Decision No. 37/2001/QD-BGDĐT on the issuance of the Regulation on the Organization and Operation of the National Council for Program Review and Textbook Review in General Education

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the issuance of the Regulation on the Organization and Operation of the National Council for Reviewing Programs and Textbooks in General Education

MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Pursuant to Decree No. 29/CP dated March 30, 1994 of the Government on the tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Decree No. 15/CP dated March 2, 1993 of the Government on the tasks, powers, and responsibilities for state management of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 43/2000/NĐ-CP dated August 30, 2000 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Education Law;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Organization and Cadres, the Director of the Primary Education Department, the Director of the Secondary General Education Department, and the Director of the Continuing Education Department.

Pursuant to …;

Article 1. This Decision promulgates the Regulation on the Organization and Operation of the National Council for Reviewing Programs and Textbooks in General Education.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect fifteen days after the date of signature.

Article 3. The Heads of the Office, the Directors of the Departments of Organization and Cadres, Planning and Finance, Primary Education, Secondary General Education, Continuing Education, Teachers, Science of Education Institute, Educational Publishing House, Chairmen of the Subject Councils, Directors of Provincial Departments of Education and Training, and heads of relevant units shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

REGULATIONS

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR REVIEWING PROGRAMS AND TEXTBOOKS IN GENERAL EDUCATIONREVIEWING PROGRAMS

AND REVIEWINGTEXTBOOKS IN GENERAL EDUCATION

(Issued together with Decision No. 37/2001/QD-BGDĐT dated August 10, 2001 of the Minister of Education and Training).

Chapter 1

FUNCTIONS, TASKS, AND POWERS OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR REVIEWING PROGRAMS AND TEXTBOOKS IN GENERAL EDUCATION.

Article 1. Functions.

The National Council for Reviewing Programs and Textbooks in General Education (hereinafter referred to as the Reviewing Council) is an advisory body providing professional advice to assist the Minister of Education and Training in reviewing programs and textbooks (including teacher's guides) for each level and subject within general education.

Article 2. Task

1. Reading, commenting, and evaluating draft programs and textbook manuscripts for each level, grade, or subject within general education according to the requirements of the Minister.

2. Submitting to the Minister the opinions of the Reviewing Council regarding the review of draft programs and textbook manuscripts to ensure their scientific nature, pedagogical quality, systematic approach, and consistency within the grade or level of general education as well as their relationship with programs and textbooks of other levels.

Article 3. Powers.

1. Advising authors or author groups to make necessary corrections and additions to improve draft programs and textbook manuscripts.

2. Proposing to the Minister issues related to improving the quality of program and textbook manuscripts for each level, grade, or subject within general education.

3. Being provided with necessary conditions and means to fulfill the tasks of the Reviewing Council.

4. Participating in teaching activities (such as observing classes, exchanging opinions with authors, and related parties when necessary).

Chapter 2

ORGANIZATION OF THE REVIEWING COUNCIL

Article 4. Establishing the Reviewing Council.

The Reviewing Council is established by a decision of the Minister of Education and Training for each program of a level or grade, each set or volume of textbooks for a subject, and dissolves itself upon completion of its assigned tasks.

Article 5. Structure of the Reviewing Council.

1. Members of the Reviewing Council include:

- Chairman;

- Deputy Chairman;

- Secretary Member;

- Other Members.

2. Each Reviewing Council for a program or textbook of a subject consists of seven to fifteen members, depending on the requirements of each program, set, or volume of textbooks.

3. The permanent body of the Council includes the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and Secretary Member.

Article 6Members of the Reviewing Council.

1. The Reviewing Council comprises a number of scientific and technical officers, educational management officials, and excellent teachers in the relevant field related to the program or textbook to be reviewed.

The Reviewing Council must have at least one quarter of its total members being teachers currently teaching at the corresponding level or grade.

Authors of the draft program or textbook manuscript under review shall not participate in the Reviewing Council.

2. Members of the Reviewing Council are responsible for performing their tasks and completing their assignments within the specified time frame as assigned by the Chairman; maintaining confidentiality as required by the Chairman.

3. Members who cannot complete their assignments due to certain reasons will be replaced by other members in accordance with Articles 4 and 6 of this Regulation.

Article 7. Chairman of the Reviewing Council.

The Chairman of the Reviewing Council has the following responsibilities:

1. Organizing the implementation of the Council's tasks and powers (including organizing exchanges and training on issues related to the Council's professional expertise), assigning specific tasks to members.

2. Preparing the agenda, content, and convening meetings of the Council to review programs or textbooks according to the schedule set by the Ministry; deciding to invite additional relevant parties when necessary.

3. Approving minutes, reports, and recommendations after each meeting of the Council.

4. Handling matters related to the implementation of the Council's tasks and powers.

5. Proposing changes or additions to the Council's membership when necessary.

Article 8. Deputy Chairman of the Reviewing Council.

The Deputy Chairman of the Reviewing Council is responsible for the work assigned by the Chairman of the Reviewing Council and acts on behalf of the Chairman to manage and resolve Council affairs in the absence of the Chairman.

Article 9Secretary Member of the Reviewing Council.

The Secretary Member of the Reviewing Council has the following responsibilities:

1. Assisting the Chairman and Deputy Chairman in preparing the content, agenda, and organizing meetings of the Council.

2. Recording all comments made during Council meetings accurately and faithfully; drafting minutes, writing reports, and compiling recommendations from the Council.

