Joint Circular No. 23/2008/TTLT-BGDĐT-BLĐTBXH-BTC guides the implementation of Decision No. 152/2007/QĐ-TTg dated September 14, 2007, of the Prime Minister on policy scholarships for students studying at educational institutions within the national education system.

 

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Implementing Decision No. 152/2007/QD-TTg dated September 14, 2007 of the Prime Minister on Scholarships for Students Studying at Educational Institutions within the National Education System

Pursuant to Decision No. 152/2007/QD-TTg dated September 14, 2007 of the Prime Minister on Scholarships for Students Studying at Educational Institutions within the National Education System, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance provide guidelines for implementation as follows:

I. APPLICABLE OBJECTS

The objects entitled to scholarships as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 1 of Decision No. 152/2007/QD-TTg dated September 14, 2007 of the Prime Minister on Scholarships for Students Studying at Educational Institutions within the National Education System shall be specifically guided as follows:

1. Students who are selected for enrollment pursuant to Decree No. 134/2006/NĐ-CP dated November 14, 2006 of the Government on the selection system for enrollment in higher education institutions, colleges, and vocational schools within the national education system.34/2006/NĐ-CP dated November 14, 2006, of the Government stipulating the recruitment system for admission to higher education institutions, colleges, and secondary vocational schools within the national education system.students who are ethnic minority individuals currently benefiting from policy scholarship regimes as prescribed in Decision No. 82/2006/QĐ-TTg dated April 14, 2006, of the Prime Minister regarding the adjustment of policy scholarship levels for ethnic minority students studying at boarding schools for ethnic minorities and preparatory universities as prescribed in Decision No. 194/2001/QĐ-TTg dated December 21, 2001, of the Prime Minister.

2. Students studying at boarding schools for ethnic minorities and preparatory universities, except students from ethnic minority groups who are already receiving scholarships as provided for in Decision No. 82/2006/QD-TTg dated April 14, 2006 of the Prime Minister on Adjustments to Scholarship Levels for Ethnic Minority Students Studying at Boarding Schools for Ethnic Minorities and Preparatory Universities as stipulated in Decision No. 194/2001/QD-TTg dated December 21, 2001 of the Prime Minister. 2025; BASED ON THE EDUCATION LAW dated June 14, 2019; b) For the subjects prescribed in Clauses 2 and 3 of Section I of this Circular:

3. Trainees who are war invalids, disabled persons, or persons with disabilities who are not receiving salaries or living expenses while studying at vocational training institutions for war invalids, disabled persons, or persons with disabilities.

II. LEVEL OF SCHOLARSHIPS

The level of scholarships as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 1 and Article 2 of Decision No. 152/2007/QD-TTg dated September 14, 2007 of the Prime Minister on Scholarships for Students Studying at Educational Institutions within the National Education System shall be specifically guided as follows:

1. In one academic year, scholarships are granted for twelve months. For programs with a duration of less than one year or for the final year which does not last twelve months, scholarships are granted based on the actual number of months of study during that academic year.

2. As of January 1, 2008, when the State adjusts the minimum wage, the level of scholarships specified in this Circular will be adjusted according to the corresponding ratio of the State's decisions on adjusting the minimum wage, ensuring that the scholarship level equals eighty percent of the minimum wage.

1. Application procedures for scholarships

a) A certified copy of the birth certificate;

b) A certified copy of the admission notice;

c) A confirmation letter from the educational institution (Annex I);

d) A commitment letter from the student (Annex II);

đ) A certified copy of the war invalid card (for war invalids);

e) A confirmation letter from the competent authority confirming that the person is disabled or has a disability (for disabled persons or persons with disabilities).

2. Procedures for granting scholarships

a) For the objects specified in Clause 1, Section I of this Circular:

c) Departments of Education and Training, Departments of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall accept applications; compile lists and budget estimates for scholarship funding according to point a, Clause 1, Section VI of this Circular.

After enrolling, students shall submit their application according to Clause 1, Section III of this Circular to the Department of Education and Training or the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (if studying at vocational training institutions).

b) With respect to the subjects prescribed in Clauses 2 and 3 of Section I of this Circular:

According to the regular schedule for granting scholarships as stipulated in point b, Clause 2, Section V of this Circular, students shall send a confirmation letter from their educational institution to the Department of Education and Training or the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (if studying at vocational training institutions) to implement the granting of scholarships as prescribed.

b) For the objects specified in Clause 2 and Clause 3, Section I of this Circular:

Upon enrolling, students and trainees shall submit their application according to Clause 1, Section III (excluding point c, Clause 1, Section III) to the educational institution responsible for granting scholarships.

Educational institutions shall accept applications; compile lists and budget estimates for scholarship funding and send them to the management agencies of subordinate units under the Ministries and central agencies according to point b, Clause 1, Section VI of this Circular.

IV. SITUATIONS WHERE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SUSPENDED

1. Students who are expelled due to disciplinary reasons shall not be eligible for scholarships from the effective date of the expulsion decision.

