Circular No. 22/2024/TT-BGDĐT amending and supplementing certain articles of the Regulations issued together with Circulars No. 17/2018/TT-BGDĐT, No. 18/2018/TT-BGDĐT, and No. 19/2018/TT-BGDĐT dated August 22, 2018, of the Minister of Education and Training.

CIRCULAR

Amending and supplementing some articles of the Regulations issued together with

Circular No. 17/2018/TT-BGDĐT, Circular No. 18/2018/TT-BGDĐT

and Circular No. 19/2018/TT-BGDĐT dated August 22, 2018

of the Minister of Education and Training

WHEREAS pursuant to the Education Law on June 14, 2019;

On the basis of Decree No. 86/2022/NĐ-CP dated October 24, 2022 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

At the proposal of the Director of the Quality Management Department, the Head of the Early Childhood Education Department, the Head of the Primary Education Department, and the Head of the Secondary Education Department;

The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular amending and supplementing some articles of the Regulations issued together with Circular No. 17/2018/TT-BGDĐT, Circular No. 18/2018/TT-BGDĐT, and Circular No. 19/2018/TT-BGDĐT dated August 22, 2018 of the Minister of Education and Training.

Article 1. Amending and supplementing some articles of the Regulations issued together with Circular No. 17/2018/TT-BGDĐT as follows:

1. Amending Clause 2, Clause 3 Article 5 as follows:

“2. Primary schools recognized as meeting the educational quality standards according to Clause 2, Article 34 of these Regulations, at least one year after being recognized, may register for external evaluation and request recognition of higher-level educational quality standards.

3. Primary schools recognized as meeting the national standard Level 1, at least one year after being recognized, may register for external evaluation and request recognition of national standard Level 2.”

2. Amending the name of Clause 2 Article 7 as follows:

“2. Criterion 1.2: School Council and other councils”

3. Amending Point a Clause 10 Article 7 as follows:

“a) Ensuring regulations on public security and social order; food safety; fire prevention and explosion control; disaster and natural calamity prevention; disease prevention; social evil prevention and school violence prevention; accident and injury prevention;”

4. Amending Point c Clause 1 Article 8 as follows:

“c) Receiving professional training and vocational training as prescribed.”

5. Amending Point b Clause 2 Article 8 as follows:

“b) The ratio of teachers meeting the required qualification level as prescribed by the Government and the plan for upgrading teacher qualifications of the province or centrally-administered city;”

6. Amending Article 9 as follows:

“Article 9. Standard 3: Infrastructure and teaching equipment

1. Criterion 3.1: Location, scale, and area in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, including:

a) The location of the school and branch schools;

b) Scale;

c) Land area for construction of the school and branch schools; floor area of construction projects.”

2. Criterion 3.2: Construction projects ensuring the minimum infrastructure standards for primary schools as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:

a) Administrative management blocks;

b) Teaching blocks; supporting teaching blocks;

c) Auxiliary blocks; playgrounds and sports areas; service blocks.

3. Criterion 3.3: Technical infrastructure, solid construction projects, and teaching equipment ensuring the minimum infrastructure standards for primary schools as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:

a) Clean water supply system; electricity supply system; fire prevention and firefighting system; information technology and communication infrastructure; waste collection area;

b) Ratio of solid construction projects;

c) Teaching equipment.”

7. Amending Clause 1 of Article 11 as follows:

“1. Criterion 5.1: School education plan

a) Ensuring full implementation of the General Education Program for Primary Schools (Primary Program) and relevant professional regulations of the competent state authorities on education;

b) Ensuring alignment with the program's goals and requirements, students' needs, and practical conditions of the school, ensuring quality and effectiveness;

c) Providing explanations when requested by the competent authority and obtaining confirmation from the competent authority; fully implementing and timely reviewing, assessing, and adjusting.”

8. Amending Point a, Point b Clause 5 Article 11 as follows:

“a) The ratio of students completing the class curriculum shall be at least 75%;

b) The ratio of 11-year-old students completing the Primary Program shall be at least 70%;”

9. Amending the name of Clause 2 Article 12 as follows:

“2. Criterion 1.2: School Council and other councils”

10. Amending Article 14 as follows:

“Article 14. Standard 3: Infrastructure and teaching equipment

1. Criterion 3.2: Construction projects ensuring the Level 1 infrastructure standards for primary schools as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:

a) Administrative management blocks;

b) Teaching blocks; supporting teaching blocks;

c) Auxiliary blocks; playgrounds and sports areas; service blocks.

