Vietnam Announces Enhanced Aid for Boarding Students

Post by : Shakul

The Vietnamese government has rolled out an extensive support initiative aimed at assisting students enrolled in boarding institutions and schools situated in border communities. This initiative is governed by Decree 188/2026/ND-CP, which was issued on May 27, 2026, with the goal of enhancing educational accessibility and living standards for children in underserved regions.

Under the updated policy, students in midday boarding programs will benefit from a monthly meal allowance of 450,000 Vietnamese Dong for as many as nine months during the academic year. Full boarding students will receive a more substantial monthly food allowance of 1.17 million Vietnamese Dong, aimed at alleviating family financial burdens and promoting continuous school attendance.

The decree also focuses on strengthening food security by offering rice provisions to eligible students. Midday boarding attendees will be allocated eight kilograms of rice monthly, while full boarding students will receive an allotment of fifteen kilograms each month. This aid will be available for a maximum duration of nine months each school year, ensuring that students meet their basic nutritional requirements throughout their educational journey.

In addition to food support, the government is set to provide financial assistance for school essentials and personal items. Each year, students in boarding schools will receive a funding amounting to 2.05 million Vietnamese Dong intended for uniforms, stationery, notebooks, and learning resources. Full boarding students are also entitled to a one-time support package for personal items such as blankets and mosquito nets, valued at the same amount.

Special provisions are made for first-grade ethnic minority students participating in Vietnamese language preparation classes before commencing primary education. These students will enjoy an extra month's worth of meal and rice assistance, supporting their smoother adaptation to academic life and enhancing educational success.

Moreover, boarding schools will see an increase in government funding. Priority will be given to the infrastructure, updating educational tools, and maintaining facilities. Schools will obtain operational funding of 100,000 Vietnamese Dong per student each month for up to nine months annually, ensuring stable functioning and enhanced learning environments.

Additional resources will be allocated for health evaluations, welfare services, cultural and sports programming, educational initiatives, as well as expenses for utilities, kitchen facilities, and student management. Authorities emphasized that this policy aims for transparency in execution while bolstering educational prospects for students living in some of Vietnam’s most challenging geographic locales. Officials are optimistic that this broadened support framework will help mitigate educational disparities and foster long-term socio-economic advancement across the nation.