Circular No. 04/2020/TT-BGDĐT detailing certain provisions of Decree No. 86/2018/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2018 of the Government on cooperation and foreign investment in the field of education.

CIRCULARAMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF CIRCULAR NO. 16/2025/TT-BCT DATED FEBRUARY 1, 2025 OF THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE ON THE OPERATION OF THE COMPETITIVE WHOLESALE ELECTRICITY MARKET

Detailed regulations regarding certain provisions of Decree No. 86/2018/NĐ-CP

June 6, 2018 of the Government on cooperation and investment

by foreign entities in the field of education

 

Pursuant to Decree No. 69/2017/NĐ-CP dated May 25, 2017 of the Government This Circular stipulates standards and conditions for promotion to higher ranks of teaching positions for staff members in public universities and teacher training colleges, including public college teacher training institutions that offer Early Childhood Education at the college level (hereinafter referred to collectively as teacher training colleges).

Pursuant to Decree No. 86/2018/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2018 of the Government on cooperation and investment by foreign entities in the field of education;

At the proposal of the Director of the International Cooperation Department;

The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular detailing certain provisions of Decree No. 86/2018/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2018 of the Government on cooperation and investment by foreign entities in the field of education.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular details certain provisions of Decree No. 86/2018/NĐ-CP dated June 6, 2018 of the Government on cooperation and investment by foreign entities in the field of education (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 86/2018/NĐ-CP), including: the integration of Vietnam's educational programs with those of foreign countries; compulsory educational and training content for Vietnamese citizens studying at preschool, primary and secondary schools, and higher education institutions with foreign investment.

Article 2. This Circular applies to Vietnamese educational institutions, foreign educational institutions, and organizations and individuals related to foreign cooperation and investment activities in the field of education in Vietnam.

Article 2. Principles of Educational Program Integration

The integration of educational programs must be carried out in accordance with Articles 6, 7, and 8 of Decree No. 86/2018/NĐ-CP and the following regulations:

1. Ensuring scientific, rational, feasible, and suitability to conditions in Vietnam.

2. The content and duration of integrated educational programs must be appropriate to the age characteristics, customs, traditions of Vietnam; shall not contain social prejudices regarding gender, ethnicity, religion, or social status.

3. Integrated educational programs must have guidelines on teaching methods, forms of education, and assessment of educational outcomes, serving as a basis for school education plans.

4. Integrated educational programs must specify implementation conditions, including: organization and management of program implementation; staff of managers, teachers, and employees; infrastructure and educational equipment.

Article 3. Integration of Preschool Educational Programs

1. Integrated educational programs are developed based on Vietnam's preschool educational program, supplemented with developmental areas or fields (hereinafter collectively referred to as developmental fields), contents, and activities of foreign preschool educational programs that are not included in Vietnam's preschool educational program; integrating developmental fields present in both programs to ensure the objectives of Vietnam's and foreign educational programs.

2. The integration of programs is implemented according to developmental fields or groups of children's developmental fields based on the content and activities of one of the two programs, supplemented with the content and activities of the other program's developmental fields that the first program does not have, to ensure the objectives of both programs' developmental fields.

3. Documentation explaining the integration of preschool educational programs includes:

a) An education plan, specifying the names of developmental fields and educational activities; duration and language of instruction;

b) A comparison of developmental fields, contents, and educational activities of the two programs used for integration.

Article 4. Integration of General Education Programs

1. The integrated education program is developed based on the general education program of Vietnam, supplemented with subjects and educational activities (hereinafter referred to as subjects) from foreign general education programs that are not included in the general education program of Vietnam; integrating subjects present in both programs to ensure the objectives of the general education program of Vietnam and the foreign general education program.

2. The integration of programs is carried out subject-by-subject or group-of-subjects based on taking the program of a subject or group of subjects from one of the two programs, supplementing the contents of the remaining program's subjects or groups of subjects that the other program does not have to ensure the objectives of the subjects or groups of subjects of both programs.

3. Documentation explaining the integration of general education programs includes:

a) An education plan, specifying the names of subjects and groups of subjects; duration, teaching language;

b) A comparison of the subject or group of subjects' programs from the two programs used for integration.