2. Criterion 3.3: Ratio of solid construction projects and land density ensuring the Level 1 infrastructure standards for primary schools as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training.”

11. Amending Clause 5 Article 16 as follows:

“5. Criterion 5.5: Educational outcomes

a) The ratio of students completing the class curriculum shall be at least 90%;

b) The ratio of 11-year-old children completing the Primary Program shall be at least 85%, and for schools in particularly difficult economic and social conditions, it shall be at least 75%.”

12. Amending Article 19 as follows:

“Article 19. Standard 3: Infrastructure and teaching equipment

1. Criterion 3.2: Construction projects ensuring the Level 2 infrastructure standards for primary schools as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:

a) Supporting teaching blocks;

b) Auxiliary blocks; playgrounds and sports areas; service blocks.

2. Criterion 3.3: Ratio of solid construction projects ensuring the Level 2 infrastructure standards for primary schools as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training.”

13. Amending and supplementing Point b Clause 4 Article 21 as follows:

“b) The ratio of 11-year-old children completing the Primary Program shall be at least 90%, and for schools in particularly difficult economic and social conditions, it shall be at least 80%.”

14. Supplementing Clause 6, Clause 7 into Article 22 as follows:

“6. The ratio of teachers exceeding the required qualification level shall be at least 20%; within five consecutive years up to the time of assessment, all teachers shall meet the professional standard at least at a good level, with at least 70% of teachers achieving an excellent level.

7. The ratio of students completing the class curriculum shall be at least 97%; the ratio of children up to 14 years old completing the Primary Program shall be 100%.”

15. Amending Point c Clause 2 Article 27 as follows:

"c) Implement the establishment of the external evaluation team in accordance with Article 29, Article 30, and carry out the steps in the external evaluation process as prescribed in Article 28 of this Regulation within three months from the date of notification to the Department of Education and Training or the primary school that its application for external evaluation has been accepted."

16. Amend Clause 2 of Article 29 as follows:

"2. In cases where a primary school requests recognition of national standards or simultaneously requests recognition of educational quality assessment and national standards, the Director of the Department of Education and Training shall decide to establish an external evaluation team. The external evaluation team must have at least seven (7) members, including:"

a) The team leader is a leader of the Department of Education and Training; or the Head or Deputy Head of functional departments of the Department of Education and Training; or the Head or Deputy Head of the Department of Education and Training;"

b) The secretary is a leader or specialist of functional departments of the Department of Education and Training; or a leader or specialist of the Department of Education and Training; or the Principal or Deputy Principal, or the head of specialized groups of the primary school;"

c) The remaining members are representatives of some relevant ministries, agencies, and sectors; representatives of the education sector trade union; and those who are currently working in the education sector and have knowledge of primary education."

17. Amend Clause 1 of Article 30 as follows:

"1. For those currently working in the education sector: have not worked at the primary school being externally evaluated; have at least five years of work experience in the education sector; and have completed the external evaluation training program organized by the Ministry of Education and Training or the Department of Education and Training."

18. Amend and supplement Point a of Clause 1 of Article 34 as follows:

"a) For newly established schools, they must have operated for at least five years and have at least one graduating class that has completed the primary school curriculum; for schools established through mergers or divisions, they must have operated for at least two years;"

19. Amend Clause 1 of Article 38 as follows:

"1. Within twenty working days from the date of receiving the report of the external evaluation team, the Director of the Department of Education and Training shall issue a decision to grant the National Standard Recognition Certificate to the primary school."

20. Amend Clause 2 of Article 39 as follows:

"2. Within twenty working days from the date of the conclusion by the Department of Education and Training regarding the primary school no longer meeting the evaluation criteria, the Director of the Department of Education and Training shall issue a decision to revoke the National Standard Recognition Certificate."

