JOINT CIRCULAR No. 18-VHTT-GDĐT/TTLB on coordinating to promote cultural and artistic activities and information dissemination in schools

CIRCULAR

OF THE JOINT MINISTRY OF CULTURE, INFORMATION - EDUCATION AND TRAINING
On coordinating to promote cultural, artistic, and information activities in schools

To implement the Resolution of the Fourth Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Party (Term VII) on cultural work, literature and art, education and training, aiming to "contribute to building Vietnamese people with intelligence, morality, soul, emotion, lifestyle, good character, firm foundation, at par with the reform cause for a wealthy people, a strong country, a just and civilized society." In the short term, it serves the timely needs of major holidays in 1994 and 1995. The Ministry of Culture, Information and the Ministry of Education and Training agree to issue a Joint Circular on "Coordinating to Promote Cultural, Artistic, and Information Activities in Schools."

- Strengthening coordination between the two sectors at all levels to further promote cultural, artistic, and information activities among teachers, staff, and students, making these activities a regular practice to enhance the effectiveness of education in terms of personality, lifestyle, and aesthetic appreciation for the young generation of Vietnam.

I. OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

- Through cultural, artistic, and information activities in schools, launch movements to protect and promote patriotic traditions, revolutionary traditions, and national cultural traditions among students, push back and prevent degenerate and violent cultural products, contributing to maintaining political stability and cleansing society.

- Gradually implement socialization of cultural and artistic activities, and information activities among students and young adults in response to major national holidays in 1994 and 1995.

II. DIRECTIONS AND CONTENT OF ACTIVITIES

The main direction of cultural, artistic, and information activities in schools is aimed at contributing to building Vietnamese people, particularly the young generation of students, in terms of morality, soul, emotion, lifestyle, with a good character, capable of preserving the national cultural identity, selectively absorbing the finest elements of world culture, protecting and promoting local cultural heritage, and building a healthy cultural life at the grassroots level.

In the future, the two ministries will focus on directing the implementation of the following goals and contents:

1. Expanding the teaching of music and fine arts subjects in schools, primarily in kindergartens and general secondary schools according to the curriculum of the Ministry of Education and Training, to improve the quality of aesthetic, moral, and emotional education for students and the young generation of Vietnam.

2. Organizing guidance for students and young adults to participate in group dance and singing activities according to the curricula of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Culture - Information. Each school should have a choir, a dance team, and a music group to serve as nuclei for group dance and singing movements and to provide services for collective activities, national and local holidays, and school events.

3. Organizing and guiding students, young adults, and teachers to participate in artistic performances, film screenings, art exhibitions, and activities to protect national cultural heritage, historical and revolutionary sites, and to contribute to the activities of local traditional houses, researching and collecting artifacts and materials related to the traditions of nation-building and defense, national and local cultural traditions, and school traditions.

Schools organize visits to museums and historical-cultural and revolutionary sites within the annual study and educational programs of the school.

5. Consolidating, expanding, and building school libraries to create conditions for providing educational books and newspapers that serve the teaching and learning of teachers and students, contributing to enhancing knowledge for both teachers and students. In villages, communes, and wards with favorable conditions, local authorities may entrust school libraries and book cabinets to schools for exploitation and use within the school and to serve a large number of readers in the locality. Widespread promotion of reading competitions and understanding of good and excellent books in schools.

6. Each general or vocational high school organizes cultural and artistic clubs, and each university and college establishes student cultural centers to attract students with talents and willing to participate in musical, theatrical, cinematographic, artistic, reading, and local cultural collection activities.

At all levels, the cultural and information sector has the responsibility to dispatch competent and dedicated cadres and performers to support school cultural houses and clubs to discover, train, and nurture cultural and artistic talents for the locality and the country.

7. Once a year, schools organize artistic performances under the guidance of the Provincial Department of Education and Training and the Provincial Department of Culture and Information. Every two years, the Ministry of Education and Training together with the Ministry of Culture and Information organize nationwide artistic festivals and competitions in music and dance, divided into blocks of schools: odd years for general school performances, even years for higher education and specialized school performances. Every four years, organize a nationwide artistic performance for teachers.

8. On the occasion of local, national, and international festivals and anniversaries, schools organize history quizzes and drawing contests to meet the activity needs of students and young adults. The Ministry of Education and Training coordinates with the Ministry of Culture and Information to organize artistic creation competitions on school and homeland themes.

