JOINT CIRCULAR No. 66/1998/TTLT/BGD&DT-BTC Circular guiding the implementation of exemption from tuition fees for students majoring in education and financial support to teacher training institutions

CIRCULAR

JOINT CIRCULAR OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
JOINT CIRCULAR NO. 66/1998/TTLT-BGD&DT-BTC DATED DECEMBER 26, 1998
GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE EXEMPTION OF TUITION FEES FOR STUDENTS IN TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SUPPORTING THE BUDGET OF TEACHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Point 2, Article 2 of Decision No. 70/1998/QĐ-TTg dated March 31, 1998 of the Prime Minister on the collection and use of tuition fees at public educational and training institutions within the national education system stipulates: "Exempt tuition fees for students in teacher education programs."

Point 3 (3.1.7) of Section II of Joint Circular No. 54/1998/TTLT/GD&DT-TC dated August 31, 1998 of the Joint Ministries of Education and Training and Finance has provided guidelines on the collection, expenditure, and management of tuition fees at public educational and training institutions within the national education system, stipulating: "Exempt tuition fees for full-time regular students in teacher education programs who commit to serving in the education and training sector after graduation."

To unify implementation and ensure operating funds for teacher education institutions implementing the above regulations, the Joint Ministries of Education and Training and Finance provide the following guidance:

PART I

OBJECTS OF TUITION FEE EXEMPTION AND NON-EXEMPTION FOR STUDENTS IN TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS

I. OBJECTS OF TUITION FEE EXEMPTION:

1. Full-time regular students in teacher education programs at schools and departments of teacher education who are students within the annual training plan assigned by the Ministry of Education and Training to central-level teacher education institutions and by the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities to local-level teacher education institutions, having passed the national entrance examination each year.

Full-time regular students in teacher education programs (excluding specialized classes within teacher education schools) mentioned above, regardless of whether they receive state budget support or not, from the academic year 1998-1999 (including newly admitted students and existing students currently enrolled at the school) must commit to serving in the education and training sector after graduation.

If these individuals fail to fulfill their commitment to serve in the education and training sector, they will be required to reimburse the full amount of tuition fees that were exempted during their time at the school. The principle of reimbursement will be separately guided by the Joint Ministries.

2. Full-time regular students in teacher education programs who are eligible for tuition fee exemption according to Points 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.1.5, 3.1.6, 3.1.8, and 3.1.10 of Section II of Circular No. 54/1998/TTLT-GD&DT-TC dated August 31, 1998 of the Joint Ministries of Education and Training and Finance guiding the collection, expenditure, and management of tuition fees at public educational and training institutions within the national education system.

II. OBJECTS REQUIRED TO PAY TUITION FEES AND TUITION FEE RATES:

1. Objects required to pay tuition fees: Full-time regular students in teacher education programs who have been admitted to study at teacher education institutions but do not fall under the categories specified in Point I of Part I above.

2. Tuition fee rate framework shall be applied according to the framework set forth in Decision No. 70/1998/QĐ-TTg dated March 31, 1998 of

III. MANAGEMENT OF TUITION FEE COLLECTION, EXPENDITURE, AND USE IN TEACHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS:

The management of tuition fee collection, expenditure, and use in teacher education institutions (from tuition fees collected from students not entitled to tuition fee exemption) shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of Joint Circular No. 54/1998/TTLT/GD&DT-TC dated March 31, 1998 of the Joint Ministries of Education and Training and Finance.

PART II

SUPPORT FOR OPERATING FUNDS FOR TEACHER EDUCATION SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS DUE TO IMPLEMENTATION OF TUITION FEE EXEMPTION:

1. Teacher education schools and departments when implementing the tuition fee exemption for the objects of students specified in Point I of Part I above shall be supported by the State to ensure the operation of the institution. The amount of financial support will be included in the annual state budget estimate for educational and training activities at all levels.

Financial support for each teacher education school and department will be based on the number of students exempted from tuition fees at that school and the level of support equal to the tuition fee rate for each student in the corresponding training program, specifically as follows:

- University of Education: From 50,000 VND to 180,000 VND/month/student

- College of Education: From 40,000 VND to 150,000 VND/month/student

- Secondary School of Education: From 15,000 VND to 100,000 VND/month/student

2. Method of disbursing financial support:

- For teacher education schools and departments managed by the central government, the Ministry of Finance will disburse funds through the Ministry of Education and Training and the Hanoi National University and Ho Chi Minh City National University to distribute to affiliated schools.

- For teacher education schools managed by local governments, the Provincial Departments of Finance and Prices will allocate funds from the local training activity budget to the teacher education schools.

3. The budgetary support for teacher education schools and departments will be used as follows:

- 45% to strengthen infrastructure serving teaching and learning (such as repairing and improving existing facilities, constructing small classrooms, laboratories, workshops, libraries, dormitories for students; purchasing, leasing infrastructure and equipment for teaching and learning; managing administrative affairs related to other tasks, etc.).

- 15% to supplement funding for training activities including support for final exams (including all professional expenses and regular expenses related to training activities, including final exam costs at schools and management fund expenses at institutions).

- 40% to support direct teaching staff and those serving teaching, including supporting direct teaching staff and those serving teaching based on hours taught and workload of teachers and staff, rewards and collective welfare expenses at schools.

4. Annually, along with the preparation of the budget estimate, teacher training schools and teacher education departments shall base on the number of students exempted from tuition fees and the level of support, prepare the budget estimate for the financial support fund due to the implementation of the exemption of teacher training tuition fees, which will be consolidated into the overall budget estimate of the unit. The management process, preparation, disbursement, accounting, and settlement of this financial support fund shall be carried out according to the current financial regulations.

When settling accounts periodically according to the financial reporting system, in addition to summarizing in the school's final account report, teacher training schools and teacher education departments must provide detailed explanations of this financial support fund to be sent to the educational administration management agency and the financial agency.

PART III

ARTICLE IMPLEMENTATION.

1. This Circular takes effect from August 1, 1998.

2. During the implementation period, if there are any difficulties, they should be reported promptly for the relevant ministries to consider and amend appropriately./.