2. Students whose studies are suspended shall not be eligible for scholarships during the suspension period, except in cases where suspension is due to illness, accidents, retaking courses, repeating grades, or other reasons (not due to disciplinary actions or voluntary withdrawal).

3. For the objects specified in Clause 1, Section I of this Circular, the educational institution where the student is enrolled shall notify the Department of Education and Training or the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (if studying at vocational training institutions) of the disciplinary action within fifteen days from the effective date of the disciplinary decision or the decision to revoke the disciplinary action.

V. SOURCES OF FUNDS, METHODS OF GRANTING AND REPLACING SCHOLARSHIPS

1. Sources of scholarship funds

The source of funds for implementing the granting of scholarships as guided in this Circular shall be balanced within the annual state budget estimate for education and training expenditures and vocational training according to the current division of responsibilities under the Law on State Budget. Specifically:

b) The local budget ensures funding for implementing the scholarship policy regime for students specified in Clauses 2 and 3 of Section I of this Circular who are currently studying at educational institutions managed by the locality.

c) For students specified in Clause 1 of Section I of this Circular, the local budget ensures funding for implementing the scholarship policy regime for learners regardless of whether the educational institution where the students are studying is under the management of central ministries and agencies or the locality.

2. Methods of awarding and reimbursing policy scholarships

a) The agency responsible for issuing policy scholarships:

- For the subjects specified in Clause 1 of Section I of this Circular:

+ Based on the approved budget estimate for educational expenses, the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, within their respective authorities, manage the funds and organize the issuance of policy scholarships to eligible students according to the regulations.

+ Depending on the specific conditions of each locality and the conditions of the educational institutions where eligible students are studying, the People's Committee of the province or centrally-administered city (hereinafter referred to as the provincial-level People's Committee) or the agency authorized by the provincial-level People's Committee may proactively choose appropriate methods of transferring money to ensure maximum convenience for learners through one of the following methods: directly transferring funds to educational institutions via contracts; providing cash directly to the families of learners or transferring through ATM cards or other lawful transfer methods (if available) to learners.

- For the subjects specified in Clauses 2 and 3 of Section I of this Circular:

Based on the approved budget estimate for educational expenses, educational institutions manage the funds and organize the issuance of scholarships to eligible students and trainees according to the regulations.

b) Time of issuance of policy scholarships

Policy scholarships are issued monthly for learners receiving scholarships through ATM cards, learners receiving scholarships through educational institutions, or issued twice a year, each time for six months, with the first issuance in October and the second in March for learners receiving scholarships in cash or through their families.

In cases where students have not received policy scholarships as stipulated, they will be entitled to claim them in the next scholarship issuance period.

c) Method of reimbursement:

Students who have received policy scholarships but voluntarily withdraw from school or are expelled due to disciplinary reasons must reimburse the full amount of the scholarships received from the start of the academic year until the date of withdrawal to the scholarship-issuing agency according to the分级管理。

VI. REGIME OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AMOUNT OF POLICY SCHOLARSHIPS

1. When there is a Decision of the Government regarding adjustments to the national minimum wage:

a) For the case of students specified in Clause 1 of Section I of this Circular:

The Departments of Education and Training and Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (for vocational training institutions) are responsible for compiling the requirements for adjusting the amount of policy scholarships for the subjects specified in Clause 1 of Section I of this Circular, and submitting them to the Department of Finance together with the submission of reports on the need for additional funds to implement salary reform (Annex III).

b) For the case of students and trainees specified in Clauses 2 and 3 of Section I of this Circular:

Based on the proposals of educational institutions with beneficiaries of policy scholarships, the competent agencies of units under central ministries and agencies and provincial-level agencies are responsible for reviewing and compiling reports on the needs to implement adjustments to the amount of policy scholarships for subordinate units, and submitting them to the Ministry of Finance (for central agencies) or the Department of Finance (for local agencies) together with the submission of reports on the need for additional funds to implement salary reform (Annex III).

2. The requirement for funds to adjust the amount of policy scholarships due to adjustments in the national minimum wage but not included in the annual budget allocation of the locality shall be handled as follows:

a) For localities facing difficulties in funding sources (provinces and centrally-administered cities receiving supplementary balance transfers from the central budget and localities with a redistribution rate to the central budget below 5%), the central budget will provide 100% support.

b) For the remaining localities, the provincial-level People's Committee will arrange within the scope of the local budget to implement.

3. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for reviewing reports on the need for funds to implement adjustments to policy scholarships for units under central ministries and agencies to submit to the Government for decisions to supplement funds for central ministries and agencies.

The Departments of Finance of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for reviewing reports on the need for funds to implement adjustments to policy scholarships for the Departments of Education and Training and Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, compiling reports for the provincial-level People's Committee to decide. The provincial-level People's Committee compiles reports for the Ministry of Finance to consider and supplement funds for localities supported as stipulated in Point a, Clause 2, Section VI of this Circular.

