Decision No. 44/2007/QD-BGDĐT on scholarships to encourage study for students in specialized schools, gifted schools, higher education institutions, and vocational colleges within the national education system.

Pursuant to …;

Regarding scholarships to encourage study for students in specialized schools, talent schools, universities, and vocational colleges within the national education system

___________________________

 THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Pursuant to Decree No. 86/2002/NĐ-CP dated November 5, 2002 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 85/2003/NĐ-CP dated July 18, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Decree No. 75/2006/NĐ-CP dated August 2, 2006 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Education Law;

Considering the proposal of the Director of the Department of Student Affairs,

DECISION:

Article 1. Scholarships to encourage study at specialized schools and talent schools shall be regulated as follows:

1. Recipients and criteria for awarding scholarships

a) Students in high school specialized classes in universities and students in specialized schools who achieve excellent academic results are eligible for scholarships if they have good conduct and excellent academic performance during the semester in which the scholarship is awarded and meet one of the following criteria:

The score in the specialized subject during the semester in which the scholarship is awarded must be 8.5 or higher;

Achieving one of the awards from commendation up to international level in national student competitions or regional and international competitions in that academic year.

b) Students in art and sports talent schools who win medals in national, regional, or international competitions in that academic year, with academic performance reaching average or above and conduct being satisfactory or better.

2. Scholarship amounts

a) For specialized schools and art and sports talent schools: the scholarship amount for encouraging study for each student per month shall be at least three times the current tuition fee of a specialized high school in the locality.

b) For high school specialized classes in universities: the scholarship amount for encouraging study for each student shall be determined by the university's principal but shall not be lower than the maximum tuition fee that the student has to pay at the university.

c) For schools that do not charge tuition fees: the minimum scholarship amount shall be three times the maximum tuition fee of a high school in the locality.

3. For specialized schools and talent schools, the scholarship fund for encouraging study shall be allocated in the local government budget to provide scholarships to at least 30% of the students in specialized classes of the school. For high school specialized classes in universities, the scholarship fund for encouraging study shall be allocated in the state budget by the Director or Principal of the school.

4. Procedures for awarding scholarships to encourage study

a) For specialized schools and talent schools, the Principal of the school shall determine the number of scholarships for encouraging study for each class and distribute them to students based on the scholarship fund for the year, prioritizing international, regional, and national awards, or specialized subject scores (for specialized schools) or academic performance (for talent schools).

b) For high school specialized classes in universities: the Director or Principal of the school shall determine the number of scholarships and the scholarship amounts for each grade and class based on the scholarship fund for the year, distributing them to students prioritizing international, regional, and national awards, or specialized subject scores.

Scholarships to encourage study shall be granted per semester and for nine months according to the academic year schedule.

In addition to scholarships to encourage study as stipulated in this Decision, the Chairman of the People's Committee of provinces and centrally-administered cities may establish other policies and benefits for students in specialized schools and talent schools under their jurisdiction or managed by them.

Article 2. Scholarships to encourage study at higher education institutions and vocational colleges are regulated as follows:

1. Recipients of scholarships to encourage study are students enrolled in regular programs of public universities, academies, colleges, and vocational colleges, as well as those in regular programs of private universities, colleges, and vocational colleges (hereinafter referred to as schools).

Students receiving policy-based scholarships, students receiving social assistance, and students benefiting from preferential policies, if they achieve academic and discipline results qualifying them for scholarships under this Decision, shall be eligible for scholarships to encourage study like other students.

2. Criteria and levels for awarding scholarships to encourage study.

Students with academic and discipline results of good or better, without disciplinary actions of reprimand or worse during the semester in which the scholarship is awarded, shall be eligible for scholarships to encourage study within the school's scholarship fund for encouraging study at the following levels:

a) Good level scholarship: having an overall academic average of good or better and a discipline average of good or better. The minimum scholarship amount shall be equal to or higher than the maximum tuition fee of the program that the student must pay at the school as stipulated by the Principal (hereinafter referred to as the Principal). For private schools, the minimum scholarship amount shall be determined by the Principal of the school.

For programs that do not charge tuition fees, the maximum tuition fee subsidized by the State for the training group of the school shall apply.

b) Excellent level scholarship: having an overall academic average of excellent or better and a discipline average of very good or better. The scholarship amount shall be higher than the good level and shall be determined by the Principal.

c) Outstanding level scholarship: having an overall academic average of outstanding and a discipline average of outstanding. The scholarship amount shall be higher than the excellent level and shall be determined by the Principal.

The overall average grade is determined in accordance with the current regulations of the University and College Regular System Training Regulations and the Regular System Vocational Secondary Training Regulations issued by the Ministry of Education and Training (only grades from the first examination or final assessment of each course can be taken, excluding grades below 5.0 or failing assessments).

d) Academic scholarships are granted on a semester basis and for ten months during the academic year.

3. The scholarship fund for encouraging academic performance shall be allocated at least 15% of the tuition revenue from the regular education system for public schools and at least 5% of the tuition revenue from the regular education system for non-public schools. For teacher training institutions and programs that do not charge tuition fees, the scholarship fund shall be allocated at least 15% from the state-subsidized tuition fees.

4. Procedures for awarding scholarships to encourage study

a) The Rector of the school shall determine the number of scholarships for encouraging academic performance for each course and major based on the scholarship fund. In cases where the number of students eligible for scholarships exceeds the available scholarship slots, the procedures for awarding scholarships shall be established by the Rector.

b) Based on the academic performance and conduct evaluation results of the students, the Rector shall proceed to award scholarships in descending order from excellent to the last available scholarship slot.

Students enrolled under the credit-based system shall be eligible for academic encouragement scholarships based on the number of credits (15 credits are equivalent to one semester). The procedures and criteria for awarding academic encouragement scholarships under the credit-based system shall be carried out in the same manner as those for semester-based scholarships.

Article 3. This Decision shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette. All previous provisions contrary to this Decision shall be abolished.

Article 4. The Director of the Office, Heads of the Planning and Finance Department, Student Affairs Department, Heads of units under the Ministry of Education and Training, Chairpersons of Provincial People's Committees, Directors of Departments of Education and Training, Presidents of universities and academies, Principals of colleges and vocational secondary schools, Principals of specialized and arts and sports excellence schools shall be responsible for implementing this Decision./.