21. Amend Clause 2 of Article 41 as follows:

"2. Organize professional training for units and individuals involved in educational quality assessment and building national standard schools; issue a decision recognizing completion of the external evaluation training program organized by the Department of Education and Training, which meets the requirements stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training."

22. Amend Clause 4 of Article 43 as follows:

"4. Prepare all necessary files and data related to the school's activities, other essential conditions to serve the external evaluation work; provide timely feedback on draft evaluation reports. For primary schools that comply with the procedures for exchanging, storing, and processing electronic documents in administrative work, and the basic functions of the Electronic Document Management System during the handling of tasks by agencies and organizations, electronic documents can be used as evidence in educational quality assessment and national standard recognition activities."

Article 2. Amend and supplement some articles of the Regulations issued together with Circular No. 18/2018/TT-BGDĐT as follows:

1. Amending Clause 2, Clause 3 Article 5 as follows:

"2. Secondary schools recognized as meeting the educational quality assessment criteria under Clause 2 of Article 34 of this Regulation, at least one year after being recognized, may register for external evaluation and request recognition of higher-level educational quality assessment."

"3. Secondary schools recognized as meeting National Standard Level 1, at least one year after being recognized, may register for external evaluation and request recognition of National Standard Level 2."

"2. Supplement Clause 3 to Article 6 as follows:"

"3. General schools with multiple levels apply the highest level evaluation standards of the school along with the specific evaluation standards set forth in this Regulation; the evaluation levels according to Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article."

"3. Amend Points b and c of Clause 8 of Article 7 as follows:"

"b) The education plan is developed, approved, and reviewed, assessed, and adjusted in a timely manner as prescribed;"

"c) The form of educational activity organization meets the objectives and requirements of the education program, ensuring quality and effectiveness."

"4. Amend Point a of Clause 10 of Article 7 as follows:"

“a) Ensuring regulations on public security and social order; food safety; fire prevention and explosion control; disaster and natural calamity prevention; disease prevention; social evil prevention and school violence prevention; accident and injury prevention;”

"5. Amend Point c of Clause 1 of Article 8 as follows:"

“c) Receiving professional training and vocational training as prescribed.”

"6. Amend Point b of Clause 2 of Article 8 as follows:"

“b) The ratio of teachers meeting the required qualification level as prescribed by the Government and the plan for upgrading teacher qualifications of the province or centrally-administered city;”

"7. Amend Article 9 as follows:"

“Article 9. Standard 3: Infrastructure and teaching equipment

1. Criterion 3.1: Location, scale, and area in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, including:

a) The location of the school and branch schools;

b) Scale;

"c) Area of land for school construction, branch school construction, and floor area of construction projects."

"2. Criterion 3.2: Construction projects meet the minimum infrastructure standards as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:"

a) Administrative management blocks;

b) Teaching blocks; supporting teaching blocks;

c) Auxiliary blocks; playgrounds and sports areas; service blocks.

"3. Criterion 3.3: Technical infrastructure, construction projects, and teaching equipment meet the minimum infrastructure standards as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:"

a) Clean water supply system; electricity supply system; fire prevention and firefighting system; information technology and communication infrastructure; waste collection area;

b) Ratio of solid construction projects;

c) Teaching equipment.”

"8. Supplement Article 9a after Article 9 as follows:"

"Article 9a. Criterion 3: Infrastructure and Teaching Equipment for General Schools with Multiple Levels"

"Apply the provisions for the highest level of the school and the following provisions:"

"1. Criterion 3.1: Scale and area as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:"

"a) Scale complying with regulations for schools with multiple levels;"

"b) Floor area of construction projects of learning blocks and supporting learning blocks ensuring compliance with regulations for each level;"

"c) Floor area of construction projects of auxiliary blocks; playgrounds, sports areas; and facilities serving daily activities ensuring compliance with regulations for each level."

"2. Criterion 3.2: Ensuring the minimum infrastructure standards for general schools with multiple levels as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:"

a) Educational block; support educational block; auxiliary block; playground and sports area;

b) Ratio of permanent construction projects;

c) Teaching equipment.”

