Circular No. 16/2016/TT-BGDĐT guiding certain contents of Decision No. 72/2014/QD-TTg dated December 17, 2014 of the Government on teaching and learning in foreign languages in schools and other educational institutions

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Implementing Certain Provisions of Decision No. 72/2014/QĐ-TTg dated December 17, 2014 of the Prime Minister on Teaching and Learning in Foreign Languages in Schools and Other Educational Institutions

dated December 17, 2014 of the Prime Minister stipulating teaching and learning in foreign languages in schools and other educational institutions;

 in foreign languages in schools and other educational institutions

Pursuant to Decree No. 36/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 18, 2012, of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 32/2008/NĐ-CP dated March 19, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Decision No. 72/2014/QĐ-TTg dated December 17, 2014 of the Prime Minister stipulating teaching and learning in foreign languages in schools and other educational institutions;

Considering the proposal of the Director of the Department of International Cooperation,

The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular guiding certain provisions of Decision No. 72/2014/QĐ-TTg dated December 17, 2014 of the Prime Minister stipulating teaching and learning in foreign languages in schools and other educational institutions.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

This Circular guides the implementation of certain provisions of Decision No. 72/2014/QĐ-TTg dated December 17, 2014 of the Prime Minister stipulating teaching and learning in foreign languages in schools and other educational institutions, including: incentive regimes for elementary school students and secondary school students studying in foreign languages; the duration of effectiveness of the Decision approving the Implementation Plan for the program of teaching and learning in foreign languages (hereinafter referred to as the Plan); extension, suspension, and revocation of the Decision approving the Plan for general education schools, continuing education institutions, and higher education institutions.

Article 2. Incentive Regime for Students Studying in Foreign Languages

1. For elementary school students: Students who take tests and exams in foreign languages and achieve good results will be rewarded by the school according to the provisions of Circular No. 30/2014/TT-BGDĐT dated August 28, 2014 issued by the Minister of Education and Training on the assessment of elementary school students, and/or may serve as data for admission to middle school.

2. For secondary school students: Students who take additional end-of-year and end-of-grade exams in foreign languages and achieve good results will be considered personal achievements in their studies and training; they will be eligible for bonus Points added to the exam scores of the corresponding foreign language subject. The bonus Point level is determined by the Department of Education and Training according to the principle that the maximum score for a foreign language subject is 10 and the maximum bonus Points do not exceed 2 Points. Additionally, students who achieve excellent results in end-of-grade exams in foreign languages will be eligible for bonus Points in the entrance examination for general high schools and specialized high schools as specified by the Department of Education and Training; they will also be eligible for bonus Points in university and college admissions according to the regulations of each institution.

Article 3. Duration of Effectiveness of the Decision Approving the Plan

The Decision approving the Plan for implementing the program of teaching and learning in foreign languages (hereinafter referred to as the Plan) shall be effective for five years from the date of issuance; it may be extended, with each extension not exceeding five years.

Article 4. Extension of the Effectiveness of the Plan

1. Conditions for Extension:

An educational institution may be considered for the extension of the effectiveness of the Plan for implementing the program of teaching and learning in foreign languages when meeting all of the following conditions:

a) Properly implementing all contents in the Decision approving the Plan that has been granted;

b) Not engaging in any violation of Vietnamese laws;

c) Continuing to meet the conditions stipulated in Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of Decision No. 72/2014/QĐ-TTg dated December 17, 2014 of the Prime Minister stipulating teaching and learning in foreign languages in schools and other educational institutions;

d) Properly implementing the incentive regime for students studying in foreign languages as stipulated in Article 2 of this Circular.

2. Documents for Requesting Extension:

a) A request for extension signed by the head of the educational institution;

b) A report summarizing the activities of teaching and learning in foreign languages during the period the Decision approving the Plan was effective, including the main contents:

- Legal basis;

- General information about the program: name of the program, implementation time, time already extended (if applicable);

- Number of classes, teachers, and students participating, teaching and learning outcomes;

- Advantages and difficulties encountered during implementation;

- Recommendations.

c) Proposals for adjustments (if any) in the Decision approving the Plan and explanations.

3. Authority, Procedures, and Formalities for Extension:

a) Six months before the Decision approving the Plan expires, the application for extension must be submitted to the authority specified in Article 10 of Decision No. 72/2014/QĐ-TTg dated December 17, 2014 of the Prime Minister stipulating teaching and learning in foreign languages in schools and other educational institutions;

b) Within five working days from the date of receipt of the application, if the application does not meet the requirements stipulated in Clause 3 of Article 4 of this Circular, the authority must notify the educational institution to supplement and complete the application;

c) Within twenty working days from the date of receipt of a valid application, the authority is responsible for approving and issuing the Decision extending the implementation of the Plan. If the educational institution does not meet the conditions to continue operations, the approving authority is responsible for responding in writing, specifying the reasons.

Article 5. Suspension of activities and revocation of the Decision approving the Project

1. Teaching and learning activities in foreign languages shall be suspended in the following cases:

a) The Decision approving the Project becomes invalid;

b) The educational institution fails to meet the requirements stipulated in Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of Decision No. 72/2014/QĐ-TTg dated December 17, 2014, issued by the Prime Minister on teaching and learning in foreign languages in schools and other educational institutions;

c) The educational institution does not comply with the incentive regime for learners in foreign languages as prescribed in Article 2 of this Circular.

2. The Decision approving the Project shall be revoked in the following cases:

a) The educational institution commits violations of the law and/or is penalized by law enforcement agencies to the extent that the Decision must be revoked during the implementation of the Project;

b) After the suspension period has expired, the educational institution fails to rectify the deficiencies leading to the suspension.

The authority responsible for suspending and revoking the Decision approving the Project is the authority authorized to approve the Project as provided for in Article 10 of Decision No. 72/2014/QĐ-TTg dated December 17, 2014, issued by the Prime Minister on teaching and learning in foreign languages in schools and other educational institutions.

Article 6. Implementation Provisions

1. This Circular takes effect from July 4, 2016.

2. The Head of the Office, the Director of the International Cooperation Department, the Heads of relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training, the Chairpersons of Provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government, the Directors of Departments of Education and Training, and the Heads of educational institutions are responsible for implementing this Circular./.