9. Schools launch and maintain movements to build courteous students and young adults, creating a healthy, civilized, and historical cultural environment, contributing to preventing social evils and peaceful evolution plots from infiltrating schools.

III. IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES

III. MEASURES FOR IMPLEMENTATION

1. BASED ON THE ABOVE CONTENTS, THE DEPARTMENTS OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION SHALL CLOSELY COOPERATE WITH THE DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO ANNUALLY DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND BUDGETS FOR CULTURAL AND ART ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS UNDER THEIR LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL, SUBMITTING THEM TO THE PROVINCE OR CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEE FOR APPROVAL AND DISTRIBUTION TO THE SCHOOLS. UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MINISTRIES SHALL ANNUALLY DEVELOP PROGRAMS AND BUDGETS FOR CULTURAL, ART, AND INFORMATION ACTIVITIES, SUBMITTING THEM TO THE MAIN MANAGING MINISTRY FOR APPROVAL AND FUNDS. THE TWO SECTORS OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING AT ALL LEVELS SHALL HAVE PLANS AND FUNDS TO STRENGTHEN METHODS OF CULTURAL AND ART ACTIVITIES FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND STUDENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH WORK IN SCHOOLS, SELECTING CULTURAL OFFICERS AND ARTISTS WITH CAPABILITY AND ENTHUSIASM TO ORGANIZE AND GUIDE CULTURAL AND ART MOVEMENTS IN SCHOOLS.

2. CULTURAL AND ART SCHOOLS, CULTURAL HOUSES, AND LIBRARIES UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION SHALL DEVELOP PLANS TO STRENGTHEN AND TRAIN MUSIC AND DRAWING TEACHERS, LIBRARY STAFF, AND CULTURAL OFFICERS FOR SCHOOLS AS REQUIRED BY THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING SECTOR.

3. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING SHALL GRADUALLY ESTABLISH A MUSIC TEACHER AND A DRAWING TEACHER IN EACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY IN EACH BOARDING SCHOOL FOR ETHNIC MINORITY STUDENTS, TO TEACH ALL SUBJECTS. RESEARCH SHALL BE CONDUCTED TO REVISE THE CONTENT AND METHODS OF TEACHING MUSIC AND DRAWING COURSES TO BE SUITABLE FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF STUDENTS IN GENERAL EDUCATION AND ETHNIC MINORITY BOARDING SCHOOLS.

4. PROFESSIONAL ART TRoupES, THEATRES, MOVIE SCREENING TEAMS, AND MOBILE INFORMATION TEAMS OF THE CULTURAL SECTOR, AND VIDEO SCREENING TEAMS OF THE EDUCATION SECTOR SHALL PLAN SERVICES FOR SCHOOLS WITH APPROPRIATE CONTENT AND REDUCE TICKET PRICES BY 50% FOR STUDENTS AND STUDENTS.

5. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION SHALL GRADUALLY DEVELOP PLANS TO EQUIP SCHOOLS WITH MEANS FOR CULTURAL, ART, AND INFORMATION ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY IN ETHNIC MINORITY BOARDING SCHOOLS AND STUDENT RESIDENCE HALLS.

6. THE PROPAGANDA AND MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS OF THE MINISTRIES OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING SHALL HAVE THE TASK OF PROVIDING INFORMATION, PROMOTING, AND GUIDING CULTURAL AND ART ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS. THE TWO MINISTRIES SHALL REQUEST CENTRAL AND LOCAL NEWS AGENCIES, RADIO, AND TELEVISION TO TIMELY REFLECT ALL CULTURAL AND ART, AND INFORMATION ACTIVITIES OF SCHOOLS.

7. IN THE ANNUAL REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, THERE MUST BE A SECTION EVALUATING CULTURAL AND ART ACTIVITIES IN LOCAL AND CENTRAL SCHOOLS LOCATED IN THE AREA, AND A SECTION OUTLINING THE DIRECTION AND PLANS FOR CULTURAL AND ART ACTIVITIES FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

8. THE MINISTRIES OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING SHALL ANNUALLY DEVELOP PLANS AND BUDGETS FOR CULTURAL AND ART ACTIVITIES FOR UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS, SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND KINDERGARTENS.

9. THE SECTORS OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING AT ALL LEVELS SHALL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ADVOCATE SOCIETY BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN TO CONTRIBUTE TO CULTURAL AND ART, AND INFORMATION ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS TO EXPAND THE SOCIALIZATION OF THESE ACTIVITIES.