Article 5. Review and Approval of Integrated Education Programs

1. Review Board:

a) The review board for integrated education programs is established by the Minister of Education and Training. The review board is responsible for the content and quality of the review and proposes the Minister of Education and Training to approve the integrated education program;

b) The review board consists of: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and members who are research staff, early childhood education or general education experts, teachers from early childhood education and general education institutions, lecturers from teacher training institutions, representatives of related organizations. The number of review board members must be odd, at least seven (7) people;

c) The review board is established within five (5) working days from the date the Ministry of Education and Training receives complete files requesting approval of the integrated education program. The review board dissolves itself after completing its tasks.

2. Criteria for Review Board Members:

a) Possess good moral character, ideology, sufficient health, and time to participate in reviewing the program;

b) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher; have expertise and understanding of educational science and corresponding early childhood or general education programs; possess language proficiency to understand corresponding foreign early childhood or general education programs;

c) Individuals involved in developing the integrated education program under review shall not participate in reviewing the integrated education program.

3. Tasks, Authorities, and Principles of Operation of the Review Board:

The tasks, authorities, and principles of operation of the review board are implemented according to the provisions of Articles 9 and 10 of Circular No. 14/2017/TT-BGDĐT dated June 6, 2017, issued by the Minister of Education and Training on standards, procedures for building and revising general education programs; organization and operation of the National Review Board for general education programs.

4. Review Process:

a) At least seven (7) working days before the first meeting of the review board, the draft of the integrated education program (hereinafter referred to as the draft) is sent to the review board members; review board members read, study the draft and record their comments on the draft's content according to the requirements stipulated in Articles 2, 3, and 4 of this circular;

b) Meeting of the review board to discuss the draft generally according to the provisions of Articles 2, 3, and 4 of this circular;

c) Review board members evaluate and classify the draft into one of three categories: "Pass", "Pass but needs revision", "Fail";

- The draft is classified as "Pass" if the evaluation results according to the corresponding contents stipulated in Articles 2, 3, and 4 of this circular all fall under the category "Pass";

- The draft is classified as "Pass but needs revision" if the evaluation results according to the corresponding contents stipulated in Articles 2, 3, and 4 of this circular all fall under the categories "Pass" and "Pass but needs revision";

- The draft is classified as "Fail" for the remaining cases;

d) The review board evaluates the draft program:

- In case at least 3/4 (three-quarters) of the total number of review board members participating in voting classify the draft as "Pass", the draft will be submitted to the organizing body for review to the Minister of Education and Training for consideration and decision to approve;

- In case at least 3/4 (three-quarters) of the total number of review board members participating in voting classify the draft as "Pass" and "Pass but needs revision", the draft will be revised based on incorporating the review board's opinions. The revised draft, along with explanations for retained content, will be resubmitted to the review board for re-evaluation. The re-evaluation process follows the provisions of points a, b, and c of this clause;

- For the remaining cases, the draft is classified as "Fail";

đ) During the review process, the review board may propose to the organizing body to seek specialized opinions from relevant agencies, organizations, or individuals if necessary;

e) Within five (5) working days from the date of the review board meeting, the Chairperson of the review board is responsible for submitting the review results to the Minister of Education and Training for consideration;

5. Organization of the Review Process:

The Early Childhood Education Department, Primary Education Department, Secondary Education Department, according to their functions and responsibilities, coordinate with related units to assist the Minister of Education and Training in organizing the review and performing the following tasks:

a) Propose a list of review board members;

b) Guide the review board to implement the purpose and requirements of the review;

c) Receive and transfer the draft program to each member of the review board; receive files and proposals, recommendations of the review board to submit to the Minister of Education and Training for consideration and decision;

d) Submit to the Minister of Education and Training for consideration and decision on the approval of the integrated education program;

d) Store drafts, minutes of meetings of the Appraisal Council, and related documents during the organization of the appraisal process, and transfer them to the storage department of the Ministry of Education and Training after the Appraisal Council has completed its tasks for storage in accordance with regulations.

Article 6. Compulsory education content for students who are Vietnamese citizens studying in preschool educational institutions and general education institutions with foreign investment.

