjoyment of Policies for Boarding Daycare Children, Boarding Students, Boarding Trainees, Ethnic Minority Boarding Students, and University Preparatory Students

1. Policy for Boarding Daycare Children

Lunch Support: Each daycare child will receive a monthly support of 360,000 VND and can enjoy it for no more than 9 months per academic year.

2. Policy for Boarding Students and Boarding Trainees

a) Food Support: Each student and trainee will receive a monthly support of 936,000 VND and can enjoy it for no more than 9 months per academic year;

b) Housing Support: Each boarding student and boarding trainee who must arrange their own accommodation because the school cannot provide accommodation within the school premises or because first-grade and second-grade students and disabled students require nearby accommodation for family care will receive a monthly support of 360,000 VND and can enjoy it for no more than 9 months per academic year;

c) Rice Support: Each student and trainee will receive a monthly support of 15 kg of rice and can enjoy it for no more than 9 months per academic year;

d) First-grade boarding students from ethnic minority groups who study Vietnamese before entering the first-grade curriculum will receive an additional one month of support under points a, b, and c of Clause 2 of this Article.

3. Policy for Ethnic Minority Boarding Students and University Preparatory Students

a) Policy Scholarship: As stipulated in Article 9 of Decree No. 84/2020/NĐ-CP dated July 17, 2020, detailing certain provisions of the Education Law;

b) Awards: During the academic year, students who achieve the title of "Outstanding Student" will receive a reward of 800,000 VND per student; students who achieve the title of "Excellent Student" will receive a reward of 600,000 VND per student;

c) Provision of Personal Items and Study Materials

Ethnic minority boarding students at each educational level and university preparatory students will be provided with personal items and study materials once in kind: Blanket, mosquito net, and other personal items with a budget of 1,080,000 VND per student;

Each academic year, students will be provided with two sets of uniforms and study materials including: Notebooks, paper, pens, and other learning tools with a budget of 1,080,000 VND per student;

d) Travel Allowance: Ethnic minority boarding students will be provided with travel allowance twice a year during Tet holiday and summer vacation (round trip) according to the regular fare of public transportation means (in cases where there is no public transportation, it will be calculated based on the distance and regular fare of public transportation means in a similar area of the province). University preparatory students and final-year ethnic minority boarding students will only be provided with travel allowance once during the Tet holiday (round trip);

đ) Rice Support: Each student will receive a monthly support of 15 kg of rice and can enjoy it for no more than 9 months per academic year.

Article 7. Level of Enjoyment of Policies for Educational Institutions

1. Preschool education institutions with boarding children shall enjoy the following policies:

a) They shall be supported with funds to purchase paper, comic books, colored wax, pencils, toys, and other learning materials and personal items such as blankets, mosquito nets for boarding children at a budget of VND 1,350,000 per boarding child per academic year;

b) They shall be supported with electricity and water costs for educational activities and daily living of boarding children at a rate of 5KW of electricity per month per boarding child and 1 cubic meter of water per month per boarding child according to local pricing regulations, and this support shall not exceed 9 months per academic year. In places where conditions for providing electricity and water services are not available or have been interrupted, the institution may use the budget to purchase lighting equipment and clean water for the children;³ water/month/boarding preschool child at the price prescribed by the locality and may enjoy up to nine months/school year. In places where conditions for providing electricity and water services are not available or where there is a loss of electricity and water, the school is allowed to use funds to purchase lighting equipment and clean water for children;

c) To be supported with funding to manage the noon period for groups of preschool children: Each group of fifteen children aged from three to twelve months, including at least four boarding preschool children, shall receive one standard; each group of twenty children aged from thirteen to twenty-four months, including at least six boarding preschool children, shall receive one standard; each group of twenty-five children aged from twenty-five to thirty-six months, including at least eight boarding preschool children, shall receive one standard of seven hundred thousand VND/month/group of preschool children and may enjoy up to nine months/school year. The remainder exceeding fifty percent of the number of preschool children and boarding preschool children in each group shall be counted as one standard.

c) They shall be supported with funds to implement midday management for groups of preschool children: For each group of 15 children aged from 03 to 12 months, including at least 04 boarding children, they shall receive 01 standard; for each group of 20 children aged from 13 to 24 months, including at least 06 boarding children, they shall receive 01 standard; for each group of 25 children aged from 25 to 36 months, including at least 08 boarding children, they shall receive 01 standard of VND 700,000 per month per group of preschool children, and this support shall not exceed 9 months per academic year. The excess number of children over 50% of the total number of children in each group shall be counted as 01 standard.

