Joint Circular No. 35/2003/TTLT/BTC-BGD&ĐT guiding certain contents and expenditure levels of the Primary School Teacher Development Project

JOINT CIRCULAR

GUIDELINES FOR CERTAIN CONTENTS AND EXPENSE LEVELS OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Pursuant to the Development Credit Agreement No. 3594-VN dated April 2, 2002 between the Government of Vietnam and the World Bank (WB); and the Non-Reimbursable Grant Trust Fund Agreement No. TF 023861 dated April 2, 2002 between the Government of Vietnam and the World Bank regarding financial support for the Primary School Teacher Development Project;
Pursuant to Decision No. 906/QĐ-TTg dated July 24, 2001 of the Prime Minister on investment (Phase I) of the "Primary School Teacher Development" Project;
Pursuant to Decision No. 112/2001/QĐ-BTC dated November 9, 2001 of the Minister of Finance on the issuance of certain consumption standards applicable to projects using Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan funds;
Pursuant to Decision No. 6051/QĐ-BGD&ĐT-TCCB dated November 5, 2001 of the Minister of Education and Training on the establishment of the Project Coordination Board for the Primary School Teacher Development Project;
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education and Training jointly issue guidelines for certain contents and expenditure levels of the Primary School Teacher Development Project as follows:

I- GENERAL PROVISIONS:

1- The Ministry of Education and Training is the managing agency of the Primary School Teacher Development Project.

The Project Coordination Board of the Primary School Teacher Development Project (hereinafter referred to collectively as the Project Coordination Board) shall undertake the tasks of organizing and coordinating the activities of the Project.

2- The project implementation funds of the Primary School Teacher Development Project from the state budget include:

- World Bank (WB) loans;

- Non-reimbursable grant from the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID);

- Counterpart funding from the Government of Vietnam.

3- The provisions of this Circular only apply to the Primary School Teacher Development Project.

II- SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

1- Allocation of Expenditure Items:

1.1- WB Loan Funds:

- Expenditure on purchasing goods, materials, equipment, and tools for teaching and learning pilot programs;

- Expenditure on training both domestically and internationally, including: seminars, workshops, teacher training, pilot teaching, curriculum framework development, textbook compilation.

1.2- DFID Non-Reimbursable Grant Funds:

- Expenditure on domestic consultancy services (including salaries of contracted staff with professional expertise, subject to written approval by DFID and WB) and international consultancy services;

- Expenditure on overseas training.

1.3- Counterpart Funding from the Government of Vietnam:

- Expenditure on regular activities of the Project Coordination Board: rental of premises; office supplies; payment for electricity and water; communication expenses; contract payments, hiring fees; tax payments...

- Salaries for contracted drivers and service personnel...

- Domestic training expenditure: seminars, workshops, teacher training, pilot teaching, curriculum framework development, textbook compilation;

- Purchasing goods, materials, equipment, and tools for teaching and learning pilot programs.

1.4- The use of Project funds for the above tasks must comply with the ratios stipulated in the Credit Agreement and the Non-Reimbursable Grant Agreement.

2- Contents and Expenditure Levels of the Project:

2.1- Expenditure on domestic conferences, seminars, workshops, and training:

- The Project Coordination Board shall prepare detailed reports on the content, number of participants, duration, and appropriate location in accordance with the project implementation requirements and the provisions of the Credit Agreement and the Non-Reimbursable Grant Agreement.

- The duration of conferences and seminars shall not exceed three days, and training sessions shall not exceed ten days. The expenditure levels for these tasks shall be implemented in accordance with Decision No. 112/2001/QĐ-BTC of the Minister of Finance on the issuance of certain consumption standards applicable to projects using ODA loan funds.

- For training sessions lasting more than ten days and domestic training, expenditures shall be carried out according to contracts between the training institutions and the Project, subject to approval by the Ministry of Education and Training.

2.2- Expenditure on pilot teaching and responsibility allowances for teachers and school management staff at selected teacher training colleges and primary schools:

- Training allowance for model teachers: 10,000 VND/session.

- Allowance for teachers conducting pilot teaching: 5,000 VND per class hour.

- Responsibility allowance for school management staff (directly participating in project activities) at selected teacher training colleges and primary schools, members of the steering committees at various levels implementing the pilot program (if any), up to a maximum of 150,000 VND per person per month.

