Joint Circular No. 126/1998/TTLT/BTC-BGDĐT guiding certain financial regulations for students at boarding schools for ethnic minorities and preparatory universities.

JOINT CIRCULAR

JOINT CIRCULAR NO. 126/1998/TTLT-BTC-BGDDT OF SEPTEMBER 9, 1998 OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING GUIDING SOME FINANCIAL REGIMES FOR STUDENTS AT BOARDING SCHOOLS FOR ETHNIC GROUPS AND PRE-UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS

BASED ON DECISION NO. 1121/1997/QĐ-TTg OF DECEMBER 28, 1997 OF THE PRIME MINISTER ON "SCHOLARSHIPS AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS."
BASED ON DECREE NO. 28/CP OF APRIL 29, 1995 OF THE GOVERNMENT ON "GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE LAW ON PRIVILEGES FOR REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVISTS, MARTYRS, AND THEIR FAMILIES, WOUNDED VETERANS, ILL VETERANS, AND PERSONS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE REVOLUTION."
TO TIMELY AMEND AND SUPPLEMENT CIRCULAR NO. 30/TT-LB OF AUGUST 28, 1974 OF THE JOINT MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND FINANCE ON "GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF EXPENSE REGIMES FOR EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS."
THE JOINT MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING GUIDES THE FOLLOWING FINANCIAL REGIMES FOR BOARDING SCHOOLS FOR ETHNIC GROUPS AND PRE-UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS:

I-OBJECTS:

THE OBJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR THE REGIMES STIPULATED IN THIS CIRCULAR ARE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN BOARDING SCHOOLS FOR ETHNIC GROUPS AT THE CENTRAL, PROVINCE, AND DISTRICT LEVELS AND PRE-UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS ACCORDING TO ADMISSION STANDARDS.

II- REGIMES FOR STUDENTS

STUDENTS ATTENDING THE ABOVE SCHOOLS ARE ENTITLED TO THE FOLLOWING PREFERENTIAL REGIMES:

1. Tuition Fees:

STUDENTS IN THE ABOVE CATEGORY ARE EXEMPT FROM SCHOOL FEES AND ALL TYPES OF ADMISSION FEES.

2. SCHOLARSHIP:

- STUDENTS IN THE ABOVE CATEGORY ARE ENTITLED TO A POLICY SCHOLARSHIP OF 120,000 DONG PER MONTH AND RECEIVE THIS SCHOLARSHIP FOR 12 MONTHS PER YEAR ACCORDING TO POINT b OF ARTICLE 1 OF DECISION NO. 1121/1997/QĐ-TTg OF DECEMBER 23, 1997 OF THE PRIME MINISTER ON "SCHOLARSHIPS AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS AT PUBLIC SCHOOLS."

- IN THE CASE WHERE STUDENTS DO NOT ADVANCE TO THE NEXT GRADE (REPEAT A GRADE), THEY WILL RECEIVE HALF OF THE SCHOLARSHIP FOR THAT YEAR. IF THEY FAIL TO MEET REQUIREMENTS AFTER THREE YEARS, THEY WILL BE RETURNED TO THEIR PLACE OF ORIGIN. EACH STUDENT IS ALLOWED TO REPEAT A GRADE ONLY ONCE PER EDUCATIONAL LEVEL.

- STUDENTS AT BOARDING SCHOOLS FOR ETHNIC GROUPS AND PRE-UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR POLICY SCHOLARSHIPS BUT ALSO QUALIFY FOR SOCIAL ASSISTANCE AND PRIVILEGE PAYMENTS UNDER ARTICLE 66 OF DECREE NO. 28/CP OF APRIL 29, 1995 OF THE GOVERNMENT ON "GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE LAW ON PRIVILEGES FOR REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVISTS, MARTYRS, AND THEIR FAMILIES, WOUNDED VETERANS, ILL VETERANS, AND PERSONS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE REVOLUTION," SHALL ONLY RECEIVE THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF ONE OF THESE PAYMENTS.

