Decision No. 11/2006/QĐ-BGD&ĐT Issuing the regulations on recognition of completion of secondary school education

Pursuant to …;

Issuing regulations on recognition of secondary school graduation

__________________________

THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Pursuant to the Education Law dated June 14, 2005;

Pursuant to Decree No. 86/2002/NĐ-CP dated November 5, 2002 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 85/2003/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Based on the proposal of the Director of the Secondary Education Department and the Director of the General Education Department,

DECISION:

Article 1. This Decision promulgates the Regulations on Recognition of Secondary School Graduation attached hereto.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. The provisions regarding secondary school graduation examinations in the Examination Regulations for Secondary and Upper Secondary Schools issued together with Decision No. 17/2002/QĐ-BGD&ĐT dated April 5, 2002 of the Minister of Education and Training are hereby abolished.

Article 3. The Heads of the Office of the Ministry of Education and Training, the Directors of the Secondary Education Department, the General Education Department, the heads of units under the Ministry of Education and Training related to this matter, the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, and the Directors of Departments of Education and Training are responsible for implementing this Decision.

REGULATIONS

REGULATIONS ON RECOGNITION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADUATION

(Issued together with Decision No. 11/2006/QĐ-BGD&ĐT dated April 5, 2006 of the Minister of Education and Training)

__________________

Chapter 1:

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. These regulations provide for the recognition of secondary school graduation (THCS) including conditions for examination and recognition of graduation; organization of the recognition of graduation; responsibilities of management agencies and educational institutions in recognizing graduation.

Article 2. These regulations apply to Vietnamese students and foreign students residing in Vietnam who have completed the secondary school curriculum.

Article 3. Purpose, requirements, and basis for recognition of graduation

Point 1. The recognition of secondary school graduation aims to confirm the level of students after completing the secondary school curriculum.

Point 2. The recognition of secondary school graduation must ensure accuracy, fairness, and objectivity.

Point 3. The basis for recognizing secondary school graduation is the results of discipline and study of students in grade 9.

Article 4. Number of times to recognize graduation in a year

Point 1. For secondary school students, graduation recognition is conducted once a year immediately after the end of the academic year (according to the academic year schedule of the Ministry of Education and Training).

Point 2. For learners studying under the general education secondary school program (hereinafter referred to as supplementary secondary school), the number of times to recognize graduation in a year shall be decided by the Department of Education and Training submitting to the People's Committee of the province or centrally-administered city (hereinafter collectively referred to as provincial People's Committee).

Chapter 2:

CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATING IN GRADUATION EXAMINATION AND RECOGNITION OF GRADUATION

Article 5. Conditions for participating in the recognition of graduation

Point 1. Students who complete the secondary school curriculum not exceeding 21 years old, and learners who complete the supplementary secondary school curriculum aged 15 or older.

In cases of early schooling or skipping grades, such actions must comply with the regulations on early schooling and skipping grades of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Point 2. Not absenting from more than 45 class sessions in grade 9 (whether in one absence or multiple absences combined).

Point 3. Secondary school students and learners studying under the supplementary secondary school program (hereinafter collectively referred to as students) are not during the period of serving a criminal sentence or restricted civil rights, except for learners of schools or classes established for those serving a criminal sentence or restricted civil rights.

Article 5. Documents for Graduation Recognition Examination

Point 1. A certified copy of a valid birth certificate.

2. The original school record book of the student. If the school record book is lost, the director of the Department of Education and Training shall consider and resolve each specific case.

3. The original or a valid copy of the certificate confirming that the individual is eligible to benefit from preferential policies or encouraged groups (if applicable), issued by the competent authority.

4. A certificate confirming the moral character and compliance with state policies for students who have completed the junior high school program in previous academic years:

a) For students residing in the locality, it shall be issued by the People's Committee of the commune, ward, or town; if working at an agency or enterprise, it shall be issued by the directly managing agency or enterprise.

b) For students belonging to groups serving sentences of imprisonment or restricted civil rights, undergoing concentrated education in juvenile correctional schools or other facilities for individuals involved in social evils, it shall be issued by the managing agency.

Article 6. Preferential and Encouragement Policies

Students belonging to the following categories when participating in the first graduation recognition examination for junior high school shall enjoy preferential and encouragement policies:

1. Eligible for preferential policies:

a) Children of martyrs, children of wounded veterans, disabled veterans, children of those entitled to benefits similar to wounded or disabled veterans, children of Heroes of the Armed Forces, children of Heroes of Labor, children of Mothers of Vietnam's Heroic People;

b) Students from ethnic minority groups;

c) Students living and studying in areas with difficult economic and social conditions;

d) Students with disabilities, developmental delays in physical and intellectual abilities, victims of chemical agent poisoning, orphans without support, and households classified as poor according to state regulations.

