Back-to-school schedule for students in Ho Chi Minh City. (Source: VGP)

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has just issued a decision on the 2024-2025 school year schedule, which specifically stipulates the school return schedule for students from preschool to high school.

Specifically, primary, secondary and high school students in Ho Chi Minh City will return to school on August 26. First graders will return to school on August 19.

Schools will simultaneously start the new school year on September 5 and ensure 18 weeks of actual study in semester 1, and 17 weeks of actual study in semester 2. Schools will end the school year before May 31, 2025.

The Lunar New Year holiday is expected to start from January 25, 2025 (December 26, year of the Dragon) to February 2, 2025 (January 5, year of the Snake).

The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee requested the Director of the Department of Education and Training to be responsible for monitoring and directing all levels and sectors to strictly implement the school year schedule; decide to let students take time off when the weather is too harsh or there are natural disasters, and arrange for students to make up for lost time and arrange time off for teachers during the school year.

Previously, the Ministry of Education and Training issued a framework plan for the 2024-2025 school year, with the opening ceremony still being held on September 5. The Ministry requested that public kindergartens and primary schools organize the opening ceremony at least one week before the opening ceremony, on August 29; grade 1 can start two weeks earlier, on August 22.

The school year plan framework issued by the Ministry is applied to public schools. For private schools, schools can start school 4 weeks early, according to Circular 13/2011 of the Ministry.