Students at the Hà Nội National University of Education. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tùng

HÀ NỘI — The policy of giving monthly financial support for pedagogical students has been implemented from 2021, but after two years, many have not received any money.

The Government’s Decree 116 regulated that from 2021, students at pedagogical schools are supported with tuition fees and VNĐ3.63 million (US$152) per month to pay for living expenses during their studies.

The support period is regulated to not exceed 10 months per school year with the money coming from the State budget.

However, until now, students in many educational schools in different localities have received nothing.

A report of the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) sent to the Prime Minister in February this year said that planned fund for the work by the end of last year were more than VNĐ1.6 trillion (US$67 million).

The State budget allocated to schools was more than VNĐ1.1 trillion ($46.1 million), meeting 73 per cent of the demand.

The remaining money needed is about VNĐ438 billion ($18.3 million).

The MoET asked the Ministry of Finance to appraise and report to the Prime Minister to make up the shortfall.

In schools, learners constantly complained that for many months they have not received their allowance.

One pupil at the Nha Trang National College of Pedagogy said that students at this school received support every three months from 2021 to the end of last year.

"But in 2023, the payment for students has stopped,” she said.

Nguyễn Trung Triều, principal of the Nha Trang National College of Pedagogy, told Thanh Niên (Young People) newspaper that the school had 387 students that enrolled in 2021 and 293 last year.

Students enrolled in 2021 received allowance till the end of November last year, but are now six months out of pocket.

Those enrolled last year received the support until the end of February this year, and have not been paid the allowance for four months.

"The cause of this late payment is that the college is being funded slowly,” he said.

A student of the Sài Gòn University also said that most of the students entered the university in 2021, now are in their third year at the university, had not received any support from Decree 116 even though they applied a long time ago.

All pedagogical students entered the university last year are in the same situation.

The university's representative confirmed with the Thanh Niên (Young People) newspaper that up to now, the school's students have not received any allowance. — VNS