Joint Circular No. 36/1997/TTLB/BTC-BGDDT of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education and Training guiding the budget for preparing examination questions and organizing student excellence and graduation examinations.

JOINT CIRCULAR

JOINT CIRCULAR NO. 36/1997/TTLB-BTC-BGDDT OF JUNE 23, 1997 ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING GUIDING THE BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR THE PREPARATION OF EXAM QUESTIONS AND THE ORGANIZATION OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT EXAMS AND GRADUATION EXAMS

Pursuant to Decree No. 87/CP dated December 19, 1996 of the Government guiding the implementation of the decentralization of management, preparation, execution, and settlement of the State budget. Based on Article 2 of Decision No. 241/TTg dated May 24, 1993 of the Prime Minister regarding the collection and utilization of tuition fees; to stabilize annual expenditures for final exams, graduation exams, and entrance exams organized by the Ministry of Education and Training and the Departments of Education and Training; the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education and Training hereby issue guidelines for budget allocation for the preparation of exam questions and the organization of student achievement exams and graduation exams as follows:

I. SCOPE AND APPLICABLE OBJECTS:

1. Exams organized by the Ministry of Education and Training:

Central Exam Question Preparation Board:

* Graduation exams for secondary schools

* National-level student achievement exams

2. Exams organized by the Departments of Education and Training:

Local Exam Question Preparation Board:

* Graduation exams for elementary schools

* Graduation exams for lower secondary schools and supplementary lower secondary schools

* Entrance exams for first-year classes

* Student achievement exams at district (county) and provincial (city) levels

II. SPECIFIC GUIDELINES:

1- Contents of expenditures for examinations:

1.1. Expenses for preparing exam questions:

- Preparing proposed exam questions (five proposed questions to select one official question, applicable only to the Central Board)

- Preparing official exam questions

- Inviting external experts to provide opinions on official exam questions (if applicable)

- The Exam Question Preparation Board guides marking and scoring

- The Chairman approves the exam questions and the "marking guide"

- Collecting and duplicating tapes (for foreign language exam questions)

- Duplicating and sealing individual subject exam questions and common exam questions for each board in separate envelopes

1.2. Expenses for marking exams:

- Numbering and checking answer sheets

- Marking exam papers (by two markers or more)

- Matching answer sheets, entering scores, reviewing results, and awarding prizes

- Responsibility allowances for examination marking team leaders

1.3. Expenses for organizing and managing the exam:

- Renting working locations for the Examination Question Preparation Council and marking council (if any) according to actual contracts

- Responsibility allowances for Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, and Secretaries of examination boards

- Responsibility allowances for invigilators

- Expenses for those in the Exam Question Preparation Board and duplicating exam questions during special isolation periods (additional food and newspaper expenses, etc.)

- Expenses for hiring security guards, medical staff, technical personnel, and service staff during the isolation period

- Expenses for pre-exam, during-exam, and post-exam inspection and supervision - Expenses for additional exam days (in special cases) and re-marking exam papers

- Expenses for verifying name lists, score sheets, reviewing exam results (graduation exams, selecting outstanding students), and awarding prizes

1.4. Other expenses:

- Renting (or purchasing) equipment (if any)

- Purchasing materials (floppy disks, cassette tapes, security locks, etc.)

- Office supply expenses

- Printing costs for certificates, exam papers, envelopes, etc.

2. Expense Levels:

2.1. Expense levels for preparing exam questions and organizing graduation exams for secondary schools, supplementary secondary schools, and national-level student achievement exams organized by the Ministry of Education and Training:

* Preparing exam questions (unit of measurement: per exam question)

* Marking exams: (unit of measurement: per exam paper)

* Expenses for those organizing and managing the exam (calculated daily)

- Renting software, encryption keys, and security systems (according to agreed contracts)

- Renting workspaces and isolation areas (according to agreed contracts)

- Renting computers (if necessary) (according to agreements between both parties)

2.2. Expense levels for preparing exam questions and organizing exams conducted by the Departments of Education and Training:

- For elementary school graduation exams, expenses are calculated at 60% of the above levels.

- For lower secondary school graduation exams, supplementary lower secondary school exams, entrance exams for first-year classes, district and provincial student achievement exams, expenses are calculated at 80% of the above levels.

2.3. The funds allocated for organizing exams conducted by the Ministry of Education and Training and the Departments of Education and Training are included in the annual education sector budget. All revenue from exam fees and admission fees collected according to Decision No. 241/TTg dated May 24, 1993 of the Prime Minister on the collection and utilization of tuition fees shall be remitted to the State budget.

The Ministry of Education and Training and the Departments of Education and Training shall prepare budgets for organizing the aforementioned exams within their annual budget plans and settle accounts with the State budget annually according to current regulations stipulated in the Accounting and Statistics Ordinance dated May 10, 1988; Decree No. 25/HĐBT dated March 18, 1989 of the Council of Ministers (now the Government) on the Organization of Accounting; Decree No. 87/CP dated December 19, 1996 of the Government detailing the decentralization of management, preparation, execution, and settlement of the State budget; Circular No. 09-TC/NSNN dated March 18, 1997 of the Ministry of Finance: "Guidelines for the decentralization, preparation, execution, and settlement of the State budget"; Decision No. 999 TC/QĐ/CĐKT dated November 2, 1996 of the Minister of Finance on the issuance of the system of accounting for administrative and public services and other current accounting guidelines issued by the State.

III - IMPLEMENTATION:

- This Circular takes effect from June 1, 1997.

- During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, the Departments of Finance and Prices and the Department of Education and Training are requested to report them to the Joint Ministry for timely supplementation and amendment.