2. Boarding secondary schools shall enjoy the following policies:

a) They shall be invested in physical infrastructure and equipment in accordance with the Government's regulations on investment conditions and operations in the field of education;

b) They shall be supported with funds to purchase, supplement, and repair sports equipment, musical instruments, video recording devices, and other items serving cultural, artistic, and sports activities for boarding students at a support level of VND 180,000 per boarding student per academic year;

c) They shall be supported with funds to organize annual health check-ups for boarding students, establish a shared medicine cabinet for students, and purchase common medicines sufficient to meet disease prevention requirements and initial first aid needs at a support level of VND 180,000 per boarding student per academic year;³ water/month/boarding student at the price prescribed by the locality and may enjoy up to nine months/school year. In places where conditions for providing electricity and water services are not available or where there is a loss of electricity and water, the school is allowed to use funds to purchase lighting equipment and clean water for students;

d) They shall be supported with electricity and water costs for educational activities and daily living of boarding students residing at school at a rate of 15KW of electricity per month per boarding student and 3 cubic meters of water per month per boarding student according to local pricing regulations, and this support shall not exceed 9 months per academic year. In places where conditions for providing electricity and water services are not available or have been interrupted, the institution may use the budget to purchase lighting equipment and clean water for students;

e) To be supported with funding to manage boarding students outside class hours as follows: For every forty-five boarding students, one standard support of two million fifty thousand VND/month is enjoyed; the remainder of twenty boarding students or more is counted as one standard. In cases where the number of boarding students is less than forty-five, one standard is counted. The support period does not exceed nine months/school year.

đ) They shall be supported with funds to serve meal preparation for boarding students residing at school as follows: For every 45 boarding students, they shall receive 01 standard support of VND 4,738,500 per month, and any excess number of students over 20 shall be counted as 01 standard. If there are fewer than 45 boarding students, they shall still receive 01 standard. The support period shall not exceed 9 months per academic year;

e) They shall be supported with funds to manage boarding students outside class hours as follows: For every 45 boarding students, they shall receive 01 standard support of VND 2,050,000 per month, and any excess number of students over 20 shall be counted as 01 standard. If there are fewer than 45 boarding students, they shall still receive 01 standard. The support period shall not exceed 9 months per academic year.

3. Secondary education institutions organizing centralized accommodation and meals for boarding students (excluding boarding secondary schools) shall enjoy the following policies:

a) They shall be supported with the policies stipulated in points b, c, đ of Clause 2 of this Article;

b) They shall be supported with investments in physical infrastructure and equipment to serve learning, accommodation, and daily living for boarding students in accordance with point a of Clause 2 of this Article, based on the number of boarding students and existing financial resources;

c) They shall be supported with electricity and water costs and funds to manage boarding students as stipulated in points d, e of Clause 2 of this Article.

4. Residential secondary schools for ethnic minorities and preparatory universities shall enjoy the following policies:

a) They shall be invested in physical infrastructure and equipment in accordance with the Government's Decree on investment conditions and operations in the field of education;

b) They shall be provided with funds to organize special educational activities, cultural, artistic, and sports activities, and to purchase and supplement equipment for student activities at a support level equal to 5% of the scholarship fund of the students;

c) They shall be provided with funds to organize annual health check-ups for students, establish a shared medicine cabinet for the residential area, and purchase common medicines sufficient to meet disease prevention requirements and initial first aid needs at a level of VND 270,000 per student per academic year; purchasing health insurance for students in accordance with regulations;

d) They shall be provided with funds to organize Tet and ethnic festivals (if applicable) for students who remain at school and do not return home at a rate of VND 180,000 per student per stay;

