The Hanoi People's Council on December 4 approved a resolution to raise tuition fees at high-quality public schools from the academic year of 2020-2021, local media reported.

In particular, the monthly tuition fee per pupil at the 14 best educational institutions in the city will increase by VND400,000 (US$17.2).

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Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training Chu Xuan Dung said that the 14 public schools include seven kindergartens and two elementary schools, four secondary schools and one high school.

Currently, the preschool and elementary schools are allow to collect a maximum tuition fee of VND5.1 million (US$219.3) per month while a fee of VND5.3 million (US$227.9) per month is applied at junior secondary and high schools.

After four school years, the average tuition fee of the 14 high-quality public schools is below the authorized ceiling and proceeds from fee collection have been able to cover the schools’ recurrent spending.

The tuition fees will be raised every year from the 2020-2021 school year.

The Hanoi People's Committee claimed the fees are affordable for the city’s residents. Pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds won't be affected.

The municipal government will communicate the new tuition fees to all residents and organizations and tighten control over extra classes in an attempt to ensure transparency in the education sector.