"9. Amend and supplement Clause 1 of Article 11 as follows:"

“1. Criterion 5.1: Implementation of education plan

a) Develop the school's education plan in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training;

b) Fully implement the school's education plan in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training and in line with the actual conditions of the school; innovate teaching methods and organizational forms to promote students' initiative, proactiveness, and self-study;

c) Conduct inspections, reviews, evaluations, and adjustments to the school's education plan according to the annual schedule framework as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training.”

10. Amend point a, Clause 6, Article 11 as follows:

“a) The academic performance and discipline of students meet the requirements set out in the school’s plan;”

11. Amend Article 14 as follows:

“Article 14. Standard 3: Infrastructure and teaching equipment

1. Criterion 3.2: All construction projects comply with the minimum standard for infrastructure level 1 as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:

a) Administrative management blocks;

b) Teaching blocks; supporting teaching blocks;

c) Auxiliary blocks; playgrounds and sports areas; service blocks.

2. Criterion 3.3: The ratio of permanent construction projects and land density comply with the minimum standard for infrastructure level 1 as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training.”

12. Add Article 14a after Article 14 as follows:

“Article 14a. Criterion 3: Infrastructure and teaching equipment for general schools with multiple levels

General schools with multiple levels that meet the infrastructure and teaching equipment standards Level 2 must comply with the minimum infrastructure standard level 1 for general schools with multiple levels as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training and the provisions of Article 14 of this Regulation.”

13. Amend point a, Clause 6, Article 16 as follows:

“a) The academic performance and discipline of students have shown positive changes over five consecutive years up to the time of evaluation;”

14. Amend Article 19 as follows:

“Article 19. Standard 3: Infrastructure and teaching equipment

1. Criterion 3.2: All construction projects comply with the minimum standard for infrastructure level 2 as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:

a) Educational block; support educational block;

b) Auxiliary block; playground and sports area.

2. Criterion 3.3: The ratio of permanent construction projects complies with the minimum standard for infrastructure level 2 as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training.”

15. Add Article 19a after Article 19 as follows:

“Article 19a. Criterion 3: Infrastructure and teaching equipment for general schools with multiple levels

General schools with multiple levels that meet the infrastructure and teaching equipment standards Level 3 must comply with the minimum infrastructure standard level 2 for general schools with multiple levels as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training and the provisions of Article 19 of this Regulation.”

16. Amend point a, point b, Clause 4, Article 21 as follows:

“a) Academic performance and discipline of students:

- Academic performance at the Excellent level: the percentage of students rated as Excellent in schools located in difficult areas reaches 5% or more for junior high schools and high schools, and 20% or more for specialized schools; the percentage of students rated as Excellent in schools located in other areas reaches 10% or more for junior high schools and high schools, and 25% or more for specialized schools; - Academic performance at the Good level: the percentage of students rated as Good in schools located in difficult areas reaches 30% or more for junior high schools, 20% or more for high schools, and 55% or more for specialized schools; the percentage of students rated as Good in schools located in other areas reaches 35% or more for junior high schools, 25% or more for high schools, and 60% or more for specialized schools;

- Academic performance at the Not Yet Achieved level: the percentage of students rated as Not Yet Achieved in junior high schools and high schools located in difficult areas does not exceed 10%; the percentage of students rated as Not Yet Achieved in junior high schools and high schools located in other areas does not exceed 5%; specialized schools have no students rated as Not Yet Achieved;

- Discipline: the percentage of junior high school and high school students rated as Good or Excellent reaches 90% or more, and 98% or more for specialized schools;

b) Dropout rate and non-promotion rate:

- Difficult areas: dropout rate does not exceed 3%, non-promotion rate does not exceed 5%; specialized schools have no students who are not promoted and no dropouts;

- Other areas: dropout rate does not exceed 1%, non-promotion rate does not exceed 2%; specialized schools have no students who are not promoted and no dropouts.”

17. Amend point c, Clause 2, Article 27 as follows:

“c) Implement the establishment of external assessment teams as prescribed in Articles 29 and 30 of this Regulation and carry out the steps in the external assessment process as prescribed in Article 28 within three months from the date of notification to the Department of Education and Training or the secondary school whose application for external assessment has been accepted.”