đ) They shall be provided with funds to purchase, supplement, and repair dining hall and kitchen equipment at a rate of VND 180,000 per student per academic year;

e) They shall be provided with funds to purchase textbooks so that each student can borrow a set of textbooks according to their grade. Each year, the school can purchase additional textbooks not exceeding 10% of the number of textbooks in the school library;³ g) They shall be supported with funds to make student ID cards and personal badges, primary enrollment work, graduation exams, and final course exams at a rate of VND 180,000 per student per academic year;

h) They shall be supported with electricity and water costs for educational activities and daily living of students at a rate of 25KW of electricity per month per student and 4 cubic meters of water per month per student according to local pricing regulations, and this support shall not exceed 9 months per academic year;

i) They shall be supported with funds to serve meal preparation for students as follows: For every 45 students, they shall receive 01 standard support of VND 4,738,500 per month, and any excess number of students over 20 shall be counted as 01 standard. The support period and enjoyment shall not exceed 9 months per academic year;

l) Secondary general education institutions that are assigned to implement the task of educating boarding students (excluding boarding secondary schools for ethnic minorities) shall enjoy policies stipulated in Points b, c, d, đ, e, g, h, i, k Clause 4 of this Article based on the number of boarding students from ethnic minorities and shall be supported with investment in physical infrastructure and equipment serving learning, accommodation, and daily life for boarding students from ethnic minorities according to Point a Clause 4 of this Article depending on available financial resources.

Chapter III
PROCEDURE FOR REVIEWING CHILDREN IN BOARDING KINDERGARTENS, STUDENTS,

STUDENTS ENJOYING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES,

APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTING FINANCIAL SUPPORT, RICE ASSISTANCE

Article 8. Procedure for reviewing children in boarding kindergartens and the process, procedures for granting financial support

1. Documents

a) Parents or caregivers of children who fall under the category specified in Clause 1 Article 4 of this Decree submit the Application Form for Enjoying Policies for Children in Boarding Kindergartens according to Model No. 01 as prescribed in the Appendix attached to this Decree;

b) For children in kindergartens who fall under the category specified in Point b Clause 1 Article 4 of this Decree, parents or caregivers of such children must additionally submit one of the following documents in cases where the agency or organization cannot extract residential information of citizens from the National Population Database:

A copy accompanied by the original for comparison or a certified true copy of the Certificate or Confirmation of Poverty issued by the People's Committee at the commune level;

A copy accompanied by the original for comparison or a certified true copy of the confirmation document issued by the People's Committee at the commune level or social welfare institution regarding the status of orphaned, abandoned children or other cases as stipulated in Clause 1 Article 5 of Decree No. 136/2013/NĐ-CP dated October 21, 2013 of the Government on social assistance policies for beneficiaries of social welfare; a copy accompanied by the original for comparison or a certified true copy of the Adoption Certificate for orphaned, abandoned children or other cases as stipulated in Clause 1 Article 5 of Decree No. 136/2013/NĐ-CP;

A copy accompanied by the original for comparison or a certified true copy of the Confirmation issued by the competent authority regarding the status of children of martyrs, heroes of the People's Armed Forces, war invalids, persons enjoying benefits similar to those of war invalids, and children of other policy beneficiaries as prescribed in the Preferential Treatment Ordinance for Those Contributing to the Revolution (if applicable);

A copy accompanied by the original for comparison or a certified true copy of the Disability Confirmation issued by the People's Committee at the commune level or the Decision on Social Allowance issued by the Chairman of the People's Committee at the district level.

2. Receiving applications, approving lists of children in boarding kindergartens and granting financial support

a) In August each year, early childhood education institutions organize wide dissemination and notification and guide parents or caregivers of children in boarding kindergartens to submit applications for enjoying policies for children in boarding kindergartens;

b) Within 15 days from the date of notification by the early childhood education institution, parents or caregivers of children in boarding kindergartens send one set of application documents as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article through the online public service portal or postal service or directly to the early childhood education institution. Each applicant submits one set of application documents for one initial request for support during their entire time at the early childhood education institution. In particular, children in boarding kindergartens from poor households must submit additional Proof of Poverty annually if agencies or organizations cannot extract residential information of citizens from the National Population Database.

