Joint Circular No. 42/2003/TTLT/BGD-BTC (Provisional) guiding certain policies to implement Decision No. 494/QĐ-Ttg dated June 24, 2002 of the Prime Minister on "Some measures to improve the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning courses on Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh Thought in universities and colleges, and political education in vocational high schools and vocational training institutions."

JOINT CIRCULAR

Jointly issued by the Ministry of Education and Training - Ministry of Finance No. 42/2003/TTLT/BGĐT-BTC

dated August 29, 2003 guiding certain policies to implement

Decision No. 494/QĐ-TTg dated June 24, 2002 of the Prime Minister on

"Certain measures to improve the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning

courses on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought in universities and colleges,

political education courses in specialized secondary schools and vocational training"

nghề nghiệp và dạy nghề" 

Pursuant to Article 30, 31, 36, 37 of the Education Law;

Pursuant to Decision No. 494/QĐ-TTg dated June 24, 2002 of the Prime Minister approving the project "Certain measures to improve the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning courses on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought in universities and colleges, political education courses in specialized secondary schools and vocational training";

The Ministry of Education and Training - Ministry of Finance hereby guides certain policies to implement Decision No. 494/QĐ-TTg dated June 24, 2002 of the Prime Minister as follows:

1. Regarding the curricula and textbooks for courses on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought, and political education courses:

1.1. The national textbook set for courses on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought shall be used as textbooks for teaching and learning in training programs for bachelor's degree holders in the fields of Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought.

1.2. Based on the national textbook set for courses on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought, the Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to compile curricula and textbooks suitable for the objectives, requirements, content, methods, and organizational structure of training at universities, colleges, specialized secondary schools, and vocational training institutions:

a. Develop and promulgate a unified training program (duration, professional requirements, criteria for evaluating teaching and learning quality, examination regulations...); lecture hours; textbooks for courses on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought for universities and colleges; curricula and textbooks for political education courses for specialized secondary schools and vocational training institutions.

b. Compile curricula and textbooks for postgraduate training (master's and doctoral studies) not belonging to the fields of Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought.

c. Compile teaching and learning guidance materials.

d. Compile reference materials to supplement and promote Party and State policies in line with practical development and nation-building in each period based on Party Congress documents, Central Committee resolutions, Party and State policy documents, classic works on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought both domestically and internationally...

1.3. Based on the national textbook set for courses on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought, the Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to compile or guide schools to compile:

a. Curricula and textbooks for standardizing and perfecting the qualifications of those who have graduated from advanced and intermediate theoretical political studies; supplementary and enhancement training for teachers currently teaching a course on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought to teach a second course; second bachelor's degree training; postgraduate training.

b. A system of question banks and answer keys for partial exams, student excellence exams, and graduation exams for courses on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought for training programs at universities and colleges, and political education courses at specialized secondary schools and vocational training institutions.

2. The Ministry of Education and Training shall develop and issue a list and equip teaching materials, textbooks, classic reference materials, shared bookshelves, books, magazines... for teachers and students; departments and subjects specializing in Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought at universities and colleges without such specializations, and political education subjects at specialized secondary schools and vocational training institutions.

Universities, colleges, specialized secondary schools, and vocational training institutions shall implement plans to strengthen infrastructure, equipment, and teaching aids for departments and subject groups specializing in Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought, and political education subjects according to the unit's planning and the Ministry of Education and Training's guidelines.

3. Teaching management; training and enhancing teachers for courses on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought and political education courses:

The Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies:

3.1. Reform teaching methods, improve the quality and effectiveness of teaching and learning courses on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought for training programs at universities and colleges, and political education courses at specialized secondary schools and vocational training institutions.

3.2. Develop and implement plans for enhancing, standardizing, and training a cadre of teachers for courses on Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought for training programs at universities and colleges, and political education courses at specialized secondary schools and vocational training institutions to meet quality and quantity requirements.

3.3. Based on the approved network of universities and colleges by the Prime Minister and the system of specialized secondary schools and vocational training institutions nationwide, the Ministry of Education and Training shall coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to guide universities and colleges to consolidate, complete, or establish new departments or subjects specializing in Marxist-Leninist theory and Ho Chi Minh Thought; specialized secondary schools and vocational training institutions to establish political education subject groups in accordance with Decision No. 494/QĐ-TTg dated June 24, 2002 of the Prime Minister.

3.4. Guide the student-to-class ratio during theoretical lectures, film screenings, and other extracurricular activities directly serving teaching and learning tasks; stipulate teacher staffing levels.