18. Amend Clause 2, Article 29 as follows:

“2. In cases where a secondary school requests recognition of national standards or simultaneously requests recognition of quality assessment and national standards, the Director of the Department of Education and Training shall decide to establish an external assessment team. The external assessment team shall consist of at least seven members, including:

b) A secretary who is a leader or specialist from functional departments of the Department of Education and Training; or a leader or specialist from the Department of Education and Training; or the principal or vice-principal, or head of subject groups of the secondary school;

a) The team leader is a leader of the Department of Education and Training; or the Head or Deputy Head of functional departments of the Department of Education and Training; or the Head or Deputy Head of the Department of Education and Training;"

c) The remaining members are representatives from relevant ministries, agencies, trade unions in the education sector, and individuals currently working in the education sector with knowledge of secondary education.”

19. Amend Clause 1, Article 30 as follows:

“1. For those currently working in the education sector: have never worked at the secondary school being externally assessed; have at least five years of experience in the education sector; have completed the external assessment training program organized by the Ministry of Education and Training or the Department of Education and Training.”

20. Amend and supplement point a, Clause 1, Article 34 as follows:

20. Amend and supplement Point a Clause 1 Article 34 as follows:

"a) For newly established schools, there must be at least five years of operation and at least one completed class of students who have finished the general education program for secondary school; for schools established through merger or division, there must be at least two years of operation;"

21. Amend Clause 1 of Article 38 as follows:

"1. Within twenty working days from the date of receiving the report from the external evaluation team, the Director of the Department of Education and Training shall issue a decision to grant the National Standard Certificate to the secondary school."

22. Amend Clause 2 of Article 39 as follows:

"2. Within twenty working days from the date of the conclusion by the Department of Education and Training that the secondary school no longer meets the assessment criteria, the Director of the Department of Education and Training shall issue a decision to revoke the National Standard Certificate."

23. Amend Clause 2 of Article 41 as follows:

"2. Organize professional training for units and individuals involved in educational quality assessment and building national standard schools; issue a decision recognizing completion of the external evaluation training program organized by the Department of Education and Training, which meets the requirements stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training."

24. Amend Clause 4 of Article 43 as follows:

"4. Prepare all relevant files and data related to the activities of the school, other necessary conditions to serve the external evaluation work; provide feedback on the draft external evaluation report within the specified time limit. For secondary schools that meet the requirements of the procedures for exchanging, storing, and processing electronic documents in administrative work, and the basic functions of the Electronic Document Management System during the handling of tasks by agencies and organizations, they may use electronic documents as evidence in educational quality assurance and national standard certification activities."

Article 3. Amend and supplement some provisions of the Regulations issued together with Circular No. 19/2018/TT-BGDĐT as follows:

1. Amending Clause 2, Clause 3 Article 5 as follows:

"2. A kindergarten recognized as meeting the educational quality standards under Clause 2 of Article 34 of these Regulations, at least one year after being recognized, may apply for external evaluation and recognition of higher educational quality standards."

3. A kindergarten recognized as meeting the national standard Level 1, at least one year after being recognized, may apply for external evaluation and recognition of national standard Level 2.

2. Amending the name of Clause 2 Article 7 as follows:

"2. Criterion 1.2: School Council and other councils"

3. Amend Clause 5 of Article 7 as follows:

"5. Criterion 1.5: Enrollment, organization of groups and classes

a) Implement enrollment according to the universal preschool education requirements for five-year-old children as stipulated;

b) Groups and classes are divided by age; in cases where the number of children in each group or class is less than 50% of the maximum number of children prescribed in the Kindergarten Charter, they can be organized as combined groups or classes; the number of disabled children integrated into each group or class complies with the regulations;

c) Groups and classes organize learning for two sessions per day."

4. Amend point a of Clause 10 of Article 7 as follows:

“a) Ensuring regulations on public security and social order; food safety; fire prevention and explosion control; disaster and natural calamity prevention; disease prevention; social evil prevention and school violence prevention; accident and injury prevention;”

"5. Amend Point c of Clause 1 of Article 8 as follows:"

“c) Receiving professional training and vocational training as prescribed.”