The early childhood education institution receives and checks the components of the application documents. If the submitted copies have not been certified by the competent authority, the person receiving the documents is responsible for comparing them with the originals, signing to confirm the copies, and including them in the application file. If the application is incomplete or does not comply with regulations, it will be required to supplement the missing information. In case the application does not meet requirements, within five working days from the date of receipt of the application for enjoying policies for children in boarding kindergartens, the early childhood education institution sends a notice of non-receipt of the application and the reasons to the parents or caregivers of the children.

c) Within ten days from the deadline for submitting applications, the early childhood education institution compiles a list of children in boarding kindergartens according to Model No. 02 attached to the Request Form according to Model No. 08 prescribed in the Appendix attached to this Decree and the application documents as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article and sends them through the online public service portal or postal service or directly to the Department of Education and Training under direct management for review and consolidation;

d) Within seven working days from the date of receipt of the application documents from the early childhood education institution, the Department of Education and Training organizes the verification of the application documents, consolidates the financial support for children in boarding kindergartens (Model No. 03 prescribed in the Appendix attached to this Decree) and sends it to the finance department at the same level. Within seven working days from the date of receipt of the application documents from the Department of Education and Training, the finance department consolidates and submits to the People's Committee at the district level for approval in accordance with the State Budget Law;

đ) Within seven working days from the date of receipt of the application documents from the finance department, the People's Committee at the district level issues a decision to approve the list of children in boarding kindergartens according to Model No. 09 prescribed in the Appendix attached to this Decree. Within three working days from the date of issuance of the decision, the People's Committee at the district level sends a notice of the results of the approval to the early childhood education institution;

Immediately upon receipt of the decision of the competent authority approving the list of children in boarding kindergartens, the early childhood education institution publicly announces and implements the disbursement of support.

Article 9. Procedure for reviewing boarders among students and trainees and the process, procedures for granting financial support, rice assistance

1. Documents

a) Students and trainees who fall under the categories specified in Clauses 2 and 3 of Article 4 of this Decree submit the Application Form for Enjoying Policies for Boarding Students (according to Model No. 04) and the Application Form for Enjoying Policies for Boarding Trainees (according to Model No. 05) as prescribed in the Appendix attached to this Decree;

b) In the case of students from poor households, they must submit a copy along with the original for verification or a certified copy of the Certificate or Confirmation of Poverty issued by the People's Committee at the commune level when the agency or organization cannot access the citizen's residential information in the National Population Database.

2. Receiving applications

a) At the beginning of each school year, boarding schools for ethnic minorities, general secondary schools with boarding students, and regular education centers with boarding learners shall widely disseminate, announce, and guide parents or guardians and students who are eligible to prepare their application files according to the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article.

b) Within fifteen days from the date of announcement by boarding schools for ethnic minorities, general secondary schools with boarding students, and regular education centers, each applicant must submit one set of application file according to the provisions of Clause 1 of this Article through the online public service portal or postal service or directly to the educational institution (one set of application file for each initial request for policy benefits for the entire grade level). In cases where the household is classified as poor and the agency or organization cannot access the citizen's residential information in the National Population Database, additional proof of poverty status must be submitted annually.

The educational institution shall receive and check the components of the application file. If the submitted copy has not been certified by the competent authority, the person receiving the file shall verify it against the original, sign and confirm on the copy to include it in the file. If the application file is incomplete or does not comply with regulations, the educational institution shall request supplementary information. In cases where the application file does not meet requirements, within five working days from the date of receipt of the application file, the educational institution shall notify the non-receipt of the application file and specify the reasons.

c) After the deadline for submitting application files, within seven working days, the educational institution shall organize the review of application files that meet the conditions for benefiting from the boarding student policy as stipulated in Clauses 2 and 3 of Article 4 of this Decree. Immediately upon completion of the review results, the educational institution shall establish and publicly announce the list of boarding students according to Model No. 06 specified in the Appendix attached to this Decree at its office within three working days.

