The Ninh Binh Provincial People's Council announced a resolution on August 4th, effective immediately, outlining scholarships and stipends for specialized high school students. This makes Ninh Binh the first province after the merger to enact such a policy.
The three specialized high schools are Le Hong Phong (formerly in Nam Dinh province), Luong Van Chanh (formerly in Ninh Binh province), and Bien Hoa (formerly in Ha Nam province).
Students will receive stipends at two levels. The first level is 1.6 million VND per month for students residing in the following communes and wards: Tay Hoa Lu, Dong Hoa Lu, Nam Hoa Lu, Y Yen, Dong A, Thien Truong, Vi Khe, My Loc, Thanh Nam, Truong Thi, Nam Ly, Hong Quang, Ha Nam, Phu Van, Chau Son, Liem Ha, and Liem Tuyen.
The second level is 2.4 million VND per month for students in all other communes and wards, excluding Hoa Lu, Nam Dinh, and Phu Ly – the three former city centers before the merger. Students participating in the national excellent student competition will receive an additional 0.82 million VND per month for a maximum of 4 months per year.
In addition to the stipends, students will also receive scholarships at three levels: 1.3 million VND per month (for students and teams participating in national or higher-level excellent student competitions and scientific research); 1.1 million VND (for those winning third prize in provincial-level excellent student competitions and scientific research); and 0.9 million VND (for the remaining students who meet certain academic requirements).
Students will receive support for a maximum of 9 months per academic year. For scholarships, students who meet multiple criteria will only receive the highest applicable amount.
These amounts represent an overall increase compared to previous levels. For instance, the former Ha Nam province provided 0.82 million VND per month for students on competition teams, with scholarships ranging from 0.5 to 1 million VND.
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Students of Bien Hoa Specialized High School during the opening ceremony of the 2024-2025 school year. Photo: School's Fanpage |
Students of Bien Hoa Specialized High School during the opening ceremony of the 2024-2025 school year. Photo: School's Fanpage
Most provinces and cities have support policies for specialized high school students, but the amounts vary based on local conditions. Quang Ninh, for example, provides a monthly meal allowance of 0.6 million VND, prioritizes dormitory accommodation, and supports electricity and water costs for students living 15 km or more from Ha Long Specialized High School. In the former Quang Ngai province, ethnic minority students from disadvantaged areas attending specialized high schools received 1.3 million VND.
Regarding scholarships, the common practice in many localities is to provide scholarships equivalent to three times the tuition fee approved by the People's Council for students with a grade point average of 8.5 or higher. Students who excel at the provincial or national level receive higher amounts.
Thanh Hang