2. Eligible for encouragement policies:

a) Students achieving at least third place (bronze medal) individually in subject competitions in grade 9; cultural and sports competitions organized by the Department of Education and Training or jointly with provincial-level agencies; inter-country or international competitions; competitions organized by the Ministry of Education and Training or jointly with other ministries and sectors;

b) Students ranked average or higher in general vocational examinations organized by the Department of Education and Training in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Article 7. Conditions and Standards for Graduation Recognition

1. Graduation recognition for students of junior high schools, multi-grade schools, or regular educational institutions (hereinafter referred to as educational institutions) participating in their first graduation recognition examination:

a) Conditions: having complete documents as stipulated in Article 5 of this Regulation.

b) Criteria:

- Ranked average or higher in annual conduct assessment for grade 9, for those required to be assessed for conduct;

- Ranked average or higher in academic performance for grade 9, if not eligible for preferential or encouragement policies;

- Ranked weak in academic performance but all subjects graded on a point scale must achieve an average of 3.5 points or higher, including mathematics or literature achieving 5.0 points or higher, if eligible for preferential or encouragement policies.

2. Graduation recognition for students who have not yet graduated from the final examination or previous graduation recognition examinations for junior high school:

a) Conditions: submitting an application for participation in the graduation recognition examination at the educational institution attended (if changing residence, submit at the educational institution in the new residence) at least 30 days before the start of the examination period and having complete documents as stipulated in Article 5 of this Regulation.

b) Graduation recognition standards for each case:

- Students who have not participated in the examination or recognition examination or have participated but not recognized as graduates or were unable to participate due to more than 45 absences must take tests in mathematics and literature according to the grade 9 curriculum; if the average score of both tests is 5.0 or higher (with no test scoring zero), they will be recognized as graduates;

- Students who have not been able to participate in the examination or recognition examination due to weak or poor academic performance may choose one or several subjects among those with an average score below 5.0 or subjects not meeting the standard for grade 9 to participate in the supplementary examination organized by the educational institution. Based on the examination results, the educational institution will reassess academic performance; if the reassessment ranks average or higher, they will be recognized as graduates;

- Students who have not been recognized as graduates due to conduct issues must be confirmed as good or showing improvement by the competent authority in the certificate mentioned in Clause 4, Article 5 of this Regulation.

3. Students who have completed the junior high school program but have not been recognized as graduates, if wishing to participate in the supplementary junior high school graduation recognition examination board, must retake the grade 9 supplementary junior high school program; if meeting the conditions and standards stipulated in this Regulation, they will be considered for graduation recognition.

Article 8. Graduation Classification

1. The graduation results of students studying at educational institutions shall be classified into three categories: excellent, good, and average, based on moral conduct classification and academic performance classification; if a student does not have a moral conduct classification, it shall be based solely on the academic performance classification:

a) Excellent category: moral conduct category is excellent, academic performance category is excellent;

b) Good category: moral conduct category is good or higher, academic performance category is good, or moral conduct category is good, academic performance category is excellent;

c) Average category: all other cases.

2. Students recognized for graduation according to Clause 2, Article 7 of this Regulation shall be classified as average.

Chapter 3:

ORGANIZATION OF GRADUATION RECOGNITION

Article 9. Graduation Recognition Board

1. Each educational institution with students applying for graduation recognition shall establish a graduation recognition board.

2. The People's Committee of the district, town, city under province (hereinafter referred to collectively as the district-level People's Committee) shall issue a decision to establish a middle school graduation recognition board for educational institutions within its jurisdiction upon the proposal of the head of the education and training department.

3. Composition, tasks, and powers of the board:

a) The composition of the middle school graduation recognition board includes: the chairman being the director or deputy director of the educational institution, the vice-chairman being the deputy director of the educational institution, a secretary, and some members, including class teachers of grade 9. Members of the middle school graduation recognition board must have good moral character, professional competence, and a high sense of responsibility.

b) Tasks and powers:

- Checking the application files for graduation recognition;

- Based on the criteria for graduation recognition, examining and proposing graduation recognition for students within the board's scope of responsibility;

- Preparing a list of students meeting the conditions for graduation recognition to submit to the head of the education and training department for approval;

- Using the seal of the educational institution in the board's documents;

- Proposing rewards from competent authorities for individuals and organizations that complete their tasks well and handling individuals and organizations that violate the provisions of this Regulation.