10. THE SECTOR OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION SHALL HAVE PLANS TO ASSIST IN THE FORMATION, STRENGTHENING, AND IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STUDENT CULTURAL HOUSES IN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, BOTH FINANCIALLY AND IN EQUIPMENT.

11. THE TWO SECTORS RECOMMEND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SOON ISSUE SOME POLICIES REGARDING STAFF ENGAGED IN POPULAR CULTURAL WORK IN SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS AND ETHNIC REGIONS. ANNUAL INVESTMENTS IN FUNDS AND NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE SHALL BE MADE TO SERVE CULTURAL AND ART, AND INFORMATION ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS AND SOCIETY.

IV. ORGANIZATION AND GUIDANCE

TO ASSIST THE LEADERSHIP OF THE TWO MINISTRIES IN EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTING THIS CIRCULAR, THE MINISTRIES OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING DECIDE:

1. TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR CULTURAL AND ART INFORMATION ACTIVITIES AMONG STUDENTS AND STUDENTS COMPRISING:

- ONE DEPUTY MINISTER FROM EACH MINISTRY, WITH THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING AS THE CHAIRMAN.

- REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CENTRAL IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT

- REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CENTRAL SCIENCE AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

- REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE YOUTH UNION AND THE STUDENT UNION OF VIETNAM.

- REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MINISTRIES OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING. - REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TRAINING DEPARTMENT, THE ETHNIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, THE PERFORMING ARTS CIRCULATORY CULTURE AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT (MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION).

- REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE POLITICAL WORK AND STUDENT DEPARTMENT, THE GENERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT (MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING).

- THE TRAINING DEPARTMENT (MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION) AND THE POLITICAL WORK AND STUDENT DEPARTMENT (MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING) SHALL BE THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES.

THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CIRCULAR: MONITORING, EVALUATING, DEVELOPING ANNUAL PROGRAMS AND BUDGETS, SUBMITTING THEM TO THE TWO MINISTRIES FOR APPROVAL TO DIRECT IMPLEMENTATION NATIONWIDE. THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE SHALL MEET ONCE A YEAR IN LATE NOVEMBER.

2. TO ESTABLISH A COMMITTEE FOR CULTURAL AND ART ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS AT THE PROVINCE, CITY, DISTRICT, QUARTER, OR MUNICIPAL LEVEL, COMPRISING THE LEADERS OF THE TWO SECTORS OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING AT THE SAME LEVEL, WITH THE LEADER OF THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING SECTOR AS THE CHAIRMAN. THIS COMMITTEE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING WITH SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS AT THE SAME LEVEL TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT THE CIRCULAR.

3. THE PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE SHALL MEET EVERY SIX MONTHS TO REVIEW AND PLAN THE WORK FOR EACH SEMESTER.

ANNUALLY IN OCTOBER, THE PROVINCIAL COMMITTEE SHALL REPORT THE RESULTS OF IMPLEMENTING THE CIRCULAR TO THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE.

V. EFFECTIVE DATE

1. This Circular takes effect from the date of issuance.

2. THE GENERAL AND SPECIALIZED DEPARTMENTS OF THE TWO MINISTRIES SUCH AS THE MINISTRY'S OFFICE, THE TRAINING DEPARTMENT, THE PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT, THE CULTURAL AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT AT THE BASE LEVEL, THE LIBRARY, THE PRESERVATION AND MUSEUM DEPARTMENT, THE ETHNIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, THE PLANNING AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION, AND THE DEPARTMENTS OF POLITICAL WORK AND STUDENTS, THE MINISTRY'S OFFICE, THE PLANNING AND FINANCE DEPARTMENT, AND THE DEPARTMENTS OF EACH EDUCATIONAL LEVEL UNDER THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, THE DIRECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION BRANCHES OF WARD, TOWN, AND MARKET SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SPREADING, ENCOURAGING, PROVIDING CONDITIONS, AND INSPECTING SCHOOLS IN IMPLEMENTING THE CIRCULAR.

3. THE MINISTERS OF THE MINISTRIES, THE HEADS OF THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES OF EQUAL STATUS WITH MINISTRIES THAT HAVE SCHOOLS, AND THE CHAIRMEN OF THE PROVINCE AND CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DIRECTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CIRCULAR.

The principals of kindergarten, primary, secondary, vocational, and higher education institutions, including private, public, and international schools located in Vietnam, are responsible for implementing this Circular.