Circular No. 08/2025/TT-BGDĐT stipulates the retention period for files and documents in the field of education and training.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the retention period for files and documents

in the field of education and training

Pursuant to the Education Law dated June 14, 2019;

On the basis of Law Effective from June 21, 2024;

Pursuant to Decree No. 37/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 26, 2025 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

At the proposal of the Director of the Office of the Ministry of Education and Training;

The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular prescribing the retention period for files and documents in the field of education and training.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular provides detailed regulations on Clause 5, Article 15 of the Law on Archives regarding the retention period for files and documents in the field of education and training.

Article 2. This Circular applies to units under and affiliated with the Ministry of Education and Training, departments of education and training at provincial level, specialized agencies managing education at local levels, preschool educational institutions, general educational institutions, vocational educational institutions, continuing educational institutions, higher educational institutions, specialized schools, schools of state agencies, political organizations, political-social organizations, people's armed forces, other educational institutions within the national education system, quality assurance organizations, organizations providing consulting services for studying abroad, and other entities and individuals engaged in educational activities and related agencies and organizations (hereinafter referred to collectively as agencies and organizations).

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Documents in the field of education and training are information attached to carriers that remain unchanged in content and form when transferred between carriers, formed during the process of handling matters to serve management activities and professional activities in the field of education and training of agencies and organizations. Documents in the field of education and training include paper documents, documents on other carriers, and electronic documents.

2. Files in the field of education and training are a set of documents in the field of education and training related to each other concerning a specific issue, event, or object or having common characteristics, formed during the process of monitoring and handling matters within the scope of functions and tasks of agencies and organizations.

3. The retention period for files and documents in the field of education and training is the necessary time required to retain files and documents, calculated from the year the matter concludes.

Article 3. Groups and retention periods for files and documents in the field of education and training

1. Groups of documents in the field of education and training include:

a) Group I. General files and documents on education and training.

b) Group II. Files and documents on preschool education.

c) Group III. Files and documents on general education.

d) Group IV. Files and documents on teacher training at college level, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and doctoral degree.

đ) Group V. Files and documents on vocational education and continuing education.

e) Group VI. Files and documents on national defense and security education.

g) Group VII. Files and documents on student and trainee affairs.

h) Group VIII. Files and documents on science, technology, and information.

i) Group IX. Files and documents on infrastructure, school equipment, and investment.

k) Group X. Files and documents on education quality assurance and inspection.

l) Group XI. Files and documents on international cooperation in the field of education.

m) Group XII. Files and documents on teaching staff and educational administration work.

2. The groups of files and documents and their retention periods are detailed in the Appendix attached to this Circular.

Article 4. Application of retention periods for files and documents in the field of education and training

1. The retention period for each specific file or document shall not be shorter than the retention period specified in the Appendix attached to this Circular.

2. When selecting files and documents to be submitted for historical archives or agency archives, the completeness of the document repository must be considered, while also paying attention to historical phases and time points.

Article 5. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2025, and replaces Circular No. 27/2016/TT-BGDĐT dated December 30, 2016, issued by the Minister of Education and Training on the retention period for professional documents in the education sector.

2. The Heads of the Office, Heads of units under and affiliated with the Ministry of Education and Training, Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, Directors of Departments of Education and Training, heads of agencies and units specified in Article 1 of this Circular, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.