4. After being authorized by the competent authority to supplement funds for the implementation of the policy scholarship system, the Departments of Education and Training or the Departments of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs or educational institutions shall withdraw the budget estimates from the State Treasury to implement the additional policy scholarships for students according to the prescribed regulations.

5. The settlement of funds for the implementation of policy scholarships shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the State Budget Law and current regulatory legal documents.

VII. ORGANIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

1. Central ministries and agencies and provincial-level People's Committees are responsible for organizing and guiding the determination of funding requirements and balancing funding sources for the implementation of the policy scholarship system.

2. The Department of Education and Training, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and educational institutions shall monitor, retain, manage records, and organize the issuance of policy scholarships according to the provisions of Clause 2, Section V of this Circular, within their respective jurisdictions. The Department of Finance and relevant agencies shall guide and implement the provisions of this Circular annually, compile and report as prescribed; at the same time, they shall be responsible for inspecting and auditing the implementation of scholarship policies in their localities.

3. Educational institutions with students and trainees who are selected candidates shall be responsible for temporarily allocating funds to continue issuing policy scholarships at the level specified in this Circular in the first quarter of 2008 to ensure the right to education of students and trainees currently studying at the institution, and notify the People's Committee of the province about the amount of funds temporarily allocated.

Based on the number of students and trainees under policy who have been granted scholarships reported by educational institutions, the People's Committees of provinces shall be responsible for reimbursing the funds to educational institutions where learners from their locality are studying, for the temporarily allocated funds of those institutions.

Educational institutions shall be responsible for jointly with the People's Committee of the province to publicly disseminate information on the files and procedures for issuing policy scholarships to ensure that it does not disrupt or affect the learning process of learners.

From subsequent academic years, educational institutions shall be responsible for reporting to the People's Committee of the province or the specialized agency of the People's Committee of the province authorized (at the end of each term of the academic year) on the number of students and trainees who are selected candidates currently studying; the number of students dropping out; reasons for dropping out to serve as the basis for budgeting scholarship funds according to the prescribed regulations.

4. This Circular shall take effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette and shall replace the provisions on policy scholarships in Joint Circular No. 53/1998/TT-LT/BGD&ĐT-BTC-BLĐTB&XH dated August 25, 1998, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs guiding the implementation of scholarship and social assistance regimes for students and trainees at public training institutions, Joint Circular No. 13/2002/TTLT-BGD&ĐT-BTC dated March 28, 2002, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance guiding the implementation of Decision No. 194/2001/QĐ-TTg dated December 21, 2001, issued by the Prime Minister regarding the adjustment of policy scholarship levels and social assistance for ethnic minority students and trainees studying at public training institutions as stipulated in Decision No. 1121/1997/QĐ-TTg dated December 23, 1997, issued by the Prime Minister.

During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, they should be reflected to the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance for consideration and resolution.

 

Place of Receipt:
- PRIME MINISTER, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS OF THE GOVERNMENT;
- President's Office;
- National Assembly Office; Government Office;
- Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and agencies directly under the Government;
- Legal Draft Inspection Department, Ministry of Justice;
- Central Party Office and Party Committees;
- Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuracy;
- State Audit Office;
- Central agencies of mass organizations;
- Legal Documents Inspection Department (Ministry of Justice);
- Departments and Bureaus under the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Finance;
- Official Gazette;
- Government website;
- Website of the Ministry of Education and Training;
- To be filed: Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ministry of Finance.

 

ANNEX I

Model confirmation letter from educational institution

(Attached to Joint Circular No. 23/2008/TTLT-BGDĐT-BLĐTBXH-BTC dated April 28, 2008)

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Independence – Freedom – Happiness
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CONFIRMATION LETTER FROM EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

School …

Address: …

Contact phone number: ...

Confirm that Mr./Ms. (In capital letters, with accents) ..............................................................

are student/ student of grade …     Course: …

This confirmation letter serves as the basis for considering and granting policy scholarships according to current regulations.

In case of disciplinary action, suspension of studies, or expulsion, the school will promptly notify the local authority.

 

 

ANNEX II

Model commitment form

(Attached to Joint Circular No. 23/2008/TTLT-BGDĐT-BLĐTBXH-BTC dated April 28, 2008)

SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Independence – Freedom – Happiness
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COMMITMENT LETTER

I am …

Student/trainee of class …, course …, department …

SCHOOL: …

Permanent address …

ID card number: … date of issue: … place of issue: …

I have carefully studied and hereby commit to implementing the contents stipulated in Joint Circular No. …/200  /TTLT/BGDĐT-BTC-BLĐTB&XH Guiding the implementation of Decision No. 152/2007/QĐ-TTg dated September 14, 2007, of the Prime Minister on policy scholarships for students and trainees studying at educational institutions within the national education system.

If in the event of having to repay, I hereby commit to returning the amount specified in the Joint Circular  of the above-mentioned ministries.