Joint Circular No. 22/2005/TTLT/BLDTBXH-BTC-BGD&ĐT guiding the implementation of Decision No. 62/2005/QD-TTg dated March 24, 2005 of the Prime Minister on policies to support the universalization of junior secondary education.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Implementing Decision No. 62/2005/QĐ-TTg dated March 24, 2005

of the Prime Minister on Support Policies for Universal Secondary Education

Implementation

Pursuant to Decision No. 62/2005/QĐ-TTg dated March 24, 2005 of the Prime Minister on support policies for universal secondary education implementation, the Joint Ministries of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Finance, and Education and Training provide guidelines as follows:

 I. ELIGIBILITY AND SUPPORT POLICIES

1. Students who are disabled, regardless of the cause of disability, suffering from the loss or impairment of one or more body parts or functions, manifesting in various forms of disabilities that reduce their ability to function, making labor, daily living, and study difficult, shall be entitled to a minimum reduction of 50% in tuition fees and contributions for school construction.

In cases where students with disabilities belong to poor households, they shall be exempted from 100% of tuition fees, contributions for school construction, and shall receive a one-time grant of at least 120,000 dong per student per year to purchase textbooks, notebooks, and learning materials.

2. Students who are orphaned of both parents; orphaned of one parent (but the remaining parent is missing or unable to raise them according to current laws); abandoned, deprived of means of support, and without relatives to rely on shall be exempted from 100% of tuition fees, contributions for school construction, and shall receive a one-time grant of at least 120,000 dong per student per year to purchase textbooks, notebooks, and learning materials.

3. Students belonging to ethnic minority groups and classified as poor households shall be exempted from 100% of tuition fees, contributions for school construction, and shall receive a one-time grant of at least 120,000 dong per student per year to purchase textbooks, notebooks, and learning materials.

4. Students belonging to poor households as defined by current laws shall be entitled to a minimum reduction of 50% in tuition fees and contributions for school construction.

 II. PROCEDURES AND DOCUMENTATION FOR RECEIVING SUPPORT POLICIES

1. For students studying at public schools:

a) Students eligible for exemption or reduction in tuition fees and contributions for school construction must submit an application for support policy benefits (Form 01 attached hereto), confirmed by the People's Committee of the commune (for disabled students, there must also be confirmation from the head of the commune health station). The application is made in two copies, one copy submitted to the school where the student is enrolled to serve as the basis for exemption or reduction of contributions according to regulations, and one copy submitted to the Department of Civil Affairs - Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the Department of Civil Affairs - Labor) for monitoring and management.

b) Students eligible for a one-time grant to purchase textbooks, notebooks, and learning materials, in addition to the application (two copies - Form 01 attached hereto), must also provide a confirmation form (Form 02 attached hereto) issued by the school each academic year. These documents (hereinafter referred to as the file) are submitted to the Department of Civil Affairs - Labor of the district where the student has permanent residence to be considered for assistance from local social security funds.

2. For students studying at non-public schools:

Students eligible for support policies of exemption or reduction in tuition fees, contributions for school construction, and a one-time grant to purchase textbooks, notebooks, and learning materials must complete the application forms for exemption or reduction as students in public schools (as stated in point 1) and submit them to the Department of Civil Affairs - Labor of the district where the student has permanent residence to be considered for assistance from local social security funds.

III. IMPLEMENTATION METHODS FOR SUPPORT POLICIES

1. For students currently studying at public schools:

a) Based on the student's application, the school implements exemptions or reductions in tuition fees and contributions for school construction, and issues a confirmation form for students eligible for a one-time grant for textbooks, notebooks, and learning materials (Form 02 attached hereto).

b) The Department of Civil Affairs - Labor bases its list of students receiving grants on the application files submitted by students and reports it to the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs for review and approval.

2. For students currently studying at non-public schools:

a) The Department of Civil Affairs - Labor bases its list of students receiving grants for tuition fee exemptions, contributions for school construction, and a one-time grant for textbooks, notebooks, and learning materials on the application files submitted by students, reviews and checks, and reports it to the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs for review and approval.

b) The level of support for tuition fees and contributions for school construction for students studying at non-public schools is determined by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

3. Payment Time:

- The Department of Civil Affairs - Labor disburses support payments to students based on the approved list by the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs and reports on the number of beneficiaries and the amount paid according to current regulations.

- The grant for purchasing textbooks, notebooks, and learning materials and contributions for school construction is paid during the first semester of the academic year.

- The grant for tuition fees for students studying at non-public schools is provided annually and paid in two semesters.

If due to any reason the payment of support policies to students does not meet the prescribed deadlines, students will receive the payment in the next disbursement period.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

1. The budget for implementing support policies for universal secondary education as stipulated in this Circular is allocated within the annual social security budget of the local government. Management, utilization, and settlement of the subsidy budget for eligible recipients are carried out in accordance with the State Budget Law and related guiding documents.

2. Students eligible for preferential policies under Clause 1, Clause 2, Clause 3, and Clause 4 of Article 2 of Decision No. 62/2005/QĐ-TTg shall be implemented in accordance with current laws regarding preferential policies for those who have contributed to the revolution.

3. Students who are ethnic minorities currently benefiting from support policies pursuant to Decision No. 168/2001/QD-TTg dated October 30, 2001 of the Government on long-term orientation, five-year plan 2001-2005, and basic solutions for economic and social development in the Central Highlands; Decision No. 186/2001/QD-TTg dated December 7, 2001 of the Government on economic and social development in seven particularly difficult mountainous provinces in the North during the period 2001-2005 (Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Son La, Lai Chau, Dien Bien); Decision No. 173/2001/QD-TTg dated November 6, 2001 of the Government on economic and social development in the Mekong Delta region for the period 2001-2005; National Target Program on Education and Training until 2005 shall continue to benefit according to current regulations. When the implementation period of these policies ends, students who are ethnic minorities belonging to the poor category will enjoy support policies as stipulated in Point 3, Section I of this Circular.

4. Students attending boarding schools for ethnic minorities at general secondary schools shall enjoy preferential treatment regimes and policies according to current regulations applicable to students at boarding schools for ethnic minorities.

5. The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of the provincial level shall be responsible for:

+ Annually, based on the number of beneficiaries and the level of support for each type of beneficiary, prepare a budget plan for support funds to send to the Department of Finance, the Department of Planning and Investment for submission to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for decision.

+ Guide and supervise subordinate agencies in implementing support policies and compile annual reports on the results of implementation to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

6. The Department of Education and Training shall be responsible for directing District Departments of Education and Training, public schools to implement policies of exemption and reduction of tuition fees and contributions for school construction for students eligible for support under the provisions.

 V. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

1. This Circular shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

2. In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties, please promptly reflect them to the Joint Ministries for study and resolution./.