3. Assisting the Chairman and Deputy Chairman in ensuring communication between Council members and related organizations and individuals.

4. Managing financial expenditures, keeping records, and storing documents and receipts during the program and textbook review process.

Article 10. Principles of the Appraisal Board's Operation.

1. A session of the Appraisal Board shall be valid only if at least 3/4 of the total number of members of the Board are present. The Board operates on the principle of democratic centralism.

2. The Appraisal Board shall adopt the appraisal opinion through voting, with at least 2/3 of the total number of Board members agreeing for it to be considered the official opinion of the Board.

3. Opinions differing from the official opinion of the Board shall be retained and submitted to the Minister for consideration.

4. The announcement of the official opinions of the Board as well as retained opinions shall be decided by the Minister.

Chapter 3

APPRAISAL PROCEDURE FOR CURRICULUM AND TEXTBOOKS

Article 11. Organizing body for the appraisal.

1. The organizing body for the appraisal is the specialized department responsible for directing the implementation of the curriculum or textbook being appraised.

2. The organizing body for the appraisal has the following tasks:

a) To take the lead in coordinating with related units (primarily the Institute of Educational Science and the Educational Publishing House) in proposing the list of members of the Appraisal Board (as stipulated in Article 6).

b) To prepare plans, budget estimates, and final accounts for expenses, and to coordinate with the Ministry’s Office in preparing material conditions for the sessions of the Appraisal Board.

c) To notify the Appraisal Board of the appraisal requirements set by the Ministry; to receive and transfer draft curricula or textbook manuscripts to each member of the Appraisal Board; to receive and submit the Appraisal Board’s files and recommendations to the Minister for consideration and decision.

d) To take the lead in coordinating with relevant agencies in guiding the Appraisal Board to fulfill the objectives and requirements of the appraisal.

đ) To submit the Appraisal Board’s opinion on issuing the curriculum or textbook to the Minister for approval.

Article 12. Appraisal Procedure.

1. The draft curriculum or textbook manuscript must be sent by the organizing body for the appraisal to the members of the Appraisal Board at least 10 days before the first session of the Board. Each member of the Board reads the entire assigned manuscript and writes comments and suggestions to the author regarding issues related to the content of the draft curriculum or textbook manuscript.

2. The Appraisal Board convenes to hear the comments and evaluations of each member, discusses to reach the Board's evaluation opinions on the quality of the manuscript, and proposes necessary revisions and supplements to improve the manuscript. If minor revisions are required, the Board votes to submit to the Minister for approval, while clearly recording the suggested revisions and dissenting opinions of non-agreeing members (if any).

3. In cases requiring significant revisions, the organizing body for the appraisal coordinates with the Chairman of the Appraisal Board to organize a meeting for direct exchanges between the permanent office of the Appraisal Board, the author or group of authors, and the editor of the curriculum or textbook regarding the Board's comments and suggestions.

After the author has revised according to the Appraisal Board's suggestions, the draft curriculum or textbook manuscript is transferred to the organizing body for the appraisal to send to the Board members for their second review. The Chairman of the Appraisal Board convenes the second session of the Board to continue working according to the above procedure until the manuscript is unanimously approved by the Board for submission to the Minister for approval.

4. The Board Secretary compiles the file and records the Appraisal Board's opinion in the minutes for the Chairman of the Board to sign and submit to the Minister. When the Board has voted unanimously to submit to the Minister for approval, the minutes of the Appraisal Board should clearly state "The manuscript meets the quality requirements, requesting the Minister's approval." The Board Secretary sends all files on the curriculum and textbook that have been appraised to the organizing body for the appraisal.

Article 13In cases where the author of the draft curriculum or textbook manuscript does not agree with the Appraisal Board's comments and revision suggestions, the organizing body for the appraisal will discuss with the Chairman of the subject-specific Appraisal Board to obtain the subject-specific Appraisal Board's opinion on these issues. The organizing body for the appraisal compiles the opinions of the Appraisal Board, the author, and the subject-specific Appraisal Board to report to the Minister for consideration and decision.

Chapter 4

CONDITIONS FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE REVIEW BOARD

Article 14. Operating funds.

1. The financial resources to ensure the operations of the Review Board shall be allocated from the professional management budget of the entire sector of the Ministry of Education and Training and shall be used for the following purposes:

a) Expenses for meetings of the Review Board.

b) Expenses for consulting experts.

c) Expenses for professional seminars.

d) Office supplies and travel expenses.

2. The expenditure, settlement, and final accounting of the Review Board's operating funds shall be carried out by the organizing agency in accordance with current state regulations on systems, standards, and quotas.

3. In addition to the operating funds provided by the state budget, the organizing agency may mobilize other sources of supporting funds to enhance working conditions for members of the Review Board.

Article 15. Working materials.

1. The organizing agency, the Institute of Educational Science, and the Educational Publishing House (or the agency organizing the compilation of textbooks) shall be responsible for providing necessary documents related to the curriculum or textbooks, and sending typed drafts of the curriculum or textbooks to the Review Board.

2. The Ministry's Office shall be responsible for arranging other necessary working conditions and means for the Review Board's meetings.

Chapter 5

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 16. Units under the Ministry's agencies, units directly under the Ministry, subject councils, and Departments of Education and Training shall cooperate and create favorable conditions for the Review Board to work effectively in accordance with this Regulation.