Chapter 29/1999/CT-BGD&ĐT on Strengthening Inspection and Supervision of Management, Issuance, and Use of Certificates and Diplomas in the National Education System

DIRECTIVE

Regarding the strengthening of inspection and supervision of the management, issuance, and use of certificates and diplomas in the national education system

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In recent years, educational management agencies at all levels have strengthened inspections and supervision to detect and handle negative cases in the preparation of examination registration files and admission processes, but they have not been able to prevent the illegal use of various certificates and diplomas in graduation exams and admissions at different educational levels, including secondary education, higher education, postgraduate education, and vocational high schools, as well as their use for other purposes. This situation not only undermines public trust in the value of certificates and diplomas but also hinders the allocation and utilization of cadres, civil servants, and employees according to professional standards.

To restore discipline in this field, the Ministry of Education and Training has proposed to conduct a comprehensive review of the issuance and use of certificates and diplomas issued by competent authorities at all levels within the national education system.

The inspection must be immediately implemented and conducted regularly according to the functions and responsibilities of each institution and level of educational management, with close coordination among relevant agencies under the unified direction of the Ministry of Education and Training and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities.

1. Requirements for the inspection and supervision of the management, issuance, and use of certificates and diplomas:

The issuance of certificates and diplomas to individuals recognized as having achieved a corresponding level of education and expertise must comply with legal regulations. Certificates and diplomas that are forged, altered, duplicated, or issued without compliance with the regulations of authorized agencies are illegal. Educational management levels must take all necessary actions within their scope of responsibility and authority to quickly address any loopholes, restore discipline in the management and issuance of various certificates and diplomas, and ensure the legality of the files for issuance and storage in accordance with the regulations on graduation examinations and admission rules.

During the implementation of inspections, there needs to be a synchronized and tight collaboration between the education sector and local governments and related sectors.

Based on the results of inspections and supervision, the education sector and People's Committees of provinces and cities need to strictly handle violators:

- All students, trainees, learners, research fellows, and cadres, civil servants, and employees who have engaged in fraudulent activities in preparing files for examinations, enrollment, recruitment, promotion, or transfer shall be appropriately dealt with according to the admission regulations, graduation examination regulations, and the Cadres and Civil Servants Ordinance, depending on the severity of the violation.

- Detect and handle individuals and entities issuing (initially or reissuing) illegal certificates and diplomas, whether intentionally or unintentionally (issuing beyond authority, issuing to those who do not meet the conditions, issuing without complete files as required, issuing using unauthorized certificate templates). Illegal certificates and diplomas issued must be recalled, and those currently employed in any agency (whether under the jurisdiction of the education sector or the People's Committees of provinces and cities or not) must be informed of such action.

- Detect and recommend to the competent authorities the handling of those who forge certificates and diplomas or certify false copies of illegal certificates and diplomas, and those who prepare false files or alter file contents to issue them illegally.

Cases of discovered violations of the law shall be handled based on the severity of the violation or referred to legal authorities for criminal prosecution according to the law.

2. Objectives, content, and methods of inspection and supervision:

Regular inspection targets include all students, trainees, learners, and research fellows using records (school transcripts, grade sheets), certificates, and diplomas to participate in examinations and admissions; organizations and individuals responsible for issuing certificates and diplomas; and those using certificates and diplomas to be recruited, promoted, or transferred by the education sector or the People's Committees of provinces and cities.

Immediate focus should be placed on inspecting and supervising:

- Students taking the final secondary school graduation exam, supplementary secondary education, and those participating in university, college, vocational high school, and postgraduate admissions.

- Learners in part-time training classes and joint training classes of universities, colleges, and vocational high schools opened locally.

- First-year and final-year students of higher education institutions, postgraduate institutions, and vocational high schools.

- Organizations and individuals found to be involved in the issuance and use of illegal record files, certificates, and diplomas.

Inspections and supervision should promptly address cases reported through complaints and accusations and focus on classes and institutions with lax management and lack of discipline.

The content of the inspection of the use of certificates and diplomas during the admission process should pay attention to: the school transcript of grade 12 students meeting the criteria for direct admission to universities and colleges annually; grade sheets (academic performance certificates) of individuals participating in examinations and admissions; various types of files, certificates, and diplomas of newly admitted students to universities and postgraduate programs, and various levels of general education; and certificates and diplomas in files for recruitment, promotion, and transfer.

For management agencies and educational institutions authorized to issue certificates and diplomas, the steering committees at all levels need to inspect the issuance procedures, file storage, and compliance with regulations in this area.

The method of conducting shall involve checking the issuance records for certificates and diplomas, and comparing copies and temporary certificates with the originals (originals). Based on current regulations and guidelines, the legality of various types of records shall be examined. During the inspection, the inspector must record any errors and evidence to form conclusions, make recommendations for handling, and monitor the results of such handling. It is important to emphasize the responsibility conclusion regarding deficiencies and violations discovered by the issuers, copy certifiers, as well as users of certificates and diplomas.

3. Implementation:

To swiftly and effectively implement this important task, the Ministry of Education and Training will establish a Steering Committee at the ministry level for inspecting issuance records, certificates, and diplomas. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities, as well as higher education institutions (including National Universities and Regional Universities), vocational high schools (both public and private), are required to establish their own local steering committees. Each steering committee shall consist of representatives from leadership serving as Chairperson, and members selected among experienced and competent administrative staff with the necessary expertise.

The general tasks of the steering committees are:

- Developing annual plans for inspecting issuance records, certificates, and diplomas. Higher-level steering committees are responsible for urging and supervising the work of lower-level steering committees. Steering committees of National Universities, Regional Universities, universities, colleges, and vocational high schools under central management, and steering committees of provincial and municipal People's Committees shall be directly guided by the steering committee of the Ministry of Education and Training. Steering committees of provincial and municipal People's Committees shall direct the verification of this work at all levels of general education and universities, colleges, and vocational high schools managed by localities.

- Directing and assigning tasks to specialized units assisting in the work. Implementing the inspection plan for issuance records, certificates, and diplomas. Directing investigations, verifying facts, concluding, and recommending actions for cases of violations that have been discovered.

- Coordinating with relevant localities and units to direct the verification of suspicious cases involving issuance records, certificates, and diplomas. When necessary, they must request forensic examination from competent authorities as a basis for concluding inspection results. Steering committees of higher education institutions (including National Universities and Regional Universities) and vocational high schools need to promptly contact Departments of Education and Training and authorized educational institutions issuing certificates and diplomas to verify suspicious cases. Upon receiving requests, the authorized issuing units must promptly investigate and respond in writing.

During the implementation process, steering committees at all levels need to leverage the state management functions of educational management levels, mobilize the Educational Inspection machinery to inspect and audit certificates and diplomas, emphasizing the establishment of working procedures to reinforce discipline and regularity in this important task.

The Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education and Training is responsible for directing the system of sectoral Inspectors in implementing this Directive, providing guidance on procedures to steering committees at all levels, and periodically compiling reports to the Minister.

The Ministry of Education and Training requests the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities and heads of higher education and postgraduate institutions, vocational high schools to immediately implement this Directive. In 1999, agencies and educational institutions with the function of issuing certificates and diplomas shall complete the relevant departments responsible for this work and issue regulations on procedural operations. Steering committees shall conduct mid-year reviews every six months and annual summaries, submitting reports to higher authorities and the Ministry of Education and Training.

Any difficulties encountered during the implementation process should be reported to the Ministry of Education and Training for timely resolution.

This Directive needs to be disseminated to all entities within the entire sector and widely announced to the public to organize its implementation from the grassroots level.