JOINT CIRCULAR No. 35/2014/TTLT-BGDĐT-BTC guiding the implementation of Decision No. 66/2013/QĐ-TTg dated November 11, 2013 of the Prime Minister on policies to support tuition costs for ethnic minority students studying at higher education institutions.

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for implementing Decision No. 66/2013/QĐ-TTg dated November 11, 2013 of the Prime Minister on policies to support educational expenses for ethnic minority students studying at higher education institutions Decision No. 2499/QD-TTg of November 2013 of the Prime Minister stipulating the policy to support educational expenses for students who are ethnic minority people studying at higher education institutions

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Pursuant to Decree No. 32/2008/NĐ-CP dated March 19, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Decree No. 215/2013/NĐ-CP dated December 23, 2013, promulgated by the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance;

Pursuant to Decision No. 66/2013/QĐ-TTg dated November 11, 2013 of the Prime Minister on policies to support educational expenses for ethnic minority students studying at higher education institutions;

The Minister of Education and Training and the Minister of Finance issue this Joint Circular guiding the implementation of Decision No. 66/2013/QĐ-TTg dated November 11, 2013 of the Prime Minister on policies to support educational expenses for ethnic minority students studying at higher education institutions.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Joint Circular guides the implementation of Decision No. 66/2013/QĐ-TTg dated November 11, 2013 of the Prime Minister on policies to support educational expenses for ethnic minority students belonging to poor households and near-poor households as defined by the Prime Minister, who have been admitted to regular undergraduate and college programs at higher education institutions, including universities, academies, colleges, and institutes.

Article 2. This Joint Circular does not apply to students: those selected through special recruitment, students from policy groups admitted through special consideration, students enrolled in continuous education programs, second bachelor's degree programs, and students who enter college or university after completing a preparatory program; students at higher education institutions under the defense and security sectors.

Article 2. Conditions for enjoying the policy

To enjoy the policy of supporting educational expenses, students must meet the following conditions:

Point 1. Students are ethnic minorities belonging to poor and near-poor households as defined by the Prime Minister, approved according to each period.

Point 2. Admitted to regular undergraduate and college programs at higher education institutions, including universities, academies, colleges, and institutes, in the year they participate in the admission process in accordance with the regulations of competent state agencies on the rules for undergraduate and college admissions.

Article 3. Level of Support

The level of support for educational expenses is 60% of the basic salary and is enjoyed for no more than 10 months/year/student; the number of years receiving support for educational expenses is based on the duration of formal training.

Article 4. Procedures, formalities, and documents

Clause 1. Regarding procedures, formalities, and documents:

Point a. Within 30 days from the start of the academic year, higher education institutions shall notify students studying at their institutions about the policy of supporting educational expenses, the time for submitting applications, and guide students to submit one set of application documents as follows:

- For students studying at private higher education institutions: send the application documents to the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs of the district, city district, town, or provincial city where the student has permanent residence (hereinafter referred to as the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs).

- For students studying at public higher education institutions: send the application documents to the public higher education institution where the student studies.

In cases of refusal, the State Bank will issue a document refusing approval to use foreign currency within the territory and clearly state the reasons.

- Application form for educational expense support (model form attached as Appendix I, II);

- Certificate of poverty or near-poverty status issued by the People's Committee of the commune, ward, or town (certified copy);

- Birth certificate (certified copy);

Point b. Students eligible for educational expense support only need to submit the application once at the beginning of the academic year. During the academic year, if the family of the student has escaped poverty, the student is responsible for submitting a document certifying that the household has escaped poverty to stop the payment of educational expenses for the next period.

For students not eligible for educational expense support, if during the academic year, the family of the student is added to the list of poor or near-poor households, they should submit supplementary application documents to be considered for the policy of educational expense support for the next period. The period of eligibility is based on the validity of the Certificate of Poverty or Near-Poverty Status.

Point c. In cases where, during the study period, students eligible for the policy of educational expense support do not submit the application form along with all necessary documents as required, they will only be entitled to educational expense support from the date when the higher education institution or the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs receives the complete application documents until the end of the course and will not be granted retroactive payments for educational expense support for the period before the submission of the complete application documents.

