Circular No. 10/2018/TT-BLDTBXH stipulates the curriculum, teaching organization, and assessment of learning outcomes for the National Defense and Security Education course within the common subjects block in the training programs for intermediate and higher vocational education levels.

CIRCULAR
Regulations on the curriculum, teaching organization, and assessment of learning outcomes for the National Defense and Security Education course within the common subject block
in the training program at the intermediate and higher vocational levels
in the vocational training program for intermediate and college levels

Pursuant to the Law on Vocational Education dated November 27, 2014;

Based on the Law on National Defense Education and Security dated June 19, 2013;

Pursuant to Decree No. 14/2017/NĐ-CP dated February 17, 2017, of the Government, stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs;

Pursuant to Decree No. 13/2014/NĐ-CP dated February 25, 2014 of the Government detailing and providing implementation measures for the Law on National Defense and Security Education;

At the proposal of the Director General of the General Department of Vocational Education;

The Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs issues this Circular to regulate the curriculum, teaching organization, and assessment of learning outcomes for the National Defense and Security Education course within the common subject block in the training program at the intermediate and higher vocational levels.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular regulates the curriculum, teaching organization, and assessment of learning outcomes for the National Defense and Security Education course (hereinafter referred to as the course) within the common subject block in the training program at the intermediate and higher vocational levels.

Article 2. This Circular applies to intermediate vocational schools, higher vocational schools, and higher education institutions that have registered to offer higher vocational training programs (hereinafter referred to as schools); national defense and security education centers; other organizations and individuals related to the matter. This Circular does not apply to training programs under the purview of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Article 3. For training programs in fields of national defense and security, depending on actual requirements, the Ministry of Defense or the Ministry of Public Security will coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to review and adjust the course to meet training requirements, ensuring that the volume of knowledge and duration of the adjusted course are equal to or greater than those specified in this Circular.

Article 2. Position of the course in the training program at the intermediate and higher vocational levels

The National Defense and Security Education course is a mandatory course within the common subject block in the training program at the intermediate and higher vocational levels.

Article 3. Principles and requirements for teaching the course

Clause 1. The organization of teaching the course must ensure comprehensiveness, with emphasis on key points through appropriate forms; combining theory with practice, theoretical knowledge with practical skills; aligning with regulations on the implementation of the training program at the intermediate and higher vocational levels; fostering organizational discipline awareness and team spirit; integrating with practical education, skill development, and extracurricular activities.

Clause 2. Teachers and lecturers teaching in classrooms or on training grounds must wear prescribed national defense and security education uniforms; teachers and lecturers who are military officers or police officers on secondment must wear uniforms according to military or public security regulations.

Clause 3. During the implementation of the course, teachers, lecturers, management staff, students, and trainees must strictly adhere to the teaching and learning plans, internal rules, and safety regulations concerning personnel, weapons, and equipment.

Chapter II
CURRICULUM, TEACHING ORGANIZATION AND ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES
ASSESSMENT OF STUDY RESULTS

Article 4. Course Curriculum

Clause 1. The course curriculum in the training program at the intermediate level, with a duration of 45 hours, is stipulated in Appendix I attached to this Circular.

Clause 2. The course curriculum in the training program at the higher vocational level, with a duration of 75 hours, is stipulated in Appendix II attached to this Circular.

Article 5. Exemption from study, deferral of subject study

1. Students are exempted from attending classes, examinations, and final exams for subjects if they fall under any of the following cases:

a) Having a reserve officer certificate or a graduation certificate issued by military or police schools;

b) Possessing a National Defense and Security Education Certificate or a certificate confirming completion of a national defense and security knowledge training program equivalent to or higher than their current level of education;

c) Holding a certificate from an authorized agency confirming successful completion of a subject with satisfactory grades in a training program at an equivalent or higher educational level than the one currently being pursued;

d) Having a diploma from a vocational education institution or a university in Vietnam at the intermediate level or above, which exempts them from attending classes, examinations, and final exams for subjects at an equivalent or lower educational level;

e) Foreign students.

