Vietnam Government Orders Thorough Review of Support for Disadvantaged Students

The Vietnamese government has ordered an urgent nationwide review to ensure that support policies for students facing economic hardship and those designated as policy beneficiaries are effectively implemented at the local level. This directive follows media reports highlighting the plight of some schools appealing to the community for donations of rice and essential supplies. Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has instructed the Ministers of Education and Training, Finance, and Home Affairs, as well as the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and cities, to address this issue decisively. Specifically for Dien Bien province, the Prime Minister has called for a swift investigation into the reported issues and the full, timely implementation of all support policies mandated by the central and local governments. He also mandated the proactive mobilization of legitimate resources to ensure that disadvantaged students have the essential conditions for learning and daily life. Furthermore, Prime Minister Hung has directed the Chairpersons of provincial and city People's Committees to meticulously review the implementation of policies for children, students, and trainees, particularly those in boarding schools, schools in ethnic minority areas, and those in particularly disadvantaged communes along coastal areas, as well as students from poor or near-poor households, policy beneficiaries, vulnerable groups, and individuals in difficult circumstances. They are to promptly devise solutions for issues within their authority and report matters exceeding their mandate to higher authorities. The Ministry of Education and Training, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and relevant ministries, agencies, and localities, is tasked with urgently reviewing the implementation of policies for disadvantaged children, students, and trainees nationwide. Particular attention will be paid to issues arising after administrative unit reorganizations. A comprehensive report and proposed solutions are to be submitted to the Prime Minister by 2:00 PM on September 3, 2026. Additionally, the Ministry is to expedite the review, amendment, supplementation, and adjustment of related policies, including those for students in boarding schools. These adjustments should consider factors such as place of residence, travel distance, transportation conditions, terrain, and the actual circumstances of the learners. A report on these policy revisions is to be submitted to the Prime Minister within September 2026. This directive underscores the Vietnamese government's commitment to social welfare policies within its one-party system and its efforts to address educational disparities, particularly in rural and ethnic minority regions. While Vietnam continues its economic growth, challenges remain in ensuring that its benefits reach all citizens equitably.