3. Approving the list of boarding students and providing rice support and funding implementation

a) Upon expiration of the public announcement period for boarding students, no later than three working days, educational institutions under the People's Committee at the district level shall submit the application file to the Department of Education and Training through the online public service portal or postal service or directly; educational institutions under the People's Committee at the provincial level shall submit the application file to the Department of Education and Training through the online public service portal or postal service or directly. The application file includes:

List of boarding students (according to Model No. 06) and the proposal for approval (according to Model No. 08) specified in the Appendix attached to this Decree;

Budget proposal for requesting funding for meals, accommodation, and rice support for boarding students (according to Model No. 07) specified in the Appendix attached to this Decree.

b) Within seven working days from the date of receipt of the application file from educational institutions, the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Education and Training shall organize the examination and consolidation of the application file and send it to the financial department at the same level. Within seven working days from the date of receipt of the application file from the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Education and Training, the financial department shall consolidate and submit it to the People's Committee at the same level. Within seven working days from the date of receipt of the application file from the financial department, the People's Committee shall issue a decision approving the list of boarding students according to Model No. 09 specified in the Appendix attached to this Decree. Within three working days from the date of receipt of the decision from the financial department, the People's Committee shall notify the result of the approval to the educational institution.

Immediately upon receipt of the approval decision from the competent authority regarding the list of boarding students, the educational institutions shall have the responsibility to publicly announce and implement the policy for boarding students.

Article 10. Procedures and formalities for requesting funding and rice support for ethnic minority boarding students and preparatory university students

1. Application files for requesting funding and rice support include:

Budget proposal for requesting funding and rice support;

List of ethnic minority boarding students and preparatory university students currently studying at the school.

2. Educational institutions under the People's Committee at the district level shall submit the application file to the Department of Education and Training; educational institutions under the People's Committee at the provincial level shall submit the application file to the Department of Education and Training. Preparatory universities, School 80, School T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School shall submit the application file to the direct management agency.

3. Within seven working days from the date of receipt of the application file from educational institutions, the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Education and Training shall consolidate the application file and send it to the financial department at the same level. Within seven working days from the date of receipt of the application file from the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Education and Training, the financial department shall consolidate and submit it to the People's Committee at the same level. Within seven working days from the date of receipt of the application file from the financial department, the People's Committee shall issue a decision approving the application file according to Model No. 09 specified in the Appendix attached to this Decree. Within three working days from the date of receipt of the decision from the financial department, the People's Committee shall notify the result of the approval to the educational institution.

Within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the application file from preparatory universities, School 80, School T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School, the direct management agency of the schools shall issue a decision approving the application file according to Model No. 09 specified in the Appendix attached to this Decree; notify the result of the approval to the schools within three working days.

4. Immediately upon receipt of the approval decision from the competent authority, preparatory universities, general secondary schools tasked with educating ethnic minority boarding students, School 80, School T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School shall have the responsibility to publicly announce and implement the policy.

Article 11. Procedure for organizing the distribution of rice to students and trainees

1. Developing a plan to support rice

Annually, the Provincial People's Committee shall develop plans on the demand for rice support for boarding students and trainees, and ethnic minority students living in dormitories within the province; ministries and central agencies directly managing preparatory universities, School of Friendship 80, School of Friendship T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School shall develop plans on the demand for rice support for ethnic minority students living in dormitories and preparatory university students, including:

a) The total number of students and trainees receiving rice support according to each category and each school;

b) Aggregate the quantity of rice needed to be supported (for the entire school year);

c) The time expected to receive rice during the school year must clearly state the date and month of receiving rice (according to the number of rice reception periods per semester of the school year).

2. The Provincial People's Committee and ministries and central agencies directly managing preparatory universities, School of Friendship 80, School of Friendship T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School shall report their plans on the demand for rice support for students and trainees to the Ministry of Finance before July 15th every year.

3. Based on reports from provincial people's committees and ministries and central agencies directly managing preparatory universities, School of Friendship 80, School of Friendship T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School, the Minister of Finance shall issue a Decision on the export of rice support for students and trainees in accordance with regulations; the Decision on rice support shall be issued before August 15th every year.

