In Mường Thanh ward, Nguyễn Thị Hồng, a mother with a child in Grade 6, shared that for years the joy of the new school year was always mixed with constant worries. Tuition fees, uniforms, textbooks, and boarding expenses were never small amounts for a family with average income. “Now that tuition fees are waived, we can breathe easier and focus on providing other practical things for our children,” she said. This simple story shows that a humane policy only truly comes to life when it eases the everyday concerns of the people.

In upland communes where many households still struggle, tuition fees used to be a significant barrier to children’s schooling. For Lò Văn Dũng in Mường Ảng commune, who has three children in school, the tuition exemption is a great relief. “In the past, I often worried about not being able to pay tuition, sometimes even considered pulling one child out of school. Now that fees are waived, our family feels lighter and the children can continue their studies without interruption. For us, this is genuine happiness,” he shared.

Parents’ joy is also a source of motivation for students. Hoàng Thảo My, a Grade 9 student at Mường Ảng Secondary School, said: “I saw my parents so happy when they heard the news about tuition exemption. I told myself that I must study harder because the State has cared so much for us.”

From the teachers’ perspective, Bùi Thị Việt Hà, a teacher at Mường Ảng Secondary School, explained that in previous years, every new school year brought the worry of persuading students to attend, often meeting parents’ concerns about tuition fees. Now that burden has been lifted, teachers have more space to innovate teaching methods and improve quality, feeling more assured in their mission of imparting knowledge.

Looking back at previous years, students in Điện Biên had to pay tuition fees of VND 50,000 per month for preschool, primary, lower secondary, and continuing education at lower secondary level, while upper secondary and continuing education at upper secondary level were VND 100,000 per month. From this school year onward, all students at every level benefit from tuition exemption. Moreover, in the 2025-2026 school year, students in the province will also receive a 70% subsidy for health insurance from both the state and local budgets.

In Điện Biên, where many highland and remote students still walk long distances to school and families depend on shifting cultivation, this policy ensures that no child is kept from school because of financial hardship. At the same time, it strengthens people’s trust in the leadership of the Party and the State.

However, tuition exemption is only the beginning. Taking care of the young generation does not stop at helping them “go to school” but must ensure they “study well and complete their education.” Once the worry of tuition has been removed, greater responsibilities are placed on the education sector, teachers, parents, and society as a whole: to manage resources effectively, create a friendly learning environment, nurture life skills, and inspire aspirations for advancement.

When going to school no longer carries the burden of tuition, every step becomes steadier, and every family gains more faith in tomorrow. The care of the Party and the State, the dedication of teachers, and the support of parents are creating a strong embrace to protect the future generation - those who will continue the journey of building a prosperous and thriving homeland.