"6. Amend Point b of Clause 2 of Article 8 as follows:"

“b) The ratio of teachers meeting the required qualification level as prescribed by the Government and the plan for upgrading teacher qualifications of the province or centrally-administered city;”

"7. Amend Article 9 as follows:"

“Article 9. Standard 3: Infrastructure and teaching equipment

1. Criterion 3.1: Location, scale, and area in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, including:

a) The location of the school and branch schools;

b) Scale;

"c) Area of land for school construction, branch school construction, and floor area of construction projects."

2. Criterion 3.2: Facilities ensuring the minimum material infrastructure standards for kindergartens as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:

a) Administrative management blocks;

b) Rooms for nurturing, caring for, and educating children;

c) Rooms for organizing meals (applicable to kindergartens with meal preparation facilities), auxiliary rooms.

3. Criterion 3.3: Technical infrastructure, durable construction projects, and teaching equipment ensuring the minimum material infrastructure standards for kindergartens as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:

a) Clean water supply system; electricity supply system; fire prevention and firefighting system; information technology and communication infrastructure; waste collection area;

b) Ratio of solid construction projects;

c) Teaching equipment, teaching aids, toys."

8. Amend point b of Clause 1 of Article 11 as follows:

"b) The kindergarten develops the Preschool Education Program issued by the Ministry of Education and Training to align with the goals and requirements of the Preschool Education Program, suitable for local and kindergarten conditions;"

9. Amend point b of Clause 2 of Article 11 as follows:

"b) Organize an open, safe educational environment; create conditions for children to play and experience;"

10. Amend point c of Clause 4 of Article 11 as follows:

"c) Children with disabilities who are integrated into regular classes are monitored through individual education plans. Children with disabilities and those from difficult circumstances are given attention by the kindergarten and all relevant policies are fully implemented as prescribed."

11. Amend the name of Clause 2 of Article 12 as follows:

“2. Criterion 1.2: School Council and other councils”

12. Amend Article 14 as follows:

“Article 14. Standard 3: Infrastructure and teaching equipment

1. Criterion 3.2: Facilities ensuring the minimum material infrastructure standards for kindergartens at Level 1 as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training, including:

a) Administrative management blocks;

b) Rooms for nurturing, caring for, and educating children;

c) Auxiliary rooms.

2. Criterion 3.3: Proportion of durable construction projects and land density ensuring the minimum material infrastructure standards for kindergartens at Level 1 as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training."

13. Amend points a and b of Clause 1 of Article 16 as follows:

"a) Organize the implementation of the Preschool Education Program flexibly and effectively, suitable for specific local and kindergarten conditions;

b) The kindergarten develops the Preschool Education Program issued by the Ministry of Education and Training to suit local culture, kindergarten conditions, and the needs of children."

14. Amend Clause 2 of Article 16 as follows:

"2. Criterion 5.2: Organization of nurturing, caring for, and educating children

Organize activities for nurturing, caring for, and educating children, ensuring the implementation of educational goals, content, and methods of preschool education, suitable for children's development and actual conditions."

15. Amend Article 19 as follows:

“Article 19. Standard 3: Infrastructure and teaching equipment

1. Criterion 3.2: Rooms for nurturing, caring for, and educating children ensuring the material infrastructure standards for kindergartens at Level 2 as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. Criterion 3.3: Proportion of durable construction projects ensuring the material infrastructure standards for kindergartens at Level 2 as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training."

16. Amend point c of Clause 2 of Article 27 as follows:

"c) Implement the establishment of the external evaluation team as prescribed in Articles 29 and 30 and carry out the steps in the external evaluation process as prescribed in Article 28 of these Regulations within three months from the date of notification to the District Office of Education and Training or the kindergarten that the application for external evaluation has been accepted."

17. Amend Clause 2 of Article 29 as follows:

"2. In case a kindergarten requests recognition of national standards or simultaneously requests quality education accreditation and recognition of national standards, the Director of the Department of Education and Training shall decide to establish an external evaluation team. The external evaluation team must have at least seven (7) members, including:"

a) The team leader is a leader of the Department of Education and Training; or the Head or Deputy Head of functional departments of the Department of Education and Training; or the Head or Deputy Head of the Department of Education and Training;"

"b) A secretary who is a leader or specialist from functional departments of the Department of Education and Training; or a leader or specialist from the District Education and Training Office; or the Principal or Deputy Principal, or the head of specialized groups of the kindergarten;"

"c) The remaining members are representatives of relevant ministries, sectors; representatives of the education trade union; and those currently working in the education sector with knowledge of early childhood education."