4. Method of transportation and delivery

a) National reserve units organize the transportation of national reserve rice to support students and trainees and hand it over to the provincial rice receiving unit at the district, county, town, city centers of the supported provinces. The Provincial People's Committee assigns a provincial rice receiving unit to receive national reserve rice support for students and trainees. The provincial rice receiving unit is responsible for organizing the receipt of rice on the transport means of the delivering party at the district, county, town, city centers of the province; guiding and directing the Departments of Education and Training and educational institutions under the provincial people's committee to organize the transportation of rice back to educational institutions for distribution to the supported recipients;

b) National reserve units directly transport national reserve rice to support students to preparatory universities, School of Friendship 80, School of Friendship T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School. Rice is handed over on the transport means of the delivering party.

5. Time of delivery and receipt of rice: National reserve units organize the delivery and receipt of rice according to the request of the Provincial People's Committee and ministries and central agencies directly managing preparatory universities, School of Friendship 80, School of Friendship T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School twice per semester (four times per academic year); the first time before September 1st every year.

6. Management of the export and use of rice support for students and trainees

a) The Ministry of Finance is responsible for organizing the export of national reserve rice to support students and trainees according to the time specified in Clause 5 of this Article;

b) The Provincial People's Committee directs and guides the receipt, distribution, and use of national reserve rice support for students and trainees in the locality. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee is responsible under the law for the management, distribution, and use of rice support for students and trainees in the locality;

c) Preparatory universities, School of Friendship 80, School of Friendship T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School receive, manage, and use rice provided to students of their schools. Principals of these schools are responsible under the law for the receipt, management, and use of the provided rice;

d) At the end of each academic year, the Provincial People's Committee and ministries and central agencies directly managing preparatory universities, School of Friendship 80, School of Friendship T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School shall submit reports on the results of the receipt, use, and distribution of rice to students and trainees to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education and Training for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

7. Regarding the handling of national reserve rice that has been exported

a) In case localities or preparatory universities, School of Friendship 80, School of Friendship T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School actually need less rice than stipulated in the Decision of the Minister of Finance, the national reserve unit shall implement the export according to actual needs;

b) In case localities or preparatory universities, School of Friendship 80, School of Friendship T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School have a greater actual need for rice support during the academic year than stipulated in the Decision of the Minister of Finance, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and the heads of ministries and central agencies managing preparatory universities, School of Friendship 80, School of Friendship T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School shall review and submit a written request for additional rice support to the Ministry of Finance before December 31st every year. The Ministry of Finance shall implement additional rice support for students and trainees within the scope of the academic year, not issuing additional rice support when the academic year has ended.

8. Regarding the quality of exported rice and the management of the quality of national reserve rice exports

a) The quality of national reserve rice exports must meet the standards for national reserve rice warehouse release as stipulated in the national reserve rice standard issued by the Minister of Finance;

b) During the process of delivery and receipt of rice, all parties (national reserve units delivering rice and units assigned the task of receiving rice) shall establish a delivery and receipt record; organize sampling of rice (with confirmation from all parties), agree on sealing the rice samples, and retain them at both the delivering and receiving sides; rice samples must be carefully preserved for comparison (if necessary) in case there are any reflections on quality issues.

Educational institutions directly receiving rice support are responsible for safely preserving the quantity and quality of the received rice; they bear full responsibility for any management and preservation issues leading to damage, reduced quality, or insufficient quantity of the received rice.

Chapter IV
ESTABLISHMENT, ALLOCATION, MANAGEMENT AND

SETTLEMENT OF EXPENSES AND SOURCES OF FUNDS

Article 12. Procedures for budget preparation, allocation, and settlement of expenses

1. Budget Preparation: Annually, at the time of preparing the state budget, educational institutions base on the number of children in kindergartens, students, and trainees benefiting from policies to compile lists and prepare budgets for supporting these children, students, and trainees, as well as supporting educational institutions (excluding rice support).

a) Educational institutions under district-level authorities submit to the District Education and Training Department for review and consolidation, which then forwards to the financial authority at the same level to present to the People's Committee at the district level for consideration and allocation of the budget for implementation.

b) Educational institutions under provincial-level authorities submit to the Provincial Education and Training Department for review and consolidation, which then forwards to the financial authority at the same level to present to the People's Committee at the provincial level for consideration and allocation of the budget for implementation.

c) The Preparatory University, Friendship School 80, Friendship School T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School submit to their direct management authority for review, consideration, and allocation of the budget for implementation.

