The year 2025 was a pivotal one for Vietnam’s education sector, marked by policy breakthroughs that brought lasting structural changes and widespread impact across all levels of learning.

Free public school tuition across the nation

Among the most significant reforms was the national decision to waive tuition fees for all students enrolled in public schools, from preschool through high school.

On February 28, 2025, after evaluating fiscal feasibility amid governmental streamlining efforts, the Politburo approved the tuition exemption policy. It officially took effect in the 2025–2026 academic year.

Subsequently, on June 26, 2025, the National Assembly passed a resolution that not only reaffirmed this exemption for public school students but also included partial financial support for those enrolled in private schools following the national education program.

This milestone brought immense relief to millions of families and fulfilled a long-standing aspiration of the Vietnamese education sector.

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General Secretary To Lam attends the 2025–2026 school year opening ceremony and the 80th anniversary of the education sector. Photo: VGP

At the school year’s opening ceremony, General Secretary To Lam emphasized the importance of equal educational access, especially for children in remote, border, island, and disadvantaged areas. He also underscored the need for increased investment in school facilities, student nutrition, teaching staff, and digital infrastructure.

He noted that not only has free tuition been implemented nationwide, but many provinces have also begun providing free lunches to students in full-day schooling programs. Education, he stated, should nurture both intellect and character, cultivating a generation that is “capable, compassionate, and resilient” for the nation's development in a new era.

One unified national textbook series selected

On August 22, 2025, General Secretary To Lam signed Politburo Resolution No. 71, which called for comprehensive reform in education and training.

Among its directives was a mandate for a unified national textbook series, with a goal of providing these textbooks free of charge to all students by 2030.

On December 26, the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) selected the "Connecting Knowledge to Life" series by Vietnam Education Publishing House as the official nationwide curriculum, beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.

According to MoET, this series meets all selection criteria: it covers all subjects across all grade levels, has demonstrated academic and pedagogical quality in 34 provinces, and offers a stable, scalable supply chain. Its familiarity among teachers, students, and parents also minimizes disruption during the transition.

The unified textbook series aims to ensure equal access to knowledge nationwide. Its continuity from grade 1 through 12 helps mitigate the learning gaps faced by students who transfer schools, especially in migrant or disadvantaged communities. The ministry is also working toward full textbook subsidies by 2030, further reducing the financial burden on families.

Middle school diploma abolished; high school diploma now issued by principals

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Students in Hanoi celebrate the start of the new school year. Photo: Hoang Ha

On December 10, 2025, the National Assembly passed amendments to the Education Law, redefining Vietnam’s national qualifications framework.

Under the new law, the list of official diplomas includes: high school diploma, vocational and technical certificates, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctorate, and special professional training certifications.

Notably, the middle school diploma has been eliminated. Students who complete lower secondary education and meet the criteria will have their achievement certified in their academic records by the school principal. High school graduates will receive official diplomas issued by their principals.

Nationwide restructuring of schools from preschool to university

2025 marked the beginning of a strategic reorganization of Vietnam’s educational institutions, aimed at creating a more efficient and high-quality network from preschool to higher education.

The Ministry of Education and Training instructed local governments to assess all educational institutions based on student population, teacher and staff resources, and infrastructure. Based on these evaluations, provinces were required to develop restructuring plans - including mergers, closures, or the establishment of new facilities - prioritizing efficiency and avoiding resource waste.

Permanent Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong emphasized that this restructuring was not merely a numbers game but a quality-driven process aimed at improving learning conditions and teachers' work environments. Small or underutilized satellite campuses would be considered for mergers, while overcrowded schools would be expanded or split.

This reorganization also includes Vietnam’s university system. According to Minister Nguyen Kim Son, underperforming or substandard institutions will be merged or closed. Some research institutes will be integrated into universities, and certain universities will be placed under local government management. Around 140 public universities (excluding those under military, police, or private control) are included in the review. The goal is to reduce fragmentation and foster sustainable development.

Teacher Law passed; recruitment and management authority restructured

On June 16, 2025, the 15th National Assembly passed the Teacher Law - Vietnam’s first legal document defining the roles, responsibilities, and rights of educators.

The law establishes teachers’ salaries as the highest within the public sector pay scale, with additional allowances based on region, job duties, hardship zones, and inclusive education responsibilities. These changes aim to improve teacher income and status.

Crucially, the law formalizes teacher ethics, outlining standards in interactions with students, colleagues, parents, and society. It emphasizes role modeling, integrity, and professionalism in education.

For the first time, the education sector now has more autonomy in hiring and managing teachers. Public universities and vocational institutions can independently recruit staff to address regional shortages and build better faculty teams.

Additionally, a new resolution on special mechanisms and policies, effective January 1, 2026, delegates authority for public school hiring to provincial directors of education and commune-level chairpersons. This change is expected to resolve long-standing human resource bottlenecks in the education sector.

Thanh Hung