4. Financial regime:

4.1. Expenditure on compiling curricula, textbooks, and reference materials:

a. The level of expenditure for compiling programs and textbooks for courses on Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh thought for various training fields at universities and colleges (the types of textbooks mentioned in Points 1.2.a, 1.2.b, 1.3.a), Political Education courses at vocational high schools and vocational training institutions shall be applied according to the provisions set forth in Circular No. 87/2001/TT-BTC dated October 30, 2001 of the Ministry of Finance "Guidelines on the Content and Level of Expenditure for Building Framework Programs for University and College Training Fields and Compiling Course Programs and Textbooks."

Drafting guiding materials, draft discussion documents, and conclusions of councils building framework programs for university and college training fields: VND 50,000 per page.

- Translating and proofreading materials from foreign languages into Vietnamese not exceeding VND 35,000 per page of 300 words.

- For courses on Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh thought for various training fields at universities and colleges:

* Building framework programs and course programs:

+ Compiling programs: VND 55,000 per hour.

+ Revising and overall editing: VND 30,000 per hour.

+ Reviewing and commenting: VND 25,000 per hour.

* Compiling textbooks:

+ Writing textbooks: VND 50,000 per page.

+ Revising and overall editing: VND 25,000 per page.

+ Reviewing and commenting: VND 20,000 per page.

- For Political Education courses in vocational high schools and vocational training institutions:

* Building framework programs and course programs:

+ Compiling programs: VND 50,000 per hour.

+ Revising and overall editing: VND 25,000 per hour.

+ Reviewing and commenting: VND 20,000 per hour.

* Compiling textbooks:

+ Writing textbooks: VND 35,000 per page.

+ Revising and overall editing: VND 20,000 per page.

+ Reviewing and commenting: VND 10,000 per page.

b. The level of expenditure for compiling question banks and answer keys for subject exams, student excellence exams, and graduation exams (mentioned in Point 1.3.b) shall be converted and applied according to the expenditure level for writing textbooks for courses on Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh thought for various training fields at universities and colleges. The Ministry of Education and Training will provide detailed regulations on this conversion.

c. The level of expenditure for compiling teaching and learning guidance materials (mentioned in Point 1.2.c); reference materials to supplement and implement Party and State policies (mentioned in Point 1.2.d) shall be applied at 50% of the expenditure level for compiling textbooks for courses on Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh thought for various training fields at universities and colleges:

+ Writing materials: VND 25,000 per page.
+ Revising and overall editing: VND 15,000 per page.
+ Reviewing and commenting: VND 10,000 per page.
The above levels of expenditure apply to final products that have been accepted for use.

4.2. The level of expenditure for conducting surveys of teaching and learning subjects in different regions across the country to serve as a basis for developing new teaching and learning methods, implemented according to Circular No. 114/2000/TT-BTC dated November 27, 2000 of the Ministry of Finance "Guidelines for Managing Funds for Surveys from State Budget Sources."

4.3. Directors and principals of universities, colleges, vocational high schools, and vocational training institutions shall determine the level of expenditure based on the nature of the work, training plans, financial capacity of the unit, and current financial expenditure regulations:

- Creating and building teaching and learning equipment such as design drawings, models, charts, video tapes, audio tapes, CDs... approved and widely used by the Ministry of Education and Training.

- Researching topics on reforming teaching and learning methods for courses on Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh thought and Political Education.

- Supporting accommodation and travel expenses for students during practical training and field research as required by each course.

4.4. The state budget will provide funding support to universities and colleges to implement free tuition for students in majors of Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh thought who commit to fulfilling their training contracts. The provision of tuition reimbursement for these students will be carried out according to the provisions of Joint Circular No. 66/1998/TT-LT/BGD&ĐT-BTC dated December 16, 1998 of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance on implementing free tuition for education majors and supporting budgets for teacher training institutions.

4.5. The training quota for undergraduate students majoring in courses on Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh thought at universities and colleges; second bachelor's degree training according to employment needs; postgraduate and doctoral training in these specialized fields shall be calculated according to the corresponding quotas of teacher training universities. Those who do not fulfill their commitments or training contracts must repay the training costs.

4.6. Apply the expenditure levels specified in Circular No. 105/2001/TT-BTC dated December 27, 2001 of the Ministry of Finance "Guidelines for Managing and Using Training and Capacity Building Funds for State Officials and Civil Servants" for:

- Supplementary and knowledge enhancement classes for teachers currently teaching courses on Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh thought and Political Education to teach a second course in this specialty.

- Short-term training and standardization classes for teachers of courses on Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh thought for various training fields at universities and colleges, and Political Education courses at vocational high schools.

