CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON GRADUATION RECOGNITION IN LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION

Pursuant to the Law on Education dated June 14, 2019;

Pursuant to Decree No. 86/2022/ND-CP dated October 24, 2022 of the Government on functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structures of Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Decree No. 127/2018/ND-CP dated September 21, 2018 of the Government on responsibilities for state management of education;

At request of Director of Secondary Education Department.

The Minister of Education and Training promulgates Circular on Regulation on graduation recognition in lower secondary education.

Article 1. The Regulation on graduation recognition in lower secondary education.

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This Circular replaces Decision No. 11/2006/QD-BGDDT dated April 5, 2006 of the Minister of Education and Training on Regulation on graduation recognition in lower secondary education.

Graduation recognition in lower secondary education under Decision No. 11/2006/QD-BGDDT dated April 5, 2006 of the Minister of Education and Training shall be implemented until the end of the school year of 2023-2024.

Article 3. Chief of Office, Director of Secondary Education Department, heads of relevant entities affiliated to Ministry of Education and Training; Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities (hereinafter referred to as “provincial People’s Committees”); Directors of Departments of Education and Training; Chairpersons of People’s Committees of districts, communes, city-level towns; Directors of Sub-departments of Education and Training; heads of education institutions providing Formal education program for lower secondary education or Continuous education program for lower secondary education and relevant organizations, individuals are responsible for the implementation of this Circular./.

PP. MINISTER
DEPUTY MINISTER




Pham Ngoc Thuong

REGULATION

GRADUATION RECOGNITION IN LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION
(Attached to Circular No. 31/2023/TT-BGDDT dated December 29, 2023 of the Minister of Education and Training)

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GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope and regulated entities

1. This Regulation prescribes graduation recognition in lower secondary education (hereinafter referred to as “graduation recognition”) including: eligibility for graduation recognition and application for graduation recognition; organizations recognizing graduation; responsibilities of education authorities and education institutions.

2. This Regulation applies to lower secondary education institutions, multi-level education institutions including lower secondary education; continuous education centers, vocational education and training centers - continuous education centers, and other education centers providing Formal education program for lower secondary education or Continuous education program for lower secondary education (hereinafter referred to as “education institutions”) and relevant organizations, individuals.

Article 2. Purpose, requirements, and basis for graduation recognition

1. Graduation recognition serves to verify education level of students and learners (hereinafter referred to as “students”) who have finished Formal education program for lower secondary education or Continuous education program for lower secondary education.

2. Graduation recognition must be accurate, fair, transparent, and objective.

3. Graduation recognition shall rely on disciplinary and academic results of the ninth grade.

Article 3. Number of occasions of graduation recognition in a year

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2. In respect of education institutions providing Continuous education program for lower secondary education, graduation recognition shall be implemented at least once per year in which students finish ninth grade at the end of the school year.

Chapter II

ELIGIBILITY FOR GRADUATION BY RECOGNITION AND APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION RECOGNITION

Article 4. Eligibility for graduation recognition

Students shall be recognized for graduation if they:

1. Are not older than 21 years old (in calendar year) if they finish Formal education program for lower secondary education; or are at least 15 years old (in calendar year) if they finish Continuous education program for lower secondary education.

In case of students returning from overseas, participating in accelerated study, attending class at an older age, regulations on age and grades of the Ministry of Education and Training.

2. Have completed Formal education program for lower secondary education or Continuous education program for lower secondary education.

3. Have adequate documents according to Article 6 hereof.

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Students shall benefit from priority policies as per applicable laws.

Article 6. Application for graduation recognition

1. In respect of students finishing ninth grade in education institutions, their application shall consist of their school reports.

2. In respect of students who do not fall under Clause 1 of this Article, application for graduation recognition consists of:

a) Written application for graduation recognition;

b) Legitimate copies of birth certificate or ID Card;

c) Original copies of school reports or printed copies of electronic school reports verified by education institutions where the students finish ninth grade. If a student loses original copies of his/her school report or does not possess printed copies of electronic school report, he/she must provide written verification of disciplinary and academic results of education institutions where he/she finishes ninth grade.

