Circular No. 47/2020/TT-BGDĐT on the selection of toys and educational materials to be used in preschool education institutions

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the selection of toys and educational materials to be used in preschool education facilities

___________________ 

Pursuant to the Education Law dated June 14, 2019;

Pursuant to the Law on Management and Use of State Assets dated June 21, 2017;

Pursuant to Decree No. 69/2017/NĐ-CP dated May 25, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Decree No. 132/2008/NĐ-CP Article 31 of the Government's Decree No. 31/2008/ND-CP dated December 31, 2008 detailing certain provisions of the Law on Product Quality and Goods;

Decree No. Decision No. 127/2007/NĐ-CP dated August 1, 2007, issued by the Government detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations;

Based on the proposal of the Director of the Department of Preschool Education;

The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular regulating the selection of toys and educational materials to be used in preschool education facilities.

 

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

1. This Circular stipulates the selection of toys and educational materials and the responsibilities of agencies, organizations, and individuals in selecting toys and educational materials for use in preschool education facilities.

2. This Circular applies to preschool schools, independent preschool classes, kindergartens, independent kindergarten classes, nurseries, and independent childcare groups (hereinafter referred to as preschool education facilities); related organizations and individuals.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Toys used in preschool education facilities are toys serving activities for nurturing, caring for, and educating preschool children in such facilities (hereinafter referred to as toys).

2. Homemade toys are toys made by organizations and individuals to serve nurturing, caring for, and educating children at preschool education facilities.

3. Educational materials used in preschool education facilities are material means that retain, carry, or reflect pre-school educational content to serve activities for nurturing, caring for, and educating preschool children in such facilities (hereinafter referred to as educational materials).

4. Educational materials in publication form are educational materials published through publishers or organizations and entities authorized with publishing permits, including printed materials, braille materials, pictures, photographs, photograph cards, and electronic educational materials (which are digitized according to a specific format and script, stored on electronic devices).

5. Homemade educational materials are educational materials made by organizations and individuals to serve nurturing, caring for, and educating children at preschool education facilities.

Article 3. Principles for selecting toys and educational materials to be used in preschool education facilities

1. Toys included in the list of teaching equipment issued by the Ministry of Education and Training shall comply with current regulations.

2. Toys not included in the list of teaching equipment issued by the Ministry of Education and Training and educational materials shall be selected based on the following principles:

a) Toys and educational materials must meet the requirements set forth in Sections 1 and 2 of Chapter 2 of this Circular;

b) Selection of toys and educational materials shall be based on actual needs to implement the Preschool Education Program; develop the Preschool Education Program; annual implementation plans; annual topic implementation plans;

c) Selection of toys and educational materials shall be based on actual conditions: physical conditions (location, space arrangement); resource conditions (ability to exploit, use, and apply toys by management staff and teachers).

3. Ensure transparency, openness, and compliance with the law.

Chapter II

REQUIREMENTS FOR TOYS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS USED IN PRESCHOOL EDUCATION FACILITIES

Section 1

REQUIREMENTS FOR TOYS USED IN PRESCHOOL EDUCATION FACILITIES

Article 4. Safety of toys

1. Toys must ensure safety in accordance with current government regulations detailing certain provisions of the Law on Product Quality and Goods and the regulations of the Ministry of Science and Technology regarding child safety.

2. Toys must comply with current technical standards set by the Ministry of Education and Training.

3. Toys must clearly indicate information about copyright (stamps, labels, import location, production location, expiration date, installation instructions, storage methods); have valid conformity certification; affix conformity marks as prescribed.

4. For homemade toys: raw materials and materials must be clean, safe, and non-toxic to users; minimize the use of toys made from recycled plastic and single-use plastic products.

Article 5. Aesthetic Quality of Toys

1. Ensuring aesthetic quality, harmonious colors, and vitality.

2. Reasonable composition, lively and attractive outer shape, stimulating children's interest.

3. Ensuring appropriate size and weight suitable for children's physical condition and usage ability (easy to play, easy to move).

4. Easy to connect, assemble, nest, stack components.

Article 6. Educational Quality of Toys

1. Consistent with the content of the Early Childhood Education Program and childcare and education activities for children in early childhood education facilities; helping children develop physical, language, intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, and social skills.

2. Meeting the requirements for developing the Early Childhood Education Program, consistent with integration trends, and methodological innovation needs.

3. Toys must not contain violent content, false information, or discriminatory content regarding politics, religion, ethnicity, or gender.

4. Toys should be designed to stimulate physical development, thinking, and creativity; suitable for the needs and development of each age group.

5. Supporting children with special needs including physical, sensory, and learning requirements.

Section 2

REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS USED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FACILITIES

Article 7. Safety of Educational Materials

1. Educational materials published for use in early childhood education facilities must have labels clearly indicating the required information on the publication according to the Law on Publishing; not violating any legal provisions.

2. Educational materials published through translation or publication abroad must have a certification according to the Law on Publishing.

3. For electronic educational materials: measures to manage usage time for children under six years old.

4. For self-made educational materials: ensuring hygiene, safety, non-toxicity; environmentally friendly; minimizing the use of recycled plastic and single-use plastic products.

Article 8. Aesthetic Quality of Educational Materials

1. The form of educational materials (size, number of characters per page, number of pages, font size, usage time) must be suitable for each age group.

2. Bright colors, clear sound and dialogue, not using loud sounds.

3. Language used must be familiar, close, and appropriate to local culture.

Article 9. Educational Quality of Educational Materials

1. Educational materials must be suitable for each age group; stimulating children's development.

2. Educational materials must have content consistent with the areas of development in the Early Childhood Education Program; ensuring integration and comprehensive child development support.

