Kindergarten in Vietnam: License and Class Size Checks

Kindergarten in Vietnam is a school stage for children aged three to six, and a parent can judge a school with five simple checks. Ask for its legal status, its class size, its staff, its food routine and its pickup rules. A good school answers each one clearly and in writing. This guide shows what to ask and what a clear answer sounds like.

How kindergarten fits in the school system

Vietnam treats early education as one level called preschool education. It has two parts. Nursery groups take children from three months to three years old. Kindergarten classes, called "mau giao", take children from three to six years old. Some schools run both under one roof and are called preschools. The level prepares children for Grade 1, which starts at age six.

Schools can be public or private. Private schools are common in big cities, so parents there often compare several. Whatever the type, the five checks below work the same way.

Sources: Vietnamese Wikipedia, "Truong mau giao".

Check one: the license

A school should be set up with proper approval before it takes children. Ask to see the paper that shows the school is allowed to operate. Ask for the school's full legal name and the address it is registered at. Make sure both match the name on the gate and the contract.

Be careful with small home-based groups. Some are run by caring people. Still, a group that cannot show any approval is a risk. If staff say the paper is "being processed", ask for a date and check again before you pay a deposit.

Also ask who runs the school. A named principal, with a contact number, is a good sign. A school that avoids giving a name is not.

Check two: class size and staff

National guidance sets a top limit on how many children can be in one class. For nursery groups the limit rises with age, from 15 children under one year to 25 children at age three. For kindergarten classes the limit is 25 at age three to four, 30 at age four to five, and 35 at age five to six. These are ceilings, not goals. A smaller class is easier for a teacher to manage.

Visit during a normal school morning. Count the children and the adults in one room. Ask how many teachers lead the class and whether an assistant is present all day. Ask what happens when a teacher is sick. Ask how long the class teacher has worked at the school. Teachers who stay for years usually mean a steadier classroom.

Ask about the teachers' training and any early childhood qualification they hold. A school should be glad to tell you about it.

Sources: Vietnamese Wikipedia, "Truong mau giao".

Check three: food and health

Most kindergartens serve lunch, and many serve a snack. Ask to read the weekly menu. Ask who cooks, where the kitchen is, and how food is kept and served. Ask how the school handles a child with an allergy. Make a list of your child's allergies and give it to the class teacher in writing.

Look at the toilets, the sleeping area and the play space. They should be clean and in good repair. Ask about drinking water. Ask what the school does if a child falls ill during the day, and how fast it calls a parent. Ask where the nearest clinic is.

This section is general information, not medical advice. For questions about your child's health, speak to a doctor.

Check four: pickup and safety rules

Pickup is where many schools differ. Ask who may collect your child. A careful school keeps a written list of named adults and checks each person at the gate. Ask what the school does if an unknown person arrives. Ask what happens if you are late, and whether there is a fee.

Look at the gate, the stairs and the yard. Doors should be controlled. Ask about fire exits and whether the school runs drills. Ask if cameras are used, and who can see the recordings.

Ask how the school talks to parents. Some use a phone app or a chat group, and some use a paper book. A daily note about meals, naps and mood helps you see how your child's day went.

Check five: the contract and the cost

Ask for the fee list in writing. Find out what is included, such as meals, activities and uniforms. Ask what is extra. Ask when fees rise and how much notice you get. Ask what happens to a deposit if you leave early.

Read the daily schedule too. A good schedule has time for play, rest, meals and simple lessons. Young children need movement and rest more than long drills. A school that promises a child will read fluently by age four is making a promise nobody can keep.

A short list to carry

Take these questions to every visit and write down each answer. Compare the notes at home.

• Can I see the paper that allows the school to operate?
• How many children and adults are in this room right now?
• How long has the class teacher worked here?
• May I read this week's menu and see the kitchen?
• Who is allowed to collect my child, and how do you check?
• What exactly is in the fee, and what costs extra?

Visit at least two schools before you decide. Go at a busy time, not only at the open day. Trust what you see and what the school puts in writing.

Rules change, so check the current guidance with the local education office before you enrol.

Sources: Vietnamese Wikipedia, Truong mau giao (vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trường_mẫu_giáo).