The policy aims to assist learners in covering tuition, living expenses, and other study-related costs throughout their education. Implementing this decision, the Điện Biên provincial Branch of the Bank for Social Policies has been actively deploying and accelerating the disbursement of this capital, creating conditions for pupils and students in the area to study with peace of mind and pursue their dreams of conquering knowledge.

Less than 10 days after submitting her loan application, Ms. Vũ Thị Bình from Residential Group No.9 (Điện Biên Phủ ward) was at the Transaction Point of the Bank for Social Policies to complete her file and receive the loan disbursement. Ms. Bình’s family is the first in the ward to access this preferential credit source under the program supporting students in STEM fields.

It is known that Ms. Bình’s son, Bùi Duy Toán, is attending university in Hanoi. Six years of study with numerous expenses posed a significant obstacle for the family. Therefore, upon learning about the credit policy under Decision No.29/2025/QĐ-TTg, Ms. Bình proactively prepared a loan application and was guided attentively by the staff of the Bank for Social Policies, helping her family to access the capital source early so her son could study with peace of mind.

This past October 17, the Điện Biên provincial Branch of the Bank for Social Policies disbursed a loan of VND 480 million to Ms. Vũ Thị Bình from the preferential credit program under Decision No.29/2025/QĐ-TTg. The loan is disbursed annually for each school year, at VND 80 million per year, with an interest rate of 4.8%/year. The loan term is 156 months, with repayments scheduled every 12 months at VND 80,000 each time; the final repayment date is October 17, 2038.

Sharing her joy at accessing the new credit policy, Ms. Vũ Thị Bình said: “The government’s preferential loan has helped my family to worry less about the burden of costs and has provided the means to pay for tuition, living expenses, and other necessities for my son throughout his university studies.”

The credit policy under Decision No.29/2025/QĐ-TTg aims to provide credit support for the training of high-quality human resources, contributing to the realization of Resolution No.57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. According to this decision, pupils, students, graduate students, and doctoral candidates in STEM fields are eligible to borrow from the Bank for Social Policies. This capital source helps learners to cover all tuition fees (after deducting scholarships and other support) as well as living expenses and other study costs, up to a maximum of VND 5 million/month.

Notably, borrowers can receive support of up to VND 500 million without needing collateral; only when the loan exceeds this amount is collateral required as per regulations. Disbursement is carried out for each school year, with a preferential interest rate of 4.8%/year. This policy opens up great opportunities for learners, with high loan amounts, low interest rates, flexible repayment terms, and favorable borrowing conditions, helping to reduce the financial burden during their studies. Currently, the Điện Biên provincial Branch of the Bank for Social Policies is primarily using a lending method through the household, with a household representative as the named borrower.

To quickly bring the credit policy of Decision No.29/2025/QĐ-TTg into practice, the provincial Branch of the Bank for Social Policies has proactively coordinated with relevant departments and sectors to advise the provincial People’s Committee on issuing a directive for synchronous implementation. At the same time, the unit has stepped up communication through the mass media, educational institutions, and commune and ward authorities to promptly confirm the applications of eligible pupils, students, and doctoral candidates, ensuring the program is implemented quickly and effectively.

Mr. Đàm Quốc Tuấn, an officer at the Điện Biên provincial Branch of the Bank for Social Policies, said: “To ensure the preferential credit policy reaches the right beneficiaries, we have implemented various forms of communication, from direct outreach at schools and localities to information on mass media. The bank proactively approaches and guides eligible pupils and students to complete their applications, helping them to access the loan capital for their studies early.”

The Điện Biên provincial Branch of the Bank for Social Policies has set up an online link to receive loan applications. At the same time, it has directed its transaction offices to coordinate closely with departments, sectors, and the People’s Committees of communes and wards to review the beneficiaries in each household with children studying at educational institutions. Based on the registration list, the bank assigns staff to directly check and verify the applicants, and to advise and guide people in completing the loan application correctly. To ensure timely disbursement, the branch has proactively reported to and received approval from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies to allow for flexible disbursement based on arising needs, creating the most favorable conditions for borrowers.

As of the end of October 17, a total of 7 pupils, students, and doctoral candidates in the province had been approved for loans under the preferential credit program, with a total limit of VND 2.654 billion, of which VND 544 million has been disbursed. There are currently 3 other cases finalizing the confirmation procedures from their schools to send to the Bank for Social Policies for approval, with a total expected limit of VND 1.196 billion.

In the coming time, the provincial Branch of the Bank for Social Policies has identified the implementation of the credit program for pupils, students, and doctoral candidates in STEM fields as one of its key tasks. To implement it effectively, the branch will regularly monitor and grasp the difficulties and obstacles during implementation to promptly advise and propose solutions. The transaction offices will promote communication and widely disseminate the policy to the public, especially to the beneficiaries. In addition, the Bank will proactively coordinate with departments, sectors, localities, and entrusted socio-political organizations to strengthen inspection and supervision, promptly correct errors, and resolve difficulties during implementation, ensuring the policy credit program is carried out correctly, safely, and effectively.