JOINT CIRCULAR No. 30-TT/LB GUIDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF QUOTA SYSTEM FOR EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS IN MOUNTAINOUS AREAS

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Implementing Quotas for Educational Undertakings in Mountainous Areas

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The Prime Minister issued Directive No. 20-TTg/VG on March 10, 1969 regarding the development of educational undertakings in mountainous areas, and the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers adopted Resolution No. 109 on June 19, 1973 concerning specific policies for highland regions.

To implement the aforementioned directives and resolutions and to contribute to promoting educational undertakings in mountainous areas generally and in highland regions specifically, the Ministry of Education and Finance hereby provides the following guidelines:

I. REGIME FOR SCHOOLS IN HIGHLAND AND REMOTE AREAS

Pending central regulations, temporarily understand highland and remote areas as previously understood by localities: villages or communes located on rocky or earth mountains with considerable height (above or below 1000 meters above sea level) and prolonged cold weather; sparse population living mainly on shifting cultivation, terraced fields, backward production methods, low standard of living, difficult transportation, slow cultural and educational development... are considered highland areas.

Villages or communes, although located in lowlands, have sparse populations, are far from cultural and economic centers, and face many difficulties in production, transportation, culture, and education... are considered remote areas.

The provincial administrative committee must clearly define which villages or communes belong to highland and remote areas so that relevant departments and levels can correctly implement policies and regimes for teachers and students in these areas.

1. Regarding kindergarten classes: All kindergarten classes shall be taught by primary school teachers within the establishment's staff.

2. Regarding primary schools with boarding facilities: In each village where the population lives relatively concentrated, kindergarten classes, first grade, and second grade primary classes without boarding facilities shall be established.

Primary and secondary schools at commune level shall establish boarding facilities to accommodate students from third grade onwards who live far from the school and need to sleep and eat at the school.

Depending on the circumstances of each locality, it may be permitted for students to board or semi-board. Semi-boarding means eating one dinner (or none) and sleeping at the school to attend classes on time the next morning. Boarding means eating and sleeping entirely at the school.

At the district level, schools of the third primary level or combined second and third primary levels with boarding facilities should be established.

The establishment of schools with boarding facilities shall be proposed by the Department of Education and decided by the provincial administrative committee.

Students who board or semi-board shall be provided with:

- Sanitation allowance of 0.50 dong per month for female boarding students of menstruating age;

- One towel for use for one year.

Those from families in difficult circumstances, certified by the administrative committee and reviewed by the district administrative committee, may borrow quilts, mosquito nets, and winter coats during the school term. Schools must remind students to take good care of these items to ensure they last at least three years.

Schools with boarding facilities shall be provided with:

- Collective fee of 0.50 dong per student (boarding and semi-boarding) per month for purchasing oil, lamps, musical instruments, sports equipment;

- Medical expenses of 0.30 dong per student per month;

- Funds for purchasing cooking utensils and distributing food according to actual consumption standards of 5 dong per person actually eating at the school. Additional funds will be provided annually to purchase replacements for damaged items;

- Rent for catering services to serve cadres, teachers, and students actually eating at the school (the ratio of catering service personnel to the number of people served is determined by Circular No. 14-TTg/TN dated February 8, 1969 of the Prime Minister);

- Broadcasting and television installation costs and regular maintenance fees; if the school is far from the broadcasting system, it shall be provided with a portable radio with additional speakers and monthly battery purchase funds.

II. REGIME FOR SCHOOLS IN LOWLAND AREAS

1. Regarding kindergarten classes: Where there are no kindergarten teachers, primary schools shall organize and assign teachers to teach kindergarten classes. Teachers assigned to these classes shall receive additional allowances according to current regulations (13 dong per month) funded by the kindergarten class tuition fund and the commune budget. If the commune budget is insufficient, the provincial budget will provide assistance.

2. For primary schools with boarding facilities: In districts, third primary schools shall establish boarding facilities to accommodate students from distant areas needing to board. Where two or three communes share one second primary school and travel conditions are difficult, the school shall establish boarding facilities to facilitate students' studies. Boarding schools shall be provided with collective fees of 0.50 dong per student per month, funds for purchasing cooking utensils and distributing food, rent for catering services, and broadcasting and television installation costs or portable radio and battery purchase funds as for primary schools with boarding facilities.

III. SCHOLARSHIP REGIME FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

1. For highland and remote areas:

- Primary school students shall be provided with 0.70 dong per month for study materials. In addition to children of martyrs, one scholarship of 9 dong per month shall be reserved for every ten students from families in difficult circumstances.

- Secondary and tertiary school students shall be provided with 1 dong per month for study materials and 9 dong per month for scholarships; those boarding and from families in difficult circumstances may be eligible for special scholarships of 18 dong per month.

2. For lowland areas:

In addition to children of martyrs who have been granted scholarships, each secondary or tertiary class shall be provided with two study material scholarships (each worth a certain amount) and two scholarships of 9 dong per month for students with excellent academic performance and good morals from families in difficult circumstances.