3. Educational materials must reflect familiar objects and phenomena in children's lives.

4. Educational materials must not contradict Vietnamese culture, history, geography, and customs; must not contain violent, war-related, false, or discriminatory content regarding politics, religion, ethnicity, or gender.

5. Educational materials must have specific requirements, facilitating educational activities, observation, assessment, and child support; consistent with the development of the Early Childhood Education Program.

6. Educational materials must meet the requirements for developing the Early Childhood Education Program, consistent with integration trends, and methodological innovation needs.

7. For self-made educational materials: encouraging the use of natural materials; being open-ended, stimulating children's needs, interests, and participation in activities; consistent with regional culture.

Chapter III

TORGANIZATION OF SELECTING TOYS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS USED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FACILITIES

Article 10. Selection Council for Toys and Educational Materials Used in Early Childhood Education Institutions

Clause 1. The Selection Council for Toys and Educational Materials Used in Early Childhood Education Institutions (hereinafter referred to as the Council) shall be established by the head of the early childhood education institution to assist the head of the institution in organizing the selection of toys and educational materials for children.

Clause 2. The Council shall include: the head or deputy head of the early childhood education institution, the head of the specialized group/team, representatives of teachers from each group/class, and representatives of the Parent Council. The number of Council members must be odd, with a minimum of nine (9) people. For early childhood education institutions with fewer than five (5) groups/classes, the number of Council members must be odd, with a minimum of five (5) people.

Clause 3. The Council shall have the duty to select and propose a list of toys and educational materials to be used in early childhood education institutions in accordance with the provisions of the Circular.

Clause 4. Members of the Council shall be responsible for their comments and evaluations on the selection of toys and educational materials.

Clause 5. The Council shall operate based on principles of centralization, democracy, objectivity, and transparency. The results of each meeting of the Council shall be recorded in minutes. The minutes must bear the signatures of all members of the Council.

Article 11. Process for Selecting Toys and Educational Materials

Clause 1. Early childhood education institutions shall base their selection of toys and educational materials on requirements and principles for selecting such items; annual implementation plans; annual topic implementation plans; practical activities related to nurturing, caring for, and educating children. They shall review and classify existing toys and educational materials. Based on the list of toys and educational materials proposed by teachers and management staff, the head of the early childhood education institution shall organize the Council to select toys and educational materials. The proposed list of toys and educational materials must be signed by the head of the specialized group/team and representatives of teachers from each group/class.

Clause 2. The Council shall convene meetings, discuss, and evaluate toys and educational materials based on the proposed list. The selected list of toys and educational materials must be approved by more than half (1/2) of the Council members. The Council shall compile the results of the selection of toys and educational materials to be used in the early childhood education institution into minutes, which must bear the signatures of all Council members.

Clause 3. The Council shall propose to the head of the early childhood education institution the list of toys and educational materials that have been selected for use in the early childhood education institution.

Clause 4. Based on the proposal of the Council, the head of the early childhood education institution shall approve the list of toys and educational materials to be used in the early childhood education institution; develop procurement plans; propose to higher-level management authorities; and make toys and educational materials themselves.

Chapter IV

RESPONSIBILITIES OF ORGANIZATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE SELECTION OF TOYS AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS USED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Article 12. Responsibilities of the Department of Education and Training

Guide, supervise, inspect, and check the implementation of the contents stipulated in this Circular for early childhood education institutions, organizations, and individuals within their authority.

Clause 1. Guide, supervise, inspect, evaluate the implementation of the contents stipulated in this Circular for early childhood education institutions, organizations, and individuals within their authority.

Clause 2. Suspend the use of toys and educational materials with inappropriate content or those showing signs of violation of the law at early childhood education institutions; report to competent authorities to take timely measures.

Clause 3. Handle according to their authority any early childhood education institutions, organizations, and individuals who violate the provisions of this Circular. Summarize and report to the Department of Education and Training the results of the selection and use of toys and educational materials in early childhood education institutions.

1. Organize the selection, exploitation, and use of toys and teaching materials in accordance with this Circular; report to the Department of Education and Training on the results of selecting toys and teaching materials; be responsible before educational management agencies, parents/caregivers of children regarding decisions on selecting, exploiting, and using toys and teaching materials.

2. Management staff and teachers in early childhood education institutions must effectively exploit and use selected toys and teaching materials in organizing nurturing, caring, and educational activities; have the responsibility to provide complete and accurate information about selected toys and teaching materials to parents/caregivers of children.

3. Responsibilities of the Principal of Early Childhood Education Institutions

a) Be responsible before educational management agencies, parents/caregivers of children for decisions on selecting toys and teaching materials used in early childhood education institutions as stipulated in this Circular;

b) Report to higher-level management agencies on decisions on selecting toys and teaching materials, annual procurement plans for toys and teaching materials, and the situation of exploiting and using toys and teaching materials in early childhood education institutions;

c) Periodically, the Principal of early childhood education institutions has the responsibility to organize reviews and inspections of the quality of currently used toys and teaching materials; take measures to rectify or replace them (if necessary);

d) Notify management staff, teachers in early childhood education institutions, parents/caregivers of children about the list and quantity of toys and teaching materials. Organize counseling for parents/caregivers of children to select and purchase toys and teaching materials if there is a specific need;

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 15. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from February 15, 2021.

Article 16. Responsibility for Implementation

Directors of Departments of Education and Training; Director of the Department of Education, Science, and Technology of Bac Lieu Province; Heads of Departments of Education and Training; Principals of early childhood education institutions; organizations and individuals related to this matter are responsible for implementing this Circular./.