2. Students are exempted from military skills practice sessions in subjects if they fall under any of the following cases:

a) Not having sufficient physical health or suffering from illnesses that qualify for exemption from military service according to current regulations;

b) Having completed military or public security service obligations.

3. Students may defer studying a subject if they fall under any of the following cases:

a) Due to health reasons that prevent them from participating in the common study plan and must have a confirmation letter from a legitimate healthcare facility;

b) Being pregnant women or on maternity leave according to current regulations;

c) Having other reasons preventing them from completing the subject, accompanied by specific evidence and must be approved by the school principal or the director of the National Defense and Security Education Center.

4. Students holding a disability confirmation certificate in accordance with the Law on Persons with Disabilities, or those who are war invalids, disabled, or suffer from chronic diseases affecting their mobility, shall be considered by the school principal or the director of the National Defense and Security Education Center for exemption from studying the subject or reduction of certain subject contents that they cannot meet personally.

5. Students enrolled in a secondary vocational training program who are graduates of high school (or have completed the high school curriculum but not yet recognized as such), the school principal may consider and decide to exempt or reduce certain subject contents that the student has already completed in the high school curriculum while ensuring the achievement of the subject's goals and standards.

6. Students enrolled in a college-level training program who have a secondary vocational diploma, the school principal may consider and decide to exempt them from studying contents already covered in the secondary vocational training program.

7. The principal shall specify the details regarding exemptions and deferrals of subject studies.

Article 6. Teachers and lecturers teaching subjects

1. Teachers and lecturers teaching subjects include those with the required qualifications as stipulated in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of Article 6 of Decree No. 13/2014/NĐ-CP dated February 25, 2014, of the Government detailing and implementing measures for the Law on National Defense and Security Education.

2. Schools shall develop training plans, update knowledge in national defense and security, and teaching methods to ensure appropriate qualifications in line with the requirements of each level of education.

Article 7. Management of Teachers and Lecturers Teaching Military and National Defense Subjects

Schools shall manage their teaching staff for the Military and National Defense Education subjects in the same manner as they do for other subject teachers and lecturers. Teachers and lecturers who are military officers or police officers seconded to teach these subjects shall be managed by both the seconding agencies and schools in accordance with the Government's regulations on the secondment of military and police officers.

Article 8. Infrastructure and Educational Equipment

1. Schools that have centers, departments, or faculties responsible for Military and National Defense Education must have dedicated classrooms and combined training fields; they must also have sufficient infrastructure and educational equipment for Military and National Defense subjects in accordance with the current list of minimum educational equipment for Military and National Defense Education subjects.

2. The management, use, and preservation of weapons and educational equipment for Military and National Defense subjects shall be carried out in accordance with the current laws.

Article 9. Management of Subjects and Organization of Teaching

1. The organization of teaching for these subjects shall be conducted according to the school’s plan or the center’s plan for Military and National Defense Education.

2. Schools organizing practical teaching in technical, tactical, explosive, and live-fire exercises must contract with local military authorities, military units, and police units to ensure absolute safety for personnel, weapons, and equipment.

3. For theoretical classes, if combined classes are arranged, they must be suitable for the teaching methods and specific conditions of the schools but should not exceed 150 students; practical classes should not exceed 40 students.

Article 10. Assessment of Learning Outcomes

1. The assessment of learning outcomes for students shall be implemented in accordance with Circular No. 09/2017/TT-BLDTBXH dated March 13, 2017, issued by the Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, which stipulates the implementation of training programs at intermediate and higher vocational levels under the academic year system or modular or credit accumulation systems; examination rules, graduation examination, and recognition of graduation.

2. The results of the subject assessments will not be included in the average grade of the semester, academic year, cumulative average grade, or graduation classification, but they are one of the conditions for completing the required coursework, qualifying for graduation exams, graduating, or defending final projects or theses, and will be recorded on the transcript accompanying the graduation certificate.

Chapter IV
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 11. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from November 15, 2018.

2. Schools currently teaching these subjects before this Circular takes effect shall continue to implement teaching in accordance with existing regulations until the end of the course.

Article 12. Implementation Organization

Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government agencies, political and social organizations, provincial and municipal people's committees, vocational education institutions, and other related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM