Joint Circular No. 24/2002/TTLT-BGD&ĐT-BTCCBCP on guiding the examination and recruitment of civil servants as primary and kindergarten teachers.

JOINT CIRCULAR

GUIDELINES FOR THE SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AS TEACHERS IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND KINDERGARTENS

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Implementing Decree No. 43/2000/NĐ-CP dated August 30, 2000 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Education Law; and implementing Directive No. 18/2001/CT-TTg dated August 27, 2001 of the Prime Minister on urgent measures to build up the teaching staff of the national education system; the Ministry of Education and Training and the Civil Service Organization Board of the Government hereby provide guidelines for the selection and recruitment of public officers as teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens as follows:

I- PRINCIPLES, SCOPE, AND OBJECTS

1- Principles:

Based on the actual conditions of each region and area within their locality, the Chairperson of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally governed cities (hereinafter referred to collectively as "province") shall decide on the recruitment of public officers as teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens through examination and organize its implementation according to the following principles:

1.1- The organization of examinations must ensure democracy, transparency, social equity, implement preferential policies as prescribed by the Party and State, and all citizens meeting the required conditions have equal opportunities to be considered for recruitment as public officers as teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens. Those recruited must meet the professional standards of the position and be assigned appropriate work as stipulated.

1.2- Examinations must be conducted through the Examination Council of the province.

2- Scope: Recruitment of teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens is carried out to hire teachers to teach at public educational institutions at the primary and secondary school and kindergarten levels.

3- Objects: Vietnamese citizens who wish to teach at public educational institutions at the primary and secondary school and kindergarten levels and who have graduated from pedagogical departments or teacher training schools both domestically and abroad.

II- PROCEDURE FOR SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT

1- Preparation Work:

1.1- Based on the needs for educational development in the locality and the staffing quota for teachers, and the sources of teachers in each academic year, the Chairperson of the People's Committee of the province decides on the policy, quantity, and time for organizing the examination for recruitment of public officers as teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens.

1.2- The Department of Education and Training shall take the lead in working with the Civil Service Organization Board of the provincial government to develop the examination plan to be submitted to the Chairperson of the People's Committee of the province for approval.

1.3- Publicly announce on mass media the number, criteria, conditions, and time for the examination so that those meeting the requirements can register.

2- Examination Council:

2.1- Composition of the Examination Council:

The Examination Council for teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens is established by decision of the Chairperson of the People's Committee of the province. The Council consists of seven members:

- The Chairman of the Council is a leader of the People's Committee of the province.

- The Vice-Chairman in charge of the Council is the Director of the Department of Education and Training of the province.

- The Vice-Chairman of the Council is the Head of the Civil Service Organization Board of the provincial government.

- The Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training responsible for each level of education is a member (the Examination Council for teachers at which level of education, the Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training responsible for that level of education is a member).

- The Head of the Personnel Office of the Department of Education and Training of the province is a member and Secretary.

- The Head of the Civil Service Office of the Civil Service Organization Board of the provincial government is a member.

- The Head of the specialized department at each level of education of the Department of Education and Training is a member (the Examination Council for teachers at which level of education, the Head of the specialized department at that level of education is a member).

2.2- Duties of the Examination Council:

The Examination Council is responsible for assisting the Chairperson of the People's Committee of the province in conducting the examination for recruitment of public officers as teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens. The duties of the Examination Council include:

- Announcing specific quotas, criteria, conditions, and objects of recruitment for teachers to graduates of pedagogical programs (hereinafter referred to as "candidates").

- Guiding, inspecting, and supervising the receipt of applications from candidates for public officers as teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens.

- Assisting the Chairperson of the People's Committee of the province in recruiting public officers as teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens in accordance with principles, procedures, formalities, systems, and policies.

- Proposing and recommending to the Chairperson of the People's Committee of the province the recruitment of public officers as teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens in line with the actual conditions of the province and general regulations of the State.

- Compiling the list of candidates proposed for recruitment by the Council to report to the Chairperson of the People's Committee of the province for decision on recruitment in accordance with current State regulations.

- In cases where the Chairperson of the People's Committee of the province decides to recruit teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens through competitive examinations, the Examination Council is responsible for assisting the Chairperson of the People's Committee of the province in organizing examinations on the teaching ability of candidates.

2.3- Working Principles of the Examination Council:

- The Examination Council for teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens operates based on the principle of collective decision-making by majority vote.

- All decisions made during meetings are controlled by the Chairman of the Council.

- The Council dissolves itself after completing the examination process for teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens.

2.4- Supporting the Examination Council is a Secretariat Team led by the Secretary of the Council, who is also a member. The Secretariat Team has between three and five support staff (including members from the Civil Service Organization Board of the provincial government), appointed by the Chairman of the Examination Council. The duties of the Secretariat Team include:

- Receiving applications from candidates in accordance with the specified conditions.

- Compiling a list of candidates eligible for recruitment without competitive examinations as stipulated in Point 2 of Directive No. 18/2001/CT-TTg dated August 27, 2001 of the Prime Minister.

- Compiling a list of candidates applying for recruitment as public officers as teachers in primary and secondary schools and kindergartens and ranking them from highest to lowest average grade throughout their program, followed by priority groups as prescribed by the State.

- Reporting comprehensively on the results of reviewing and examining the applications of candidates and any specific difficulties encountered during the review process to the Examination Council for consideration and resolution.

3- Examination Procedure:

3.1- Public Announcement:

Notice shall be given in detail about the recruitment quota, standards, conditions, target groups, time, location... through mass media and posted at the Department of Education and Training, the Provincial Civil Service Board, pedagogical departments, and teacher training schools at least one month before the recruitment examination.

3.2- Receiving applications:

The Secretariat shall receive application files within fifteen days from the date of public announcement of the recruitment of civil servants as primary and kindergarten teachers through mass media; the place for receiving applications must be convenient. Guide applicants to complete their application files and then notify them of the status of their applications.

3.3- Regulations on application procedures:

The application file of candidates for primary and kindergarten teachers shall include:

- Application form for recruitment examination.

- Personal history statement.

- School records and graduation certificates as required in accordance with the standards for each level and grade of teaching positions.

- Health certificate issued by a competent medical facility.

- Two photographs measuring 4x6 cm.

The application file shall be enclosed in an envelope measuring 24x34 cm.

3.4- Recruitment process:

- The Secretariat shall compile and categorize application files to report to the Board, clearly stating the requirements, occupational characteristics, preferences, academic results, and priority objects according to the regulations of the State for each candidate; list those candidates who wish to work in areas exempted from civil service examinations as stipulated in Point 2 of Directive No. 18/2001/CT-TTg dated August 27, 2001 of the Prime Minister.

- Based on the recruitment quota, candidates shall be selected based on their academic and training performance in teacher training institutions (grade sheet) and the preferential policies prescribed by the State.

- Those who are recruited without taking the civil service examination as stipulated in Point 2 of Directive No. 18/2001/CT-TTg dated August 27, 2001 of the Prime Minister; those with the highest average grades throughout the course according to the ranking order from high to low of the recruitment examination scores (the recruitment examination score includes the average grade of the entire course calculated according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training plus the preferential policy prescribed by the State as specified by the provincial People's Committee) and according to the recruitment quota.

- Those not recruited will be publicly notified.

- The Secretariat shall compile the cases of those recruited for the Board to report to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for decision.

3.5- Recruitment:

Based on the recruitment decision of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the decision on recruitment, employment, probation, and appointment shall be carried out in accordance with the current regulations of the State.

III- IMPLEMENTATION

1- From 2002 onwards, the Ministry of Education and Training shall guide pedagogical departments and teacher training schools to incorporate administrative management knowledge of the State, industry management, and related content to education and training civil servants as stipulated in Point 1 of Part I of Circular Joint No. 18/1999/TT-LT-BGD&ĐT-BTCCBCP dated May 5, 1999 of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Civil Service Personnel Council into the teacher training curriculum, this part having the same value as other parts and serving as a basis for pedagogical departments and teacher training schools to review and issue graduation certificates.

2- From the 2002-2003 school year onwards, based on the staffing quota announced by the competent authority, specific conditions of each school year, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall decide on the recruitment of primary and kindergarten teachers through competitive examinations or recruitment as follows:

2.1- First, implement the recruitment method for the following subjects and areas:

- Public primary schools lacking staff shall recruit candidates with excellent or outstanding graduation certificates in relevant fields without requiring civil service examinations.

- Public schools in economically and socially disadvantaged areas, mountainous regions, islands, remote and far-flung areas lacking teachers but with insufficient recruitment sources shall recruit candidates meeting the criteria set forth in Article 61 and Article 67 of the Education Law without requiring civil service examinations.

2.2- After implementing recruitment for the above subjects and areas, if there are still staffing quotas and sufficient recruitment sources, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall decide on the recruitment of primary and kindergarten teachers through competitive examinations or recruitment as appropriate.

In the case of recruiting primary and kindergarten teachers through competitive examinations, candidates who have completed the relevant courses in pedagogical departments and teacher training schools shall not be required to retake the administrative management knowledge of the State, industry management, and related content to education and training civil servants as stipulated in Point 1 of Part III of this Circular; only the teaching ability of the candidates shall be tested, organized by the Examination Board as stipulated in Point 2 of Part II of this Circular.

3- Recruitment of primary and kindergarten teachers that does not comply with regulations and does not ensure general principles shall have its recruitment decision revoked. Those who intentionally violate regulations during the recruitment process or engage in corrupt behavior in receiving or modifying application files during the recruitment process shall be subject to administrative disciplinary action or criminal prosecution depending on the severity of the violation.

4- This Circular takes effect from the date of signature. All previous regulations contrary to this Circular are abolished.

During the implementation process, any difficulties should be reported to the Ministry of Education and Training and the Civil Service Personnel Council for study and resolution.