3. REWARD REGIME:

STUDENTS WHO PERFORM WELL IN STUDIES AND DISCIPLINE AND ACHIEVE A GOOD OR BETTER GRADE (IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR) SHALL BE AWARDED AS FOLLOWS ONCE PER YEAR BY THE SCHOOL:

a. 120,000 DONG IF THEY ACHIEVE A GOOD GRADE

b. 180,000 DONG IF THEY ACHIEVE AN OUTSTANDING GRADE

c. 240,000 DONG IF THEY ACHIEVE AN EXCELLENT GRADE.

4. ISSUE OF PERSONAL ITEMS:

STUDENTS WHO ENTER THE SCHOOL WITH ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES (VERIFIED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES) SHALL BE PROVIDED WITH MONEY TO PURCHASE THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL ITEMS:

+ PERSONAL DOWN QUILT

+ PERSONAL CURTAIN

+ DOWN JACKET

+ PERSONAL MAT

+ RAINCOAT

+ LONG-SLEEVED UNIFORM SHIRT AND PANTS

THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF SUPPORT PROVIDED ONCE DURING THE STUDENT'S TIME AT SCHOOL IS 360,000 DONG PER STUDENT.

5. TRANSPORTATION FARE: STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH A ONE-TIME ANNUAL FARE (FOR BOTH TRAVEL TO AND FROM HOME) TO VISIT FAMILY DURING NEW YEAR OR SUMMER BREAK.

6. SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES: STUDENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH ANNUAL SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL SUPPLIES ACCORDING TO THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS FOR EACH EDUCATIONAL LEVEL:

DEPENDING ON SPECIFIC SITUATIONS, THE SCHOOL MAY ISSUE THESE ITEMS IN KIND OR IN CASH TO STUDENTS ON A SEMESTER BASIS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE MAXIMUM SUPPORT LEVEL IS AS FOLLOWS:

+ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (GRADE 1) 30,000 DONG PER STUDENT PER SCHOOL YEAR

+ LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL (GRADE 2) 40,000 DONG PER STUDENT PER SCHOOL YEAR

+ UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL AND PRE-UNIVERSITY: 50,000 DONG PER STUDENT PER SCHOOL YEAR.

7. TEXTBOOKS: THE SCHOOL ESTABLISHES A COMMON TEXTBOOK CABINET FOR STUDENTS TO BORROW A SET OF TEXTBOOKS CORRESPONDING TO THEIR CURRENT GRADE. THE SCHOOL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANIZING AND MAINTAINING THE TEXTBOOKS FOR LONG-TERM USE AND EFFECTIVENESS; THE SCHOOL CAN PURCHASE ADDITIONAL TEXTBOOKS EACH YEAR EQUAL TO 10% OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TEXTBOOKS IN THE COMMON CABINET.

8. EXPENSES FOR NEW YEAR AND ETHNIC NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS:

THE SCHOOL CAN ORGANIZE TWO TIMES PER YEAR FOR STUDENTS TO REMAIN AT SCHOOL DURING NEW YEAR AND ETHNIC NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS, WITH AN EXPENSE OF 10,000 DONG PER STUDENT PER OCCASION.

9. EXPENSES FOR CULTURAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES:

a. EACH CLASS IS PROVIDED WITH

1 LOCAL NEWSPAPER

1 YOUTH NEWSPAPER OR "EDUCATION AND AGE" NEWSPAPER OR A CULTURAL ART MAGAZINE FOR ETHNIC GROUPS.

b. EXPENSES FOR CLUB ACTIVITIES: CULTURAL, ARTISTIC, AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES, AND POPULARIZED PUBLICITY AND MOTIVATION ACTIVITIES OF THE SCHOOL (WITH A BUDGET OF UP TO 5% OF THE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS).

10. HEALTH CARE EXPENSES:

+ EXPENSES FOR PURCHASING HEALTH RECORD BOOKS AND ANNUAL HEALTH CHECK-UPS FOR STUDENTS.