2.3- Expenditure on developing curriculum frameworks for subjects and compiling course textbooks:

- Drafting guiding documents, discussion drafts, and conclusions of the curriculum development councils: 50,000 VND per page.

- Curriculum framework and subject course development:

* Textbook compilation: 55,000 VND per class hour.

* Overall editing and revision: 30,000 VND per class hour.

* Review and comment reading: 25,000 VND per class hour.

- Textbook compilation:

* Writing textbooks: 50,000 VND per page.

* Revision and editing: 25,000 VND per page.

* Review and comment reading: 20,000 VND per page.

2.4- Translation expense standards:

Implemented in accordance with Decision No. 112/2001/QĐ-BTC of the Minister of Finance on the issuance of certain consumption standards applicable to projects using ODA loan funds, specifically as follows:

(1) Written translation:

- Translating documents from foreign languages into Vietnamese: not exceeding 35,000 VND per page of 300 words.

- Translating documents from Vietnamese into foreign languages: not exceeding 40,000 VND per page of 300 words.

(2) Oral translation:

- Ordinary oral translation: not exceeding 70,000 VND per hour per person, equivalent to not exceeding 560,000 VND per day per person working 8 hours.

- Simultaneous oral translation: not exceeding 150,000 VND per hour per person, equivalent to not exceeding 1,200,000 VND per day per person working 8 hours.

The aforementioned translation expenditure standards only apply when the Project needs to hire external translators and interpreters; they do not apply to translators and interpreters who are Project staff.

2.5- Expenditure on short-term and long-term overseas seminars and training:

- The level of expenditure for officials participating in short-term overseas seminars, training, and education shall be in accordance with Circular No. 45/1999/TT-BTC dated May 4, 1999 of the Ministry of Finance "Regulations on travel expenses for civil servants and employees going on short-term missions abroad" and Circular No. 108/1999/TT-BTC dated September 4, 1999 of the Ministry of Finance guiding and supplementing certain points of Circular No. 45/1999/TT-BTC.

- For long-term training tasks abroad:

+ Based on the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training regarding the selection of scholarship students under the "Training scientific and technical cadres at foreign educational institutions using state budget funds" project, the Project Coordination Board shall establish regulations for selecting scholarship students to study abroad long-term and submit them for approval by the Ministry of Education and Training.

+ The expenditure level shall be applied in accordance with Circular No. 88/2001/TTLT/BTC-BGD&ĐT-BNG dated November 6, 2001 of the Joint Ministries of Finance, Education and Training, and Foreign Affairs "Guidelines for managing and allocating state budget funds for the 'Training scientific and technical cadres at foreign educational institutions using state budget funds' project," and Circular No. 28/2003/TTLT/BTC-BGD&ĐT dated April 4, 2003 of the Joint Ministries of Finance and Education and Training "Regulations on collecting and using examination and admission fees for educational and training institutions within the national education system."

+ The obligations of scholarship students shall be implemented in accordance with Circular No. 75/2000/TTLB/BTC-BGD&ĐT dated July 20, 2000 of the Joint Ministries of Finance and Education and Training "Guidelines for reimbursing training costs for individuals sent abroad for study but who do not return to the country on time" and other provisions of the Project.

2.6- For domestic investigations under the Components of the Project, they shall be carried out according to the contract agreed between the Project Coordination Board and the domestic consulting unit based on the requirements of the investigation. The amount allocated for these tasks shall be decided by the Project Coordination Board based on the levels specified in Circular No. 114/2000/TT-BTC dated November 27, 2000 of the Ministry of Finance on guiding the management of funds for investigations funded from state budget sources.

2.7- Overtime pay: applied in accordance with the Labor Law and Circular No. 18/LDTBXH-TT dated June 2, 1993 of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs guiding the implementation of wage systems, overtime work, and night shift allowances.

2.8- The allocation for mobile phone usage expenses is as follows:

- The Project Coordinator may reimburse up to 300,000 VND per month.

- Assistants may be reimbursed up to 200,000 VND per month.

2.9- The monthly allowance for travel expenses for staff members who frequently use personal means of transportation for official business transactions shall not exceed 100,000 VND/month/person.

2.10- Expenses for testing and implementing professional standards and training modules for primary school teachers:

- Draft guidelines for applying professional standards to evaluate primary school teachers;

- Analyze the requirements for teacher training programs;

- Develop training modules, audiovisual materials, CDs, and web pages;

- Draft and pilot new training programs and textbooks for primary school teacher training at teacher training colleges and primary schools.