2. Allocating budgets

a) The People's Committee at the provincial level presents to the People's Council at the same level for decision on the allocation of funds for implementing policies within the local education and training expenditure budget according to regulations.

b) Central ministries and agencies directly managing preparatory universities, Friendship School 80, Friendship School T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School decide on the allocation of funds for implementing policies within the central education and training expenditure budget according to regulations.

3. Managing and settling accounts for funds

a) Educational institutions allocated funds for implementing policies for kindergarten children, students, and trainees are responsible for managing and using the funds for their intended purposes in accordance with the State Budget Law and submitting the settlement report on policy implementation funds stipulated in this Decree to the superior management authority for consolidation and forwarding to the financial authority at the same level before July 20 each year as the basis for determining and allocating the budget for the planning year.

b) Settlement figures for policy expenditures for kindergarten children, students, and trainees are included in the annual settlement report on state budget expenditures of the unit in accordance with current regulations of the State Budget Law, guiding documents of the Law, and the current State Budget Manual.

c) The food support funds for boarding kindergarten children specified in Clause 1, Article 6 of this Decree are implemented twice during the school year: the first payment covers four months in December each year; the second payment is made in April each year. Food support and accommodation support funds for boarding students and trainees specified in points a and b of Clause 2, Article 6 of this Decree are paid monthly. Educational institutions implement the provision of support to beneficiaries in accordance with regulations through bank transfers or direct distribution.

d) The preparation, allocation, management, use, and settlement of funds for policy implementation shall be carried out in accordance with current regulations of the State Budget Law, Accounting Law, Public Investment Law, and guiding documents currently in effect.

Article 13. Sources of Funds for Policy Implementation

1. The funds for implementing the policies stipulated in this Decree include:

a) The state budget includes: the central budget and local budgets implementing policies in accordance with the State Budget Law, Public Investment Law, and current guiding documents.

The funds for policy implementation under this Decree are balanced in the annual state budget expenditure plan according to the current administrative levels. The central budget supports local budgets in implementing policies stipulated in Clause 1, points a, b, and d of Clause 2, Article 6; point a of Clause 1, points b, c, and đ of Clause 2, and point a of Clause 3, Article 7 of this Decree based on the principle of targeted support from the central budget to local budgets for social welfare policies issued by the Central Government, decided by the competent authority for application in each period.

b) Socialized education capital and other legally raised funds (if any).

2. Rice support from the national reserve to implement policies stipulated in point c of Clause 2 and point đ of Clause 3, Article 6 of this Decree. Transportation costs for rice from district, county, town, and city centers (city) to educational institutions (direct users of rice) are balanced in the annual regular expenditure budget according to the current administrative levels.

Chapter V
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 14. Implementation Organization

1. Ministry of Education and Training

a) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to direct localities to implement the contents prescribed in this Decree;

b) Guide the Friendship School 80 and Friendship School T78 to specify the list of personal items and study materials provided to boarding ethnic minority students; select meal service options for boarding ethnic minority students that are suitable for actual conditions and beneficiaries to effectively implement the support policy.

c) Organize and direct inspections and supervision of the implementation of policies stipulated in this Decree. Implement the reporting system of administrative agencies according to the regulations of the Government.

2. Ministry of Finance

a) Ensure funding for policy implementation under this Decree in accordance with current budget classification regulations.

b) Issue decisions on the release of national reserve rice to support students and trainees based on requests from localities and central ministries and agencies directly managing preparatory universities, Friendship School 80, Friendship School T78, and Northern Highlands General Secondary School, ensuring alignment with the timing and changes in the number of students and trainees benefiting from the policy in each semester of the academic year; report to the Prime Minister on the results of releasing national reserve rice according to regulations.

c) Present to the competent authority to ensure funding for purchasing additional quantities of national reserve rice released and supplying sufficient rice to localities implementing policies under this Decree.

d) Take the lead in consolidating and presenting to the Government and the Prime Minister medium-term and annual public investment plans to strengthen infrastructure for educational institutions with beneficiaries of policies under this Decree approved by the competent authority according to the Public Investment Law and guiding documents.