Students who are Vietnamese citizens studying foreign education programs in preschool educational institutions and general education institutions with foreign investment must study the content of Vietnamese language development education, Vietnamese program, Vietnam studies program, specifically as follows:

1. For children in preschool educational institutions: Study the content of Vietnamese language development education.

a) Objective: To help children form vocabulary and have the ability to use Vietnamese appropriately for their age; have the ability to listen, speak, and use Vietnamese in daily communication and become familiar with reading and writing in Vietnamese.

b) Duration: Not less than twice a week, each session lasting from 25 to 35 minutes.

2. For elementary school students: Study the content of the Vietnamese program and Vietnam studies program.

a) Content of the Vietnamese program:

- Objective: To help students form and develop vocabulary and skills in using Vietnamese (listening, speaking, reading, writing) for learning and communication appropriate to their age; provide students with basic knowledge about Vietnamese language, culture, and people.

- Duration: Not less than 140 minutes per week, taught in all elementary school grades.

b) Content of the Vietnam studies program:

- Objective: To help students understand basic information about prominent historical events and figures, and good traditions, customs, and practices of the country and its people; have a simple understanding of Vietnam's geographical location, territory, territorial waters, islands, climate, rivers, mountains, natural resources, and minerals; thereby fostering a love for homeland and country and a sense of national pride.

- Duration: Not less than 70 minutes per week, from grade 4 to grade 5.

3. For junior high school and high school students: Study the content of the Vietnam studies program.

a) Objective: To provide general, fundamental, modern, systematic knowledge about history, geography, culture, tradition, customs, and practices of Vietnam. To foster in students a love for homeland and country, a sense of national pride, respect for historical heritage, and a heroic spirit in nation-building and defense. At the same time, to develop essential qualities of a citizen: a positive attitude towards society, a sense of responsibility towards the community, love of labor, kindness, discipline, respect and adherence to the law, a sense of national self-reliance, readiness to participate in building, defending, and developing the country.

b) Duration: Not less than 90 minutes per week, taught in junior high school and high school classes.

4. Encourage preschool educational institutions and general education institutions with foreign investment to teach the Vietnamese program and Vietnam studies program in Vietnamese or a foreign language to foreign students currently enrolled at the institution.

Article 7. Organization of teaching, examination, and evaluation of compulsory educational content at preschool education institutions and general education institutions with foreign investment capital

1. The educational institution compiles teaching materials for compulsory educational content in accordance with Article 6 of this Circular and reports to the Department of Education and Training before implementation.

2. The organization of teaching the compulsory curriculum for students who are Vietnamese citizens must ensure:

a) Teachers are Vietnamese citizens, meeting the standards prescribed by Vietnamese law;

b) The language of instruction is Vietnamese.

3. The examination and evaluation of learning outcomes for compulsory educational content for students who are Vietnamese citizens must comply with the provisions set out in Article 6 of this Circular.

Article 8. Compulsory subjects for students who are Vietnamese citizens studying at higher education institutions with foreign investment capital

1. Vietnamese citizens studying for degree programs at higher education institutions with foreign investment capital in Vietnam must study compulsory subjects in accordance with the general regulations applicable to higher education institutions in Vietnam.

2. Higher education institutions with foreign investment capital may recognize the results of study for compulsory subjects at the same level from other higher education institutions legally operating in Vietnam.

3. The organization of teaching and learning of compulsory subjects at higher education institutions with foreign investment capital shall be carried out in accordance with current regulations.

Article 9. Rights of students who are Vietnamese citizens studying in preschool education institutions and general education institutions with foreign investment capital

Students who are Vietnamese citizens studying at preschool education institutions and general education institutions with foreign investment capital that teach according to foreign educational programs approved by competent authorities in Vietnam have the right to transfer to study at preschool education institutions and general education institutions that teach according to Vietnamese educational programs when necessary. Preschool education institutions and general education institutions receiving such transfers will decide on the continuation of studies based on direct assessment of the student's capabilities.

Article 10. Provisions on implementation

1. This Circular takes effect from May 5, 2020.

2. The Director of the Office, the Director of the International Cooperation Department, the Heads of relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training; Directors of Departments of Education and Training; Directors of universities and academies; Principals of universities and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular./.