Directive No. 33/2006/CT-TTg on Combating Corruption and Overcoming Formalism in Education

DIRECTIVE

On Combating Corruption and Overcoming Formalism in Education

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Resolution No. 37/2004/QH11 dated December 3, 2004 of the National Assembly emphasized the requirement to reform competition in education and overcome formalism. The Education Law of 2005 stipulates that teachers and students shall not engage in fraudulent behavior during examinations, admissions, teaching, and learning. However, in recent years, negative phenomena in the field of education have not only decreased but have shown a trend of becoming increasingly widespread, such as fraud in examinations, issuance and use of diplomas and certificates, corruption in admissions, school transfers at all levels, wasteful use of state budget, construction of educational facilities, and procurement of educational equipment. These negative phenomena and formalism in education have eroded the fundamental principles of education and caused long-term harm to society.

In light of this situation, implementing the guidance of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Education and Training launched a campaign "Say No to Corruption in Examinations and Formalism in Education", considering this as a breakthrough for the 2006-2007 academic year to restore order and discipline in teaching and learning, laying the groundwork for implementing other solutions to address weaknesses in the sector and improve the quality and effectiveness of education. This campaign has initially received approval and active support from the entire society.

Efforts to combat corruption and overcome formalism in education can only achieve real and sustainable results if there is resolute leadership from Party committees and authorities at all levels, and close cooperation among mass organizations and institutions. Therefore, the Prime Minister directs:

1. Ministry of Education and Training:

a) To develop an Action Program to Combat Corruption and Overcome Formalism in Education for the period 2006-2010 with the requirements of enhancing the ethics of teachers; educating students and trainees on honesty; ensuring the responsibility of educational management agencies and schools in preventing negative phenomena in the field of education. Identifying key tasks to combat corruption and formalism each academic year, focusing on directing educational management agencies and educational institutions to strictly implement the aforementioned action program.

b) Linking the implementation of the Action Program to Combat Corruption and Overcome Formalism in Education with reforms in preschool education, general education, higher education, vocational education; reforming examination and admission work and establishing procedures for evaluating and certifying educational quality; implementing universal education, ensuring substantive teaching and learning to truly enhance the quality and effectiveness of education.

c) Cooperating with the Communist Youth Union Central Committee, the Vietnam Women's Union, the Vietnam Teachers' Union, other member organizations of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, and mass media agencies to build and implement inter-sectoral programs so that combating corruption and overcoming formalism in education becomes a common action of the whole society.

2. Ministries and sectors with universities, colleges, specialized secondary schools, and vocational training institutions under their jurisdiction need to proactively coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to disseminate and organize the implementation of the Action Program to Combat Corruption and Overcome Formalism in Education; report the results of implementation to the Ministry of Education and Training for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

3. Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities need to closely coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to direct educational management agencies and educational institutions under local management to strictly implement the Action Program to Combat Corruption and Overcome Formalism in Education; not to impose examination results, class promotion, graduation targets in a formal manner that does not match reality; direct strict handling of corruption and formalism in education in their localities right from the start of new academic years. Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities should consider this as a key directive task for the 2006-2007 academic year. In the short term, they need to issue directives to guide the implementation and organization of the campaign "Say No to Corruption in Examinations and Formalism in Education" at the local level.

4. Families and parents must pay attention to educating their children about the correct and honest attitude towards study; not to assist in negative phenomena, while closely coordinating with schools and local authorities to detect and firmly oppose negative phenomena in education.

5. Relevant ministries and sectors must take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to direct educational and vocational training institutions under their jurisdiction to build and implement action programs to combat corruption and improve teaching and learning quality; direct relevant agencies to research and supplement, perfect management mechanisms, incentive policies, rewards, and penalties to meet the requirements of education development and reform.

6. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to direct news agencies to publicize and create consensus among Party and State agencies, mass organizations, and the entire population to respond to these campaigns and implement the aforementioned action programs.

Vietnam Television and Vietnam Radio shall cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training to open special sections for publicity, regularly broadcasting activities to combat corruption and overcome formalism in education, initially focusing on publicizing the campaign "Say No to Corruption in Examinations and Formalism in Education".

7. The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Central Board of Awards and the relevant ministries and sectors within their authority shall cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training and related agencies to develop plans to ensure conditions for implementing the Action Program to Combat Corruption and Overcome Formalism in Education for the period 2006-2010.

8. The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under the central government shall be responsible for strictly organizing and implementing this Directive.

The Minister of Education and Training shall be responsible for compiling the situation and reporting quarterly to the Prime Minister on the results of the implementation of this Directive by ministries, sectors, and localities throughout the country.