10 proposed service fees for public schools in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is proposing 10 service fees that public schools will be allowed to collect, including transportation, air conditioning, daycare, breakfast, and health checkups.

On 18/7, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training announced it is seeking public input on a draft resolution outlining service fees, collection methods, and management of education support services in schools for the 2025-2026 academic year.

The Department stated that the resolution consolidates service fees from the former Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, and Ba Ria - Vung Tau provinces before their merger, ensuring no disruption to school operations or student benefits.

9 of the 10 fees remain unchanged from last year's rates in the former Ho Chi Minh City. The new fee covers dormitory services in schools with boarding facilities.

The proposed service fees for public schools in Ho Chi Minh City for the 2025-2026 school year are as follows:

Students and parents complete enrollment procedures for grade 10 at Le Quy Don High School, Ho Chi Minh City, on 8/7. Photo: Le Quy Don High School

Group 1 includes children and students attending schools located in wards (urban areas). Group 2 covers those in communes (rural areas) and special zones. After merging with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City now comprises 113 wards, 54 communes, and the Con Dao special zone.

According to the draft resolution, the Department sets a ceiling for each fee, representing the maximum amount schools can collect. Based on specific circumstances and student needs, schools will agree on the exact amount with parents, not exceeding the ceiling and not increasing more than 15% compared to the previous school year.

The collection principle is to cover expenses, align with the reality of the school year, and be approved by the competent authority. Schools must use the collected fees for their intended purpose and publicly disclose the budget plan to parents beforehand.

Starting next school year, public preschool and K-12 students nationwide will be exempt from tuition fees, following a National Assembly resolution in June. After the merger, Ho Chi Minh City's education system now serves over 2.5 million preschool and K-12 students, the largest in the country.