Clause 2. Reviewing application documents:

Point a. For public higher education institutions: The heads of public higher education institutions, based on the provisions of Article 2; Clause 1 of Article 4 of this Joint Circular, organize the review process, cross-check, and bear responsibility for the accuracy of the application documents; compile and prepare a list and budget for implementing the policy of educational expense support for students as specified in Appendix III, report to the superior management agency for inspection, approval, and consolidation, then submit to the financial authority for approval by the competent authority.

Point b. Private higher education institutions are responsible for confirming the application form for educational expense support for students within 10 days from the receipt of the application form from the student and guide the student to submit the application documents as stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article to the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (where the student has permanent residence) for review, approval of the list of beneficiaries, and preparation of a budget for implementing the policy of educational expense support for students to be submitted to the financial authority at the same level for approval by the competent authority. The head of the private higher education institution bears responsibility for the accuracy of the information recorded on the confirmation letter for the student.

Article 5. Methods for disbursing financial support for educational expenses

1. For students studying at public higher education institutions

The funds to implement the policy of supporting educational expenses for students at public higher education institutions shall be allocated annually from the state budget in the form of a budget estimate. The allocation of the budget estimate for implementing the policy of supporting educational expenses for public higher education institutions shall be carried out simultaneously with the annual state budget allocation period. When allocating the budget estimate, the managing authority must clearly record the budget estimate for implementing the policy of supporting educational expenses for learners who are eligible for support and are currently studying at public higher education institutions.

When withdrawing the budget estimate for supporting educational expenses, the public higher education institution must submit to the State Treasury Office where the unit conducts transactions a consolidated request for funding to support educational expenses (including the following contents: name of the learner eligible for support who is currently studying at the school; amount of expenditure and total funding requested). Along with this submission, full documentation (photocopies) confirming the eligibility of the recipient according to Clause 1, Article 1 of this Circular must be provided. From the next withdrawal onwards, the higher education institution does not need to submit these accompanying documents (except in cases where there is a change in the recipients of educational expense support).

2. For students studying at non-public higher education institutions

The Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs where the student has their permanent residence is responsible for managing and organizing the direct payment of financial support for educational expenses in cash to students studying at non-public higher education institutions. Within the latest 15 working days from the date of receiving complete application documents for financial support for educational expenses as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 1 of this Circular, the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs is responsible for making payments according to regulations. In case the submitted documents are not valid, the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs must notify the learner within 3 working days from the date of receipt of the complete documents.

3. The disbursement of financial support for educational expenses shall be carried out twice during the academic year: the first time for 5 months in October or November each year; the second time for 5 months in March or April of the following year. In cases where students have not received the benefits according to the prescribed deadlines, they will be entitled to claim the outstanding amount in the subsequent payment cycle.

4. The agency responsible for disbursing financial support for educational expenses for students shall publicly announce the procedures and timing for disbursing financial support for educational expenses to facilitate students in receiving their entitlements according to regulations.

Article 6. Provisions on suspending the disbursement of financial support for educational expenses

1. Students who withdraw from studies or are expelled due to disciplinary reasons shall not be entitled to receive financial support for educational expenses from the effective date of the disciplinary decision. If students have already received financial support for educational expenses but then withdraw from studies or are expelled, public higher education institutions and the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall suspend the disbursement of financial support for educational expenses in the subsequent academic period.

2. Students whose studies are suspended (for a limited period) shall not be entitled to receive financial support for educational expenses during the suspension period, except in cases of suspension due to illness, accidents, retaking courses, repeating grades, or other objective reasons confirmed by the school. If students have already received financial support for educational expenses but their studies are suspended, public higher education institutions and the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall deduct the corresponding amount for the months of suspension from the subsequent academic period after the student re-enrolls.

3. Public higher education institutions shall implement the suspension of disbursement of financial support for educational expenses as stipulated in Clause 1 and Clause 2 of Article 6 above.

Non-public higher education institutions where students withdraw from studies, are expelled, or have their studies suspended shall be responsible for notifying the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs where the student has their permanent residence to suspend the disbursement of financial support for educational expenses. When students are re-admitted after the disciplinary period or suspension period ends, as confirmed by the non-public higher education institution, the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs shall continue to make payments according to regulations.

