Joint Circular No. 157-TT/LB guiding the implementation of Decision No. 104-CP dated July 5, 1968 of the Council of Ministers on amending the scholarship system for high school and college students at universities and vocational schools.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Implementing Decision No. 104-CP dated July 5, 1968 of the Council of Ministers on Amending the Scholarship System for Students at Universities and Vocational Schools

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The Council of Ministers has issued Decision No. 104-CP dated July 5, 1968 amending the scholarship system for students at universities and vocational schools. The Ministry of Higher Education and Vocational Training - Finance explains and guides the implementation of the new scholarship system as follows:

I. MEANING OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE SCHOLARSHIP SYSTEM.

Up until now, the State has made many efforts to improve the scholarship system for students at universities and vocational schools in order to help children of working-class people and cadres, workers, and civil servants have the opportunity to study, thereby creating conditions for continuously expanding the scale and improving the quality of training scientific and technical personnel and economic managers for the State. A large number of students are children of working-class people, particularly those of workers and collective farmers, who have been admitted to universities and vocational schools and have received scholarships from the State.

In the current situation where the country is at war, the scale of training scientific and technical personnel and economic managers continues to expand, the number of students admitted to universities and vocational schools increases every year, the Government has decided to amend the scholarship system: The State ensures feeding for all students at universities and vocational schools. This decision has significant implications for the training of cadres, for the living conditions of families of working-class people and cadres, workers, and civil servants whose children have been admitted to universities and vocational schools, and especially for schools in terms of nurturing students.

II. CONTENTS OF THE NEW SCHOLARSHIP SYSTEM

1. Generally, all students (except cadres studying while receiving living expenses) will be granted scholarships by the State according to the following levels:

- University students: 18 dong per month.

- Secondary school students: 16 dong per month. Scholarships will be granted throughout the period of study at the school, including summer holidays.

Female students will also receive an additional 50 dong per month for hygiene fees.

2. Specifically, the following categories of students will continue to receive scholarships according to the previous regulations:

II. IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES

1. When implementing the new scholarship system, attention should be paid to the following points:

a) For current students who are currently receiving full scholarships (22 dong for university and 20 dong for secondary school) according to the old regulations, even though they do not belong to the categories mentioned in Section II, Clause 2, Point c above, generally they will still retain that scholarship level until graduation, except in cases where it is unreasonable, then adjustments will be made according to the new system.

b) For universities and vocational schools at the central and local levels that were previously reviewed for grants based on a general ratio (within 65% full scholarships for universities and 70% full scholarships for vocational schools), if they have already automatically granted 100% full scholarships, they must adjust according to the new scholarship regulations.

c) Students whose parents work for agency B shall continue to receive subsidies as before, paid by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

2. The new state scholarship system aims to ensure meals for students: collective dining halls must guarantee two main meals per day, costing 18 dong for university students and 16 dong for vocational school students.

Relevant ministries, schools need to strengthen guidance on organizing and managing collective dining halls for students, continuing to promote self-production to improve meals for students. Special attention should be given to improving food processing techniques, resolutely combating corruption and waste to ensure that students eat adequately and fully according to the stipulated meal standards.

Only when the two main meals are improved can additional morning snacks be provided within the specified budget limits, without arbitrarily reducing meal standards to refund money to students.

3. For students receiving special policy scholarships, schools need to guide them to use the allocated funds for their intended purposes (clothing, personal consumption).

4. The process of granting scholarships to students must ensure the following procedures:

a) Students receiving special policy scholarships (higher than the standard grant) must submit necessary documentation, confirmed by responsible agencies and admission boards of provinces and cities.

The school's scholarship review board will directly review applications according to the procedures and then propose to the relevant ministry or provincial administrative committee for a formal decision on scholarship issuance.

Schools may temporarily allocate funds to immediately cover meal expenses when students arrive at school as scheduled in their call-up notices.

b) Once all procedures are completed and the relevant ministry or provincial administrative committee issues a formal scholarship decision, the school will prepare reports according to forms 1 and 2 attached to this circular ([1]), along with a list of approved students, and send them to the financial authority for funding allocation.

To ensure prompt stabilization of student life, these procedures must be completed within one month after the start of the new academic year.

c) Relevant ministries and provincial administrative committees with affiliated schools must compile scholarship distribution statistics according to form 2 (1) and submit them to the Ministry of Higher Education and Vocational Training and the Ministry of Finance once the schools have completed the scholarship review process.

5. The revised new scholarship system will take effect from the beginning of the 1968-1969 academic year, i.e., September 1, 1968, for current students, and from the date of enrollment as per the school's call-up notice for newly admitted students.

During implementation, if any difficulties arise or additional suggestions are needed, relevant ministries and provincial administrative committees are requested to promptly report to the Ministry of Higher Education and Vocational Training and the Ministry of Finance.