Authorities of Vietnam’s southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City have approved to spend VND20.2 billion ($971,150) this year to support students of families, who are on or below the poverty line, state media reported Aug 16. This is part of the city’s plan to give financial assistance to poor students in the 2012-2015 period which has been recently approved by the municipal People’s Council. Under the plan, children of low-income families will enjoy school fee reduction or exemption. Specifically, students from families with an average income of more than VND10 million-VND12 million per person per year will enjoy 50% exemption on tuition fees while students from families with average income of less than VND10 million per person per year will enjoy 100% tuition fee exemption. As many as 1,500 students will benefit from the support, an official from the municipal People’s Council said, adding that the assistance will help them continue their education dreams in the context of local economic uncertainties. Earlier, local authorities planned to spend VND2.5 billion to support poor laborers to study foreign languages for working abroad and vocational training for laborers working in suburban districts. (Saigon Giai Phong –Saigon Liberation Aug 16 p1)