IV. REGIME FOR CHILDREN'S SCHOOLS IN HIGHLAND AREAS

Previously, due to few primary schools with boarding facilities in highland areas and generally weakly established schools, children's schools were opened at the provincial, district, and commune levels to quickly train cadres for highland areas.

Currently, new primary schools with boarding facilities are gradually being established and consolidated. Therefore, in places where primary schools with boarding facilities have been firmly established, children's schools in highland areas can be merged.

In places where primary schools with boarding facilities have not yet been established or are not yet consolidated, existing children's schools in highland areas at the provincial and district levels shall continue to be maintained and consolidated. Admissions to these schools must be strict, only admitting students from highland and remote communes without established primary schools with boarding facilities, prioritizing children of martyrs, war invalids, and revolutionary families.

Students will continue to receive scholarships as currently implemented, which amounts to 25 dong per month, including 18 dong for food, 1 dong for school supplies, 3.50 dong for uniforms, and 2.50 dong for miscellaneous expenses. They will also be provided with collective fees for transportation, medical care, and hygiene, as well as bedding, quilts, mosquito nets, winter coats, and travel expenses for family visits during summer or Tet holidays, similar to boarding students at general secondary schools.

Students who transfer from highland children's schools to nearby general secondary schools with boarding facilities will receive 22.50 dong (excluding miscellaneous expenses) until they complete their current grade level.

The school will also receive funding for operating expenses similar to those of general secondary schools with boarding facilities in highland areas.

V. REGIME FOR YOUTH NATIONAL SCHOOLS

These schools have the responsibility to select, educate, and train active young people from mountainous ethnic minorities aged 16 and above through a combination of study and work, to become new labor forces with cultural education up to the end of secondary or upper-secondary levels and with a certain level of technical production and economic management skills, serving as core members for cooperatives. Some excellent and good students will be admitted to training institutions for scientific and technical cadres and economic managers in mountainous regions.

Schools will be established based on economic zones in mountainous areas; if such zones cannot be defined, they will be set up across counties or within counties. Youth national schools should be located near state-owned forestry and agricultural farms (if available) to benefit from their support in terms of management and utilization of labor for production and practical learning of science and technology.

Schools in counties that already have stable and solid educational and production bases should remain unchanged and must be further strengthened. Schools with too few students and unstable educational and production bases should be reorganized according to economic zones and appropriate scales.

Schools will be provided with capital for basic construction to build classrooms, semi-permanent and permanent dormitories, equipped with desks, blackboards, cabinets, beds, kitchen utensils, and teaching materials. Trainees will participate in labor, material extraction, and construction of school facilities.

Schools will be provided with initial capital for establishing production bases according to each school's organizational form. Therefore, schools must have long-term production plans consistent with local economic development policies and compatible with educational schedules. Each year, schools will develop production plans and request specific funds. Plans must be practical, carefully calculated, and ensure concrete economic results. Production plans and fund requests must be reviewed by the Department of Education and approved by the Provincial People's Committee.

The school administration must manage assets, allocated funds, and finished products effectively, preventing losses and shortages; production must generate income to improve living conditions and expand production.

Trainees will receive scholarships and other benefits like those at adult literacy schools for the first six months of each course. After six months, depending on specific circumstances, additional subsidies may be granted for any shortfall beyond self-sufficiency. Trainees in highland and remote areas will also be able to borrow quilts, mosquito nets, and winter coats during their studies.

The allocation of basic construction capital, initial equipment, and the provision of additional scholarship subsidies, along with subsidy periods, will be determined by the Provincial People's Committee based on actual conditions, production organization plans, and local capabilities.

VI. OTHER REGIMES.

1. In highland and remote villages, part-time literacy classes should be organized for cadres and youth, with the responsibility assigned to teachers from village secondary schools. Where conditions do not allow for part-time literacy classes and cadres cannot attend centralized training at county secondary vocational schools, the County Education Office can organize half-day centralized classes across villages or within villages. During concentrated study days, learners will receive school supplies, textbooks on loan, and meals paid for at the current rate of 0.60 dong per person per day.

2. At teacher training colleges, students will be provided with full sets of pedagogical textbooks for both study and self-improvement after graduation. Students from impoverished families, certified by the Village People's Committee, will be able to borrow quilts, mosquito nets, and winter coats during their studies. If students voluntarily withdraw or are required to leave, they must return borrowed textbooks, quilts, mosquito nets, and winter coats to the school.

3. To enable teachers to enhance their professional skills, each general secondary school, concentrated literacy center, and teacher training institution will be provided with funding to purchase one copy of the "People's Teacher" newspaper, one issue of the "Educational Research Journal," and one specialized journal relevant to their field of study.

4. General secondary schools and literacy centers without sufficient personnel to employ a full-time cook will be given meal allowance funds to organize their own cooking and purchase necessary living utensils for group use.

To ensure steady development of education in mountainous regions and catch up with lowland areas, the Ministry proposes that provincial administrative committees assign responsibilities to education, finance, and planning departments to establish schools and classes based on local realities, ensuring quality and setting specific regulations suitable for the locality.

Any difficulties encountered during implementation should be reported to the Ministry for research and resolution.