Circular No. 51/2011/TT-BGDĐT on the periodic national assessment of students' academic performance in general education institutions

CIRCULAR

Regulations on National Periodic Assessment of Students' Learning Outcomes in General Education Institutions

Pursuant to Decree No. 178/2007/NĐ-CP dated December 3, 2007 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 32/2008/NĐ-CP dated March 19, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Decree No. 115/2010/NĐ-CP dated December 24, 2010 of the Government stipulating responsibilities for state management of education;

At the proposal of the Director of the Primary Education Department, the Director of the Secondary Education Department, and the Director of the Testing and Quality Assurance Department,

The Minister of Education and Training hereby promulgates regulations on national periodic assessment of students' learning outcomes in general education institutions as follows:

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular stipulates the purpose, scale, cycle, timing, grade levels, content, subjects, methods, tools, procedures, and funding for implementing national periodic assessment of students' learning outcomes in general education institutions.

Article 2. This Circular applies to educational management agencies and general education institutions within the national education system.

Article 3. National assessments within the framework of projects on general education also fall under the scope of this Circular.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this document, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. "Learning outcomes" refer to the degree to which students achieve knowledge, skills, and abilities compared to the goals set out in the general education curriculum.

2. "National periodic assessment" refers to national assessment activities conducted periodically and not within the scope of periodic assessments prescribed in current documents regarding student evaluation and classification in general education institutions.

3. "Students" in this document include all students studying at general education institutions as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 1 of this document.

Chapter II
REGULATIONS ON NATIONAL PERIODIC ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS' LEARNING OUTCOMES IN GENERAL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Article 3. Purpose of National Periodic Assessment

1. To review the extent to which students meet the standards of knowledge, skills, and abilities according to the current curriculum for the subjects being surveyed at the time of survey and factors affecting students' learning outcomes.

2. To establish a long-term database on assessing students' learning outcomes to update and analyze trends in student learning, thereby evaluating the effectiveness of existing systems and developing new policies to promote general education.

3. To monitor and assess students' learning outcomes after a period of study and training, thereby contributing to adjusting the implementation of the current general education curriculum and providing practical foundations for developing the next general education curriculum.

4. To build a professional national team skilled in assessing students' learning outcomes to conduct national and international surveys.

5. To provide students' learning outcomes and assessment methods in general education institutions to localities for conducting provincial/city-level and district-level assessments, serving as a basis for formulating educational development policies at the local level.

Article 4. Scale, Cycle, and Timing of Assessment

1. National periodic assessment of students' learning outcomes in general education institutions shall be conducted nationwide.

2. The cycle of national periodic assessment shall be carried out every three to five years.

3. The timing of national periodic assessment will be specified in the Guidelines for the School Year's Tasks within the assessment cycle.

Article 5. Grade Levels, Content, and Subjects Assessed

1. National periodic assessments shall be conducted in grades 5, 9, and 11.

2. The assessment content includes knowledge, skills, and abilities prescribed in the General Education Curriculum issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

3. Subjects assessed:

For grade 5, Mathematics and Vietnamese; for grades 9 and 11, Mathematics and Literature. Additional subjects may be included in each assessment based on specific purposes and will be announced in the Guidelines for the School Year's Tasks within the assessment cycle.

Article 6. Evaluation Methods

1. Using written examination forms for subject evaluations. The questions combine multiple-choice and essay formats. Encouraging the inclusion of listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and application-based problem-solving exercises.

2. Utilizing advanced computer techniques and software to select samples, design tests, manage exams, grade papers, enter data, analyze and process statistics, and manage evaluation results.

Article 7. Evaluation Tools

1. Sets of questions and test items to evaluate student learning outcomes.

2. Information collection questionnaires.

Article 8. Evaluation Organization Process

National periodic evaluations will be conducted according to the following procedures:

1. Establishing the National Evaluation Steering Committee.

2. Developing the Overall Outline.

3. Formulating the Evaluation Plan.

4. Building a database for sample selection.

5. Selecting trial and official evaluation samples.

6. Designing, testing, reviewing, and perfecting evaluation tools.

7. Training staff involved in the evaluation.

8. Implementing the official evaluation.

9. Grading papers, entering data, and cleaning data.

10. Processing and analyzing data.

11. Writing the summary report.

12. Reviewing and finalizing the summary report.

13. Holding a workshop to present evaluation results.

14. Collecting feedback on evaluation results.

Article 9. Funding for Implementation

The funding for national periodic evaluations of students in general education institutions shall be sourced from state budgets and other support from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals in accordance with the State Budget Law and other relevant current regulations.

Chapter III
IMPLEMENTATION

Article 10. Regarding the National Evaluation Steering Committee

1. Managing, directing, and organizing national periodic evaluations.

2. Guiding the implementation of national periodic evaluations at local levels.

3. Submitting to the leadership of the Ministry of Education and Training for approval of decisions to publish information and use evaluation results as a basis for proposing policies to improve the quality of general education in localities and nationwide.

4. Guiding the assessment methods for student learning outcomes for localities.

Article 11. Regarding Departments of Education and Training

1. Managing and organizing national periodic evaluations at the local level in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. Directing educational departments and educational institutions to implement evaluation activities.

3. Being subject to inspection, audit, and supervision by the National Evaluation Steering Committee and competent authorities regarding the implementation of evaluations at the local level.

Article 12. Regarding General Education Institutions

1. Conducting evaluation activities in accordance with the directives and guidance of the Ministry of Education and Training, Departments of Education and Training, and Educational Departments.

2. Being subject to inspection, audit, and supervision by the Ministry of Education and Training and competent authorities regarding the implementation of evaluations at the local level.

Article 13. Effective Date

This Circular takes effect from December 19, 2011.

Any previous provisions contrary to this Circular are hereby abolished.

1. The Minister, Heads of Ministries equivalent to ministries, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of provincial People's Committees under the central government, and related agencies, units, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

The Director of the Office, the Head of the Primary Education Department; the Head of the Secondary Education Department; the Director of the Testing and Quality Assurance Department; the Heads of related units under the Ministry of Education and Training; the Directors of Departments of Education and Training; the Principals of general education institutions within the national education system are responsible for implementing this Circular./.