Circular No. 16/2006/TT-BTC on the allowance system for training Lao and Cambodian students studying in Vietnam

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the training expenditure quota for Laotian and Cambodian students studying in Vietnam

Training expenditure quota for Laotian and Cambodian students studying in Vietnam

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Pursuant to Decree No. 77/2003/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance;

Implementing the guidance of the Prime Minister in Document No. 7306/VPCP-QHQT dated December 16, 2005 regarding the assignment to the Ministry of Finance to guide the adjustment of the training expenditure quota for Laotian and Cambodian students studying in Vietnam;

The Ministry of Finance hereby stipulates the implementation regulations on the training expenditure quota for Laotian and Cambodian students studying in Vietnam as follows:

I. OBJECTS

The objects subject to the training expenditure quota are Laotian and Cambodian students studying in Vietnam under annual agreements and memoranda of understanding signed between the Governments of Vietnam and Laos, and between the Governments of Vietnam and the Kingdom of Cambodia concerning economic, cultural, scientific, and technical cooperation.

II. STRUCTURE OF TRAINING EXPENDITURE QUOTA

1. The training expenditure quota is specified for each level of education: Secondary, University or equivalent, Postgraduate, Short-term training program (less than 12 months).

2. The training expenditure quota consists of two parts:

- The part directly received by the student.

- The part managed by the school to cover expenses for the student's study and living, which is detailed as follows:

2.1 The part directly received by the student: Includes scholarships and initial personal supplies.

a) Scholarships: Laotian and Cambodian students studying in Vietnam under the annual cooperation agreement between the two governments shall receive monthly scholarships in Vietnamese Dong from the month they arrive in Vietnam until the end of their graduation month, to be used for food, clothing, and miscellaneous expenses according to the following levels:

Unit: Vietnamese Dong

For students coming to learn Vietnamese to take entrance exams for higher levels, the scholarship level will be that of the lower level. In the case of students learning Vietnamese to enter secondary school, they will immediately receive the secondary school scholarship level.

b) Initial personal supplies (provided in kind):

When newly arriving in Vietnam, Laotian and Cambodian students will be provided with initial personal supplies necessary for the entire duration of their studies (if lost or damaged, they will not be replaced; when transferring schools or graduating and returning home, students may take them with them), detailed as follows:

- For full-time long-term students, they will be provided with: 1 personal blanket, 1 personal quilt (including both cover and stuffing), 1 suit, 1 pair of shoes, 1 sweater or warm coat, 1 personal wash basin, with the total amount allocated for this expense not exceeding 3,000,000 dong.

- For short-term students (under 12 months), they will be provided with: 1 personal blanket, 1 personal quilt (including both cover and stuffing), 1 suit, and 1 personal wash basin, with the total amount allocated for this expense not exceeding 2,400,000 dong.

(Details are set out in Appendix 1 attached)

- Special cases for students in the Defense, Security, Cryptography sectors will be provided with regular military uniforms according to sector regulations, in addition to the initial personal supplies as stipulated above, they will also receive an additional allowance of 40,000 dong per person per month for uniform differences.

2.2 School-managed funds for student training:

School-managed funds for student training include monthly administrative expenses, incidental expenses during the year, and incidental expenses throughout the entire period of study in Vietnam, calculated and converted monthly for each level of education, as follows:

Unit: Vietnamese Dong

(Details are set out in Appendix 2 attached)

- Schools in the Defense, Security, Cryptography, Physical Education, Arts sectors will have an additional 10% of the regular expenses for each level of education to ensure teaching and learning activities.

- International travel costs: The Ministry of Finance will allocate funds to the school to purchase tickets for students (students will not receive direct cash payments). If students choose other means of transportation (not air travel), the actual ticket price recorded on the receipt will be reimbursed.

- For full-time postgraduate students: Students present in Vietnam for a particular month will receive the training expenditure quota for that month. Each concentrated study period, students will be granted one round-trip air ticket. Initial personal supplies for students and the school will be provided once for the entire course.

- The school will organize health insurance for Laotian and Cambodian students according to current regulations.

- For short-term students: They may be eligible for interpreter fees up to 500,000 dong per student per month within the regular monthly expenses.

- For special professional training: If the current regulations provide a higher level than stipulated in this Circular, units must prepare budgets and submit them to the Ministry of Finance and relevant authorities for consideration.

- Based on the number of students and the specific nature of their training, schools may flexibly adjust the regular expenses, incidental expenses during the year, and one-time expenses for the entire course as stipulated in Point 2.2 above, ensuring it aligns with their actual conditions but does not exceed the total amount prescribed.

3. Investment support, upgrading of facilities, procurement of fixed assets, and equipment serving the study and living needs of students.

- Ministries, agencies, and units should base their acceptance and organization of training for Laotian and Cambodian students on their existing facilities to ensure convenient accommodation, study, and living conditions for international students.

- In cases where there are difficulties requiring investment support, upgrading of infrastructure, procurement of fixed assets, and means of transportation for educational and living purposes for students, a report must be submitted to the Prime Minister and a separate budget estimate must be sent to the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance.

- Expenditures for investment support, upgrading of infrastructure, procurement of fixed assets, and means of transportation for educational and living purposes for students shall be allocated according to the annual plan indicators.

III. ESTABLISHING BUDGETS, ALLOCATION, AND SETTLEMENT OF EXPENSES

- Based on the Prime Minister's documents regarding the implementation of the annual cooperation agreements between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Laos, between the Government of Vietnam and the Royal Government of Cambodia, and the training plan indicators for Laotian and Cambodian students, including plans for investment support, upgrading of infrastructure, procurement of fixed assets, and means of transportation for educational and living purposes for students as specified in point 3 above (if applicable).

- Based on the budget allocation plan from the supervising authority, based on the actual number of students currently enrolled at each level, the expected new enrollments, the number graduating, and their specific training characteristics, units tasked with directly training Laotian and Cambodian students need to prepare a full-year budget estimate and quarterly budget estimates for the specific contents stipulated in this Circular and submit them to the Ministry of Finance for approval.

(According to the model attached as Appendix 3)

- Units tasked with directly training Laotian and Cambodian students are responsible for preparing final settlement reports on expenditures for training Laotian and Cambodian students to be submitted to the supervising authority and the Ministry of Finance in accordance with current reporting regulations.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

This Circular takes effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette and is implemented from April 1, 2006, for Laotian and Cambodian students currently studying in Vietnam under the annual cooperation agreements, replacing Circular Joint 91 LB/TC-KH dated November 9, 2001 issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and other documents that conflict with these provisions are hereby abolished./.