+ EXPENSES FOR HEALTH INSURANCE AND COMMON MEDICATIONS STORED IN THE SCHOOL PHARMACY.

11. EXPENSES FOR ADMISSION AND GRADUATION EXAMS:

ADMISSION WORK AND EXAMINATION FOR PROMOTION, GRADUATION, AND TRANSFER SHALL BE CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO CURRENT REGULATIONS OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING. THE SCHOOL CAN ESTIMATE EXPENSES FOR THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

+ PREPARATION OF ADMISSION, ACCEPTANCE, AND GRADUATION DOCUMENTS ACCORDING TO CURRENT REGULATIONS.

+ PREPARATION OF STUDENT ID CARDS AND INDIVIDUAL BADGES.

12. EXPENSES FOR ELECTRICITY AND WATER FOR STUDY AND LIVING:

THE SCHOOL CAN ESTIMATE EXPENSES FOR ELECTRICITY AND WATER FOR STUDY AND LIVING AS FOLLOWS:

+ LIGHTING ELECTRICITY: AN AVERAGE OF 25 KW/MONTH PER STUDENT AT THE LOCAL ELECTRICITY RATE.

+ DOMESTIC WATER: AN AVERAGE OF 4 CUBIC METERS PER MONTH PER STUDENT AT THE LOCAL WATER RATE.

IN LOCATIONS WITHOUT ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY AND WATER SERVICES, THE SCHOOL CAN SPEND ON OIL LAMPS, INSTALL WATER MACHINES, OR DIG WELLS. NO INDIVIDUAL EXPENSES FOR ELECTRICITY AND WATER ARE PROVIDED.

13. Collective dining hall expenses: Annually, the school is allowed to purchase, supplement, and repair dining equipment at a rate of 15,000 VND per student per year.

14. Other provisions:

+ For students who cannot continue their studies at the school due to not graduating, being disciplined with compulsory withdrawal, or withdrawing due to long-term illness, they shall follow the current regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training and will not be entitled to continue receiving stipends as provided in this Circular.

+ In cases of temporary detention, during the period of detention, they will not be entitled to scholarships.

+ Students who miss classes for medical treatment still receive scholarships but not exceeding three months in total. If students must return home, travel expenses including those for accompanying personnel will be reimbursed.

III - FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT WORK:

1. Budget preparation work:

General schools for ethnic minorities residing within counties, provinces, central areas, and preparatory universities prepare annual expenditure budgets according to Circular No. 103/1998/TT-BTC dated July 18, 1998, issued by the Ministry of Finance, guiding the delegation, preparation, implementation, and settlement of state budget.

2. Accounting and settlement work:

General schools for ethnic minorities residing and preparatory universities implement Decree No. 87/CP dated December 19, 1996, issued by the Government detailing the delegation of management, preparation, implementation, and settlement of the state budget; Decision No. 999TC/QĐ/CĐKT dated November 2, 1996, issued by the Minister of Finance regarding the issuance of the accounting system for administrative and public services and current accounting regulations of the State.

3. Financial inspection and audit work:

+ Schools implement financial transparency, regularly organize self-inspection of accounting records and the use of funds within the school.

+ The higher-level educational management agency collaborates with the same-level finance agency to conduct regular inspections and approve settlements of the school according to current regulations.

IV- IMPLEMENTATION:

1. Funding for students in general schools for ethnic minorities residing and preparatory universities is included in the annual education and training budget.

2. This Circular takes effect from September 1, 1998, and replaces Circular No. 30/TT-LB dated August 28, 1974, issued jointly by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Finance. Specifically, the scholarship regime for students in general schools for ethnic minorities residing and preparatory universities according to Decision No. 1121/1997/QĐ-TTg dated December 23, 1997, issued by the Prime Minister, will be implemented from January 1, 1998.

During implementation, if any issues arise, please report them to the relevant authorities for timely research and supplementation or amendment.