Article 7. Source of funds

The source of funds for disbursing financial support for educational expenses as stipulated in this Circular shall be supplemented in the annual budget estimate for educational and training expenditures of localities, ministries, sectors, and central agencies according to the following principles:

1. The central budget shall provide support to local budgets to implement the policy of supporting educational expenses for students studying at non-public higher education institutions and public higher education institutions managed by localities according to the principle: 100% support for localities that cannot balance their budgets independently and the province of Quang Ngai, 50% funding support for localities with a distribution rate to the central budget below 50%, and the remaining localities shall ensure their own funding.

Provincial People's Committees directly under the Central Government shall allocate local budgets together with the support from the central budget to implement the policy of supporting educational expenses for students according to regulations.

2. The central budget shall ensure the funding for implementing the policy of supporting educational expenses for higher education institutions managed by ministries, sectors, and central agencies.

3. Specifically for the year 2014, ministries, sectors, and localities shall submit comprehensive reports on financial support for educational expenses for ethnic minority students as stipulated in this Circular to the Ministry of Finance for consolidation and presentation to the competent authority for consideration and supplementation of the budget estimate to implement the policy.

Article 8. Establishing Budget Estimates, Allocating and Finalizing Accounts for Educational Cost Support Funds

1. Preparing budgets

Annually, based on the Prime Minister's Directive regarding the development plan for economic and social growth and the state budget estimate for the planning year; the Circular guiding the Ministry of Finance on the establishment of the state budget estimate for the planning year; based on the number of beneficiaries eligible for educational cost support, the provincial People's Committees, ministries, and central agencies shall establish the budget estimate for the required funds to support educational costs, which will be included in the local government's projected state budget expenditure needs, and sent to the Ministry of Finance at the same time as reporting the state budget estimate for the planning year. Specifically as follows:

a) Public higher education institutions, based on the level of support and the number of beneficiaries receiving educational cost support, shall prepare a list (accompanied by confirmation documents for beneficiaries as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 1 of this Joint Circular), consolidate and develop a budget estimate to submit to the supervising authority for review before sending it to the financial management agency for consolidation and submission to the competent authority for approval.

b) The Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, based on the level of support and the number of beneficiaries receiving educational cost support, shall prepare a list (accompanied by confirmation documents for beneficiaries as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 1 of this Joint Circular), consolidate and develop a budget estimate to submit to the financial management agency at the same level for review and consolidation, and then submit to the competent authority for approval.

c) Agencies and units responsible for building, consolidating, and managing funds for disbursing educational cost support to beneficiaries as specified in Article 2 of this Circular shall be responsible for submitting the budget estimate for implementing these policies to the financial management agency at the same level by July 20th each year to be included in the local government's projected state budget expenditure needs, and sent to the Ministry of Finance.

2. Allocating budgets

Based on the decision to allocate the state budget estimate by the Prime Minister:

a) Provincial People's Committees and municipal people's committees under the central government shall submit to the People's Council at the same level for decision on allocating funds for disbursing educational cost support to students at public higher education institutions under their jurisdiction and students at non-public schools within the local education and training expenditure budget estimate according to the prescribed regulations.

b) Ministries, sectors, and central agencies shall decide on allocating funds for supporting educational costs to public higher education institutions under their jurisdiction according to the prescribed regulations.

3. Management, Utilization and Finalization of Accounts for Funds.

The management, utilization, and finalization of accounts for funds disbursed for educational cost support shall be carried out in accordance with the current provisions of the State Budget Law, guiding documents, and the current State Budget Manual.

4. Annually, ministries, sectors, central agencies, provincial People's Committees, and municipal people's committees under the central government shall be responsible for consolidating and reporting to the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance the results of disbursing educational cost support funds to students at the end of the academic year.

Article 9. Effective Date

1. This Joint Circular takes effect from November 28, 2014.

2. The implementation date of the student support policy stipulated in this Joint Circular shall be calculated from January 1, 2014.

Article 10. Implementation Organization

1. Beneficiaries eligible for educational cost support under this Joint Circular who simultaneously enjoy multiple support policies with similar nature shall only be entitled to the highest preferential benefit.

2. During implementation, if the normative legal documents cited for application in this Joint Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced by new documents, they shall be applied according to those new documents.

During implementation, if there are any difficulties, please report them to the Ministry of Education and Training for coordination with the Ministry of Finance to consider and resolve./.