đ) Take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to inspect the management and use of funds and rice support for beneficiaries of policies stipulated in this Decree. Implement the reporting system of administrative agencies according to the regulations of the Government.

e) Coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training and relevant ministries and sectors to inspect the use of capital for constructing physical facilities for educational institutions benefiting from policies under this Decree.

3. Ministry of Ethnic Affairs and Religion

a) Direct and guide the implementation of policies and inspect and supervise the implementation of policies at educational institutions within their management scope as prescribed in this Decree;

b) Guide preparatory university schools and the Northern Mountain General Secondary School to establish a list of personal items and study materials provided to preparatory university students and boarding ethnic minority students; select meal service models suitable for boarding ethnic minority students and preparatory university students based on actual conditions and beneficiaries to effectively implement support policies;

c) Coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training and relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to direct, inspect, and supervise the implementation of policies stipulated in this Decree. Implement administrative reporting procedures as prescribed by the Government;

4. Responsibilities of the People's Councils and People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities (referred to collectively as provincial level);

a) Provincial People's Councils

The policies set forth in this Decree are defined at a minimum level. Based on the budget balance capacity of the locality, the Provincial People's Council may issue additional support policies for preschool children, students, trainees, and educational institutions beyond those specified in this Decree;

b) Provincial People's Committees

Direct and guide the implementation of policies as prescribed in this Decree, including guidance on selecting meal service models and using funds for meal services for boarding students and ethnic minority boarding students in accordance with actual conditions and beneficiaries to effectively implement support policies; inspect and supervise the implementation and implement administrative reporting procedures as prescribed by the Government;

Ensure funding for policy implementation as prescribed in this Decree;

Issue documents to specify:

Based on the provisions of Clause 2 and Clause 3, Article 4 of this Decree and the actual conditions of the locality, specify the specific areas serving as the basis for determining students and trainees who cannot travel to school and return home in one day, including specifying distances, areas with difficult terrain, transportation difficulties requiring crossing seas, lakes, rivers, streams, passes, high mountains, landslides, and rockfalls to determine students and trainees eligible for support policies;

Based on the provisions of Point c, Clause 3, Article 6 of this Decree, specify the detailed list of personal items and study materials provided to students in ethnic minority boarding secondary schools and general secondary education institutions authorized to carry out ethnic minority boarding student education tasks, suitable for each region, area, grade level, and current general education curriculum;

Develop annual budget estimates, report to the Provincial People's Council to decide on measures to ensure financial resource balance for policy implementation in the locality; organize inspections, audits, and financial reviews of the budget execution and settlement processes of subordinate budget units in accordance with the State Budget Law, Investment Law, and current guiding documents;

Based on the budget balance capacity of the locality, develop additional support policies for preschool children, students, trainees, and educational institutions beyond those specified in this Decree, including support content and levels for ethnic minority boarding students, boarding students, final-year boarding high school trainees, and educational institutions for graduation exam preparation, submit to the Provincial People's Council for consideration and decision.

Article 15. Effectiveness and Responsibility for Implementation

1. This Decree takes effect from May 1, 2025, and replaces Decree No. 116/2016/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2016, on policies to support students and general secondary schools in particularly difficult communes and villages, and Circular Joint Circular No. 109/2009/TTLT/BTC-BGDĐT dated May 29, 2009, of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education and Training on guiding certain financial regimes for students at boarding schools for ethnic minorities and preparatory universities for ethnic minorities.

2. The policies stipulated in Decree No. 116/2016/NĐ-CP and Joint Circular No. 109/2009/TTLT/BTC-BGDĐT shall be implemented until the end of 2024. The policies stipulated in this Decree shall be implemented from 2025.

3. The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under central cities, and relevant organizations and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Decree.