Based on the nature and content of the work, the Head of the Project Coordination Board shall decide the form of implementation (task-based contract, time-based contract, lump-sum contract, etc.) and the payment level for each task in accordance with the project's financial capacity.

In addition to the above contents and expense levels, the Primary School Teacher Development Project may use funds from non-reimbursable aid from DFID for the following purposes:

a- Salary payments for contractual employees working at the Project at the following rates:

- Rate 1: from 100 USD per person per month to 200 USD per person per month.

- Rate 2: from 200 USD per person per month to 250 USD per person per month.

Based on the ability and quality of the work, the Head of the Project Coordination Board shall report to the Minister of Education and Training for approval of salary payments for the Project's contractual employees.

b- Salary payments for domestic consultants (domestic consultants selected for positions defined in the Agreement; the selection process follows the guidelines of the World Bank, donors, and the Government of Vietnam) at the following rates:

- Rate 1: from 250 USD per person per month to 450 USD per person per month.

- Rate 2: from 450 USD per person per month to 600 USD per person per month.

- Level 3: from 600 USD/person/month to 800 USD/person/month.

Based on job requirements, expertise level, and agreement results, the Minister of Education and Training shall decide or delegate the Head of the Project Coordination Board to decide on salary payments for domestic experts.

3- Budget preparation, management, and settlement:

Budget preparation, management, disbursement, and settlement procedures shall follow the current regulations for ODA operational funds.

- 3.1- Budget Estimate:

Annually, in accordance with the regulations on State Budget estimate construction, the Project Coordination Board shall prepare the Project's budget estimate and submit it to the Ministry of Education and Training for consolidation in the Ministry's State Budget estimate, which will then be submitted to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment for consolidation and submission to the Government for approval by the National Assembly.

The annual budget estimate of the Project must clearly define the loan capital, non-reimbursable aid, and government matching fund (operational fund).

After the Prime Minister assigns the plan, the Ministry of Finance shall notify the budget expenditure estimate for the Ministry of Education and Training, including the Project's budget estimate. The Ministry of Education and Training shall allocate the budget to the Project in accordance with current regulations.

Based on the budget estimate allocated to the Project, the Project Coordination Board shall prepare the Project's financial plan and submit it to the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance. Based on the Project's financial plan and the opinion of the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Finance shall agree in writing on the Project's financial plan and send it to the Ministry of Education and Training and the State Treasury.

3.2- Expense Control and Fund Disbursement:

Procedures, formalities, and requirements for expense documentation shall be carried out in accordance with Circular No. 40/1998/TT-BTC dated March 31, 1998 of the Ministry of Finance on guiding the management, disbursement, and settlement of state budget expenditures through the State Treasury, and related documents.

The State Treasury shall be responsible for controlling expenditures for activities within the scope of the Project implemented by the Project Coordination Board.

The disbursement of counterpart funds from the state budget for the Project shall be carried out in accordance with current regulations on the disbursement of state budget funds.

3.3- Withdrawal and Use of World Bank (WB) Loan Funds:

Procedures and methods for withdrawing funds from the WB loan source shall be carried out in accordance with Joint Circular No. 81/1998/TTLT-BTC-NHNN dated June 17, 1998 of the Ministry of Finance and the State Bank of Vietnam on guiding the procedures, formalities, and management of withdrawal for official development assistance; Decision No. 96/2000/QĐ-BTC dated June 12, 2000 of the Minister of Finance promulgating detailed guidance on the procedures and formalities for ODA withdrawal.

3.4- Accounting, Settlement, and Asset Management shall be carried out in accordance with the current regulations for administrative operational fields.

Audit work shall be conducted in compliance with the provisions of the Agreement and the principles of the donor.

III- IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS:

This Circular takes effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

The temporarily advanced funds from when the Project became effective until the date this Circular takes effect shall be allowed to be settled according to the specific expense levels stipulated in this Circular.

In case of difficulties during implementation, please report to the relevant ministries for consideration and resolution./.

Place of Receipt:
- VPQH
- Office of the President
- VPCP
- TANDTC, Viện KSNDTC
- Ministries, agencies under the Government
Official Gazette
- File: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Training.
- People's Committees of provinces and cities: Son La, Vinh Phuc, Ninh Binh, Quang Binh, Phu Yen, Kon Tum, Binh Phuoc, Ben Tre, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong.
- Sở TC-VG
- Sở GD&ĐT
- State Treasury