4.7. The state budget expenditure level for overseas training tasks at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels, and internships for courses on specialized Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh thought (applied according to the provisions of Joint Circular No. 88/2001/TTLT-BTC-BGD&ĐT-BNG of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education and Training, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on managing and allocating state budget funds for the Project "Training Scientific and Technical Personnel Abroad by State Budget.")

4.8. The level of expenditure for managers and instructors of courses on Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh thought, and political education teachers going to conduct practical research:

- Within the country: implemented in accordance with the provisions of Circular No. 94/1998/TT-BTC dated June 30, 1998 of the Ministry of Finance "Regulations on Travel Expenses for State Officials on Domestic Business Trips."

- Outside the country: implemented in accordance with the provisions of Circular No. 45/1999/TT-BTC dated May 4, 1999 of the Ministry of Finance "Regulations on Travel Expenses for State Officials on Short-Term Overseas Business Trips" 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.

4.9. In addition to other benefits and rights enjoyed by university and college lecturers, vocational high school teachers, and vocational instructors, lecturers of subjects in Marxist-Leninist Science, Ho Chi Minh Thought, and political instructors shall also enjoy additional hourly teaching allowances calculated based on their rank salary plus position allowance (if applicable) and paid according to actual hours taught (maximum not exceeding the standard hours prescribed for the position). The rate of the allowance and method of calculation are as follows:

a. A rate of 25% applies to the hours taught by lecturers for college and university training classes and postgraduate courses.

b. A rate of 15% applies to the hours taught by political instructors for vocational high school and vocational training classes.

c. The allowance is calculated using the following formula:

Briefly describe technical improvements, production processes, raw materials, designs; new technology applications such as automation, digitalization, clean technology; management, marketing, distribution solutions; products winning awards or certifications related to innovation…):…_L cv_L + P_C) x 10 (months)
"5. The pre-tax weighted average cost of capital i (%) is determined according to the formula below:_G = x P% x G_{d.1. Amount of taxable income in Vietnam:}
G_C
"5. The pre-tax weighted average cost of capital i (%) is determined according to the formula below:_G: Annual hourly teaching allowance amount for lecturers
Briefly describe technical improvements, production processes, raw materials, designs; new technology applications such as automation, digitalization, clean technology; management, marketing, distribution solutions; products winning awards or certifications related to innovation…):…_L: Minimum wage level
H_L: Rank-based salary coefficient of lecturers
"5. The pre-tax weighted average cost of capital i (%) is determined according to the formula below:_C: Position allowance coefficient (if applicable)
G_C: Standard hours prescribed for the position (according to current regulations).
P%: Hourly teaching allowance rate (25% for university and college lecturers, 15% for vocational high school and vocational training political instructors).
G_{d.1. Amount of taxable income in Vietnam:} (Ê G_C): Actual teaching hours in the academic year.
For management staff who teach concurrently, this allowance can only be counted within the assigned hours and must meet the stipulated requirements.
Lecturers of Marxist-Leninist Science, Ho Chi Minh Thought, and political instructors belonging to the permanent staff of non-state-owned schools are also entitled to the above allowance funded by the school's budget.

4.10. Source of funding:

a. The state budget, according to the current budget management hierarchy, ensures funding for the teaching and learning tasks of Marxist-Leninist Science, Ho Chi Minh Thought, and Political Education subjects for the Ministry of Education and Training; public universities, colleges, vocational high schools, and vocational training institutions.

Funding for the training of lecturers and instructors of these subjects abroad is allocated within the total funding for the Project "Training Scientific and Technical Personnel at Foreign Institutions Using State Budget" approved by the Prime Minister's Decision No. 322/QĐ-TTg dated April 19, 2000.

Management, budget preparation, execution, and settlement of accounts for the implementation of these tasks are carried out in accordance with the State Budget Law and related guiding documents.

In 2003, the state budget will provide supplementary funding for the Ministry of Education and Training, public universities, colleges, vocational high schools, and vocational training institutions to implement these tasks.

b. Non-formal education programs in public schools; non-public schools use their own funds to implement teaching and learning tasks of Marxist-Leninist Science, Ho Chi Minh Thought, and Political Education.

- Directing the Department of Information and Communications to advise on management, plan formulation, and implementation after approval by the Provincial People's Committee;

5.1. The subject of this Circular is all universities, university-level institutions, academies, colleges, vocational high schools, and vocational training institutions within the national education system.

5.2. This Circular takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette. Benefits and policies for the subjects specified in the Prime Minister's Decision No. 494/QĐ-TTg dated June 24, 2002 shall be effective from the date of implementation of the Decision.

During the implementation process, if there are any difficulties, please report them to the Joint Ministries for consideration and resolution.