Article 10. Procedures and Formalities for Graduation Recognition and Issuance of Graduation Certificates

1. Graduation Recognition Procedure:

a) Based on the application files and lists for graduation recognition submitted by the educational institution, the middle school graduation recognition board conducts the examination and recognition of graduation for students;

b) The middle school graduation recognition board prepares minutes of the graduation recognition examination and a list of students proposed for graduation recognition.

The minutes must include the full names and signatures of all board members; the list of proposed graduation recognition must include the full name and signature of the board chairman.

Students who have not yet graduated from previous examinations or recognition sessions and those benefiting from preferential policies shall be listed separately.

2. Formalities for Graduation Recognition.

a) The middle school graduation recognition board sends the application files for graduation recognition to the education and training department.

1. A registration form for issuing a journalist card filled out by the applicant according to the model; approved and stamped by the head of the applying agency (Model No. 1);

- A report proposing graduation recognition signed by the board chairman;

- Minutes of the graduation recognition examination;

- List of students proposed for graduation recognition;

b) The head of the education and training department issues a decision recognizing graduation for students based on the proposals of the middle school graduation recognition boards of educational institutions within its jurisdiction.

3. Issuance of Graduation Certificates and Authority to Issue Middle School Graduation Certificates.

a) Individuals recognized for graduation shall be issued a middle school graduation certificate;

b) The head of the education and training department issues middle school graduation certificates.

Chapter 4:

RESPONSIBILITIES OF MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Article 11. Responsibilities of provincial People's Committees and responsibilities of district People's Committees

1. Provincial People's Committees shall be responsible for:

a) Direct, inspect, and supervise the implementation of graduation recognition for junior high school according to their authority;

b) Decide the number of times to conduct annual graduation recognition for supplementary junior high school students at educational institutions within the province.

2. The county People's Committee shall be responsible for:

a) Direct, inspect, and supervise the implementation of graduation recognition for junior high school according to their authority;

b) Issue decisions to establish graduation recognition boards for junior high school at educational institutions within the district.

Article 12. Responsibilities of the Department of Education and Training

1. Guide and direct education and training departments in organizing graduation recognition for junior high school.

2. Submit to the provincial People's Committee for decision on the number of times and duration for conducting graduation recognition for supplementary junior high school students within the area.

3. Coordinate with the finance department to guide and inspect the use of funds serving the work of graduation recognition for junior high school.

4. Inspect and supervise the implementation of programs, assessment, classification of learners, graduation recognition, and issuance of junior high school graduation certificates.

5. Archive lists of learners recognized as graduating from junior high school in accordance with laws on archiving.

Article 13. Responsibilities of the Education and Training Office

1. Guide educational institutions within the area regarding graduation recognition for junior high school.

2. Submit to the district People's Committee for decision to establish graduation recognition boards for junior high school at educational institutions within the area.

3. Report on the work of graduation recognition and lists of learners recognized as graduating from junior high school to the provincial Department of Education and Training.

4. Issue decisions recognizing graduation from junior high school for learners and issue junior high school graduation certificates to those who have been recognized as graduates.

5. Archive lists of learners recognized as graduating from junior high school in accordance with laws on archiving.

Article 14. Responsibilities of educational institutions

1. Implement academic programs, class schedules, examinations, grading, evaluation, and classification of learners in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. Provide review guidance to learners who have completed the junior high school curriculum from previous years and have registration forms for graduation recognition (if required).

3. Guide learners to prepare application forms for graduation recognition and documents confirming eligibility for preferential policies (if applicable).

4. Receive registration forms and application files for graduation recognition from learners who did not pass the examination or previous graduation recognition sessions.

5. Prepare application files and lists of learners for graduation recognition to hand over to the graduation recognition board.

6. Prepare working conditions for the graduation recognition board.

7. Announce lists of learners recognized as graduating from junior high school after receiving the recognition decision from the head of the education and training department; issue temporary graduation certificates; organize the distribution of graduation certificates.

8. Archive files for graduation recognition for junior high school in accordance with laws on archiving.

Chapter 5:

REWARD AND VIOLATION HANDLING

Article 15. Awards

Individuals and organizations that achieve outstanding results in the process of graduation recognition for junior high school shall be recommended for awards in accordance with state regulations on commendation and rewards.

Article 16. Handling Violations

Individuals and organizations violating the regulations of the Graduation Recognition Regulation shall be subject to handling depending on the severity of the violation.