18. Amend Clause 1 of Article 30 as follows:

"1. For those currently working in the education sector: have not worked at the kindergarten being externally evaluated; have at least five years of work experience in the education sector; and have completed the external evaluation training program organized by the Ministry of Education and Training or the Department of Education and Training."

19. Amend and supplement Point a of Clause 1 of Article 34 as follows:

"a) For newly established schools, they must have been operating for at least five years; for schools established through mergers or divisions, they must have been operating for at least two years;"

20. Amend Clause 1 of Article 38 as follows:

"1. Within twenty working days from the date of receiving the report from the external evaluation team, the Director of the Department of Education and Training shall issue a decision granting the National Standard Recognition Certificate to the kindergarten."

21. Amend Clause 2 of Article 39 as follows:

"2. Within twenty working days from the date of the Department of Education and Training's conclusion that the kindergarten no longer meets the evaluation criteria, the Director of the Department of Education and Training shall issue a decision revoking the National Standard Recognition Certificate."

22. Amend Clause 2 of Article 41 as follows:

"2. Organize professional training for units and individuals involved in educational quality assessment and building national standard schools; issue a decision recognizing completion of the external evaluation training program organized by the Department of Education and Training, which meets the requirements stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training."

23. Amend Clause 4 of Article 43 as follows:

"4. Prepare all necessary files and data related to school activities and other required conditions to serve the external evaluation process; provide feedback on the draft evaluation report within the specified time limit. For kindergartens that comply with the procedures for exchanging, storing, and processing electronic documents in administrative work and the basic functions of the Electronic Document Management System during the handling of tasks by agencies and organizations, electronic documents can be used as evidence in the quality education accreditation and national standard recognition process."

Article 4. Repeal and replace certain articles and forms of the Regulations issued together with Circulars No. 17/2018/TT-BGDĐT, No. 18/2018/TT-BGDĐT, and No. 19/2018/TT-BGDĐT.

1. Repeal Clause 5 of Article 12, Point a of Clause 2 of Article 13, Point a of Clause 2 of Article 18, and Article 40 of the Regulations on Quality Education Accreditation and National Standard Recognition for Primary Schools issued together with Circular No. 17/2018/TT-BGDĐT.

2. Repeal Clause 3, Clause 4, and Clause 5 of Article 11; Clause 5 of Article 12; Point a of Clause 2 of Article 13; Clause 4 of Article 17; and Article 40 of the Regulations on Quality Education Accreditation and National Standard Recognition for Lower Secondary Schools, Upper Secondary Schools, and Multi-Level General Education Schools issued together with Circular No. 18/2018/TT-BGDĐT.

3. Repeal Point a of Clause 2 of Article 13, Clause 4 of Article 17, Point a of Clause 2 of Article 18, and Article 40 of the Regulations on Quality Education Accreditation and National Standard Recognition for Kindergartens issued together with Circular No. 19/2018/TT-BGDĐT.

4. Replace the National Standard Recognition Certificate model in Appendix II issued together with Circulars No. 17/2018/TT-BGDĐT, No. 18/2018/TT-BGDĐT, and No. 19/2018/TT-BGDĐT with the National Standard Recognition Certificate model issued together with this Circular.

Article 5. Implementation Provisions

1. Effective date

This Circular takes effect from January 25, 2025.

2. Transitional Provisions

Kindergartens, primary schools, lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools, and multi-level general education schools that have completed self-assessment reports and registered for external evaluations before the effective date of this Circular shall continue to follow the provisions of Circulars No. 17/2018/TT-BGDĐT, No. 18/2018/TT-BGDĐT, and No. 19/2018/TT-BGDĐT to complete subsequent steps for external evaluations, recognition, issuance of Quality Education Accreditation Certificates, and National Standard Recognition Certificates.

3. The Head of the Office, the Director of the Quality Management Department, the Director of the Early Childhood Education Department, the Director of the Primary Education Department, the Director of the Secondary Education Department, the Heads of relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training, the Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees, the Directors of Departments of Education and Training, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.