JOINT CIRCULAR No. 35/1999/TTLT/BGDĐT-BVHTT on the publication and distribution of reference books for students at general education levels

JOINT CIRCULAR

Regarding the publication and distribution of reference books for students at general education levels

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To implement the provisions of the Education Law and the Publishing Law, to gradually restore order and discipline in the publication and distribution of reference books for students at general education levels, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hereby jointly stipulate as follows:

This technical regulation sets out technical requirements, testing methods, sampling procedures; management requirements; responsibilities of organizations and individuals producing, trading, and importing cigarettes.

1. Reference books that supplement textbooks for students at general education levels are study materials based on curricula and textbooks managed by the Ministry of Education and Training, ensuring scientific quality and enhancing pedagogical effectiveness to implement the curriculum according to the specified grade level.

2. Reference books that supplement textbooks are materials used for teaching in general education schools from grade 1 to grade 12.

3. Types of books that are for sale must be published by publishing houses organized for this purpose.

4. The Educational Publishing House shall be responsible to the Ministry of Education and Training for editing, printing, and distributing reference books that supplement textbooks for students at all general education levels nationwide.

II. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS

1. Reference books that supplement textbooks for teachers and students at general education levels include:

Books guiding learning and solving exercises for each subject at each grade level.

Books guiding review and examination preparation for graduation for students at each grade level, including: key points of examination preparation, selection and solution of examination questions from previous years.

The aforementioned reference books that supplement textbooks shall only be published by the Educational Publishing House.

2. Departments of Elementary Education, Secondary General Education, Institutes, Centers under the Ministry of Education and Training, and Departments of Education and Training if they have a need to compile and distribute materials serving specific guidance requirements of grade levels or localities must obtain approval from the leadership of the Ministry of Education and Training.

3. Other types of reference books not mentioned in point 1 of Section II above may still be organized for publication by other publishing houses but shall not belong to the types of reference books to be introduced into general education schools according to the guidance of the Ministry of Education and Training.

4. Educational management levels, principals of general education schools must be responsible for guiding students to purchase and use reference books according to specific guidance provided annually by the Ministry of Education and Training, without forcing students to buy reference books but allowing them to choose according to their own study needs.

III. IMPLEMENTATION

1. Departments of general education levels under the Ministry of Education and Training shall cooperate with the Educational Publishing House to organize the evaluation of content, guide and instruct the use of reference books that supplement textbooks in schools.

2. Annually, before the start of the new school year, the Ministry of Education and Training will provide regulations and guidelines for the use of reference books that supplement textbooks for students and reference books for school libraries. All such reference books mentioned above shall be guided by the Department Heads of Education and Training to manage units under their jurisdiction to organize implementation.

3. The Publishing Administration under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall base on the contents stipulated in this circular to issue permits for planning topics to the Educational Publishing House and other publishing houses.

4. Inspection agencies of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, depending on their assigned functions and powers, shall be responsible for inspecting, detecting, preventing, and promptly handling violations contrary to the provisions of this circular.

5. The Political Work Department of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Publishing Administration of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism are two main agencies assisting the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in organizing, guiding, and monitoring implementation, proposing related issues for timely adjustment and supplementation to ensure compliance.

This Circular takes effect fifteen days from the date of signature./.