Joint Circular No. 66/1998/TTLT-BGDĐT-BTC guiding the exemption of tuition fees for students majoring in education and financial support from the budget for teacher training institutions

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Implementing the Exemption of Tuition Fees for Students in Teacher Training Programs and Financial Support for Teacher Training Institutions

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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 training programs."

Point 3 (3.1.7), Section II of Circular Joint No. 54/1998/TTLT/GD&ĐT-TC dated August 31, 1998 of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance provides guidance on the collection, disbursement, 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 training programs who commit to serving in the education and training sector after graduation."

To unify implementation and ensure operating funds for teacher training institutions implementing the above regulations, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance provide the following guidelines:

Part 1:

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

I. OBJECTS OF TUITION FEE EXEMPTION:

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

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

If the aforementioned objects fail to fulfill their commitment to serve in the education and training sector, they will be required to reimburse the entire amount of tuition fees that were exempted during their study period at the school. The principle of reimbursement will be separately guided by the joint ministries.

2. Full-time regular students in teacher training programs 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&ĐT-TC dated August 31, 1998 of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance guiding the collection, disbursement, and management of tuition fees at public educational and training institutions within the national education system.

II. OBJECTS REQUIRED TO PAY TUITION FEES AND THE LEVEL OF TUITION FEES:

1. Objects required to pay tuition fees:

Full-time regular students admitted to teacher training schools who do not fall under the categories specified in Point I of Part I above.

2. The framework for tuition fee levels is applied according to the framework set out in Decision No. 70/1998/QĐ-TTg dated March 31, 1998 of the Prime Minister as follows:

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

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

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

Tuition fees are collected monthly and annually for ten months.

Specific tuition fee levels for each specialized training program and course are determined by the principals of teacher training schools (or principals of schools with teacher training departments) based on the aforementioned tuition fee framework, and proposed to the People's Councils and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities (for teacher training schools managed by localities); Directors of Universities and Principals (for teacher training schools managed by the central government). These decisions on tuition fee levels must be publicly announced to students and parents at the beginning of the academic year; simultaneously, they must report to higher-level educational management authorities and send to financial agencies and State Treasury for monitoring and controlling the collection and expenditure of tuition fees.

III. MANAGEMENT OF TUITION FEE COLLECTION, DISBURSEMENT, AND USE (IF ANY) IN TEACHER TRAINING SCHOOLS:

The management of the tuition fee fund collection, disbursement, and use in teacher training schools (from tuition fees collected from non-exempted students) is implemented according to the provisions of Circular Joint No. 54/1998/TTLT/GD&ĐT-TC dated March 31, 1998 of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance.

Part II:

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR TEACHER TRAINING SCHOOLS AND DEPARTMENTS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE TUITION FEE EXEMPTION REGIME

1. When teacher training schools and departments implement the tuition fee exemption regime for the students listed in Point I of Part I above, the State will provide financial support to ensure the operation of the school. The amount of financial support is included in the annual state budget for educational and training activities at all levels.

The financial support for each school and department is calculated based on the number of students exempted from tuition fees at that school and the level of support equal to the tuition fee level of each student in corresponding training systems, specifically as follows:

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

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

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

2. Method of disbursing financial support:

- For teacher training schools and departments managed by the central government, the Ministry of Finance disburses funds through the Ministry of Education and Training and the Hanoi National University and Ho Chi Minh City National University to subordinate schools.

- For teacher training schools managed by localities, the Provincial Department of Finance and Price Control disburses funds from the local training activity budget to teacher training schools.

3. The budgetary support for these schools and departments shall be used as follows:

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

- 15% to supplement funding for training activities including support for graduation exams (including all professional expenses and regular expenses within the scope of training activity funding, including expenses for graduation at schools, management of the tuition fee fund at the institution).

- Forty percent support for direct teaching labor and teaching service support, including support costs for direct teaching labor and teaching service support calculated based on teaching hours and workload of teachers, teaching staff, and related departments, reward expenses, and collective welfare expenses at schools.

4. Annually, along with preparing the budget estimate, teacher training institutions and education faculties shall base their estimates of the financial support funds due to the implementation of free tuition for teacher training on the number of students and trainees exempted from tuition fees and the level of support, incorporating these into the overall budget estimate of the unit. The management process, preparation, distribution, accounting, and settlement of these funds 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 institutions and education faculties must provide detailed explanations of this support funding to the educational administration management agency and the financial agency.

Part 3:

IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

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

2. During the implementation period, if there are any difficulties, they should be promptly reflected to the relevant ministries for review and appropriate amendments.