Chapter III

GRADUATION RECOGNITION

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1. Council for recognizing graduation (hereinafter referred to as “Council”) shall be established by Directors of Sub-departments of Education and Training at request of education institutions. Each education institution where student finish ninth grade in a year shall establish a Council.

2. Composition, tasks, and powers of the Council.

a) The Council consists of: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and members. Chairperson shall be the principal or director or head (hereinafter referred to as “figurehead”) of education institution or their second-in-command in education institution; Vice Chairperson shall be second-in-command of figurehead or leaders of professional team of education institution; members of the Council shall be teachers, including class teachers of ninth grade, representatives of school councils, secretaries of Communist Youth Union of Ho Chi Minh City or leaders of Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization of education institutions; Secretary of the Council shall be selected among Council members. The Council shall have an odd number of total members and at least 7 members.

b) Tasks and powers of the Council:

- Examine application for graduation recognition under Article 6 hereof;

- Recognize graduation of students in accordance with Article 4 hereof;

- List all students eligible for graduation recognition and submit to Directors of Sub-departments of Education and Training;

- Use seal of education institutions in documents of the Council.

Article 8. Procedures for recognizing graduation

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2. Students under Clause 2 Article 6 hereof shall submit application under Clause 2 Article 6 hereof to education institutions recognizing graduation in accordance with instructions of the education institutions.

3. Based on application for graduation recognition, the Council shall review, record the recognition process, and produce list of students for graduation by recognition. Records requesting graduation recognition shall bear names and signatures of Council members.

4. The Council shall send request for graduation recognition to Directors of Sub-departments of Education and Training for approval. The request consists of:

a) Written request for graduation recognition;

b) Recognition records and list of students for graduation by recognition.

5. Directors of Sub-departments of Education and Training shall issue decision acknowledging graduation at request of education institutions.

Article 9. Issuance of certificate of graduation

1. Students recognized for graduation shall be issued with certificate of graduation for lower secondary education.

2. Management, issuance, revision, revocation, and cancellation of certificate of graduation for lower secondary education shall conform to regulations on management of certificates and degrees of the Ministry of Education and Training.

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RESPONSIBILITIES OF EDUCATION AUTHORITIES AND EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Article 10. Responsibilities of provincial People’s Committees

1. Rely on this Regulation to coordinate graduation recognition in their provinces.

2. Guarantee funding sources and conditions for graduation recognition.

Article 11. Responsibilities of Departments of Education and Training

1. Decide on the number of occasions of graduation recognition and time in which graduation recognition in their provinces takes place in accordance with Article 3 hereof.

2. Guide, examine, and inspect Sub-departments of Education and Training, education institutions in graduation recognition, issuance and management of lower secondary education.

3. Advise provincial People’s Committees to guarantee funding sources and conditions for graduation recognition.

Article 12. Responsibilities of district People’s Committees

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2. Guarantee funding sources and conditions for graduation recognition.

Article 13. Responsibilities of Sub-departments of Education and Training

1. Guide education institutions under their management to manage graduation recognition.

2. Promulgate decisions on establishment of the Council of education institutions under their management.

3. Promulgate decisions acknowledging graduation of students and issue certificate of graduation from lower secondary education.

4. Store application for graduation recognition, list of students eligible for graduation recognition, and management dossiers of certificate of graduation from lower secondary education.

5. Advise provincial People’s Committees to guarantee funding sources and conditions for graduation recognition.

6. Submit reports on graduation recognition results and list of students recognized for graduation to Departments of Education and Training.

Article 14. Responsibilities of education institutions

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2. Request Directors of Sub-departments of Education and Training to promulgate decision on establishment of Council.

3. Publish list of students graduating by recognition and process application for graduation recognition and transfer to the Council.

4. Prepare working conditions of the Council.

5. Verify disciplinary and academic results of students in their ninth grade who have lost original copies of their school report or printed copies of electronic school reports.

6. Organize class repetition, summer class, reassessment, reexamination of subjects, education activities during the summer in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training and verify completion of Formal education program for lower secondary education or Continuous education program for lower secondary education (if eligible) for students who:

a) have not been recognized for completion of Formal education program for lower secondary education or Continuous education program for lower secondary education in their ninth grade due to unqualified academic results of the ninth grade (or academic ranking of the whole year is rated “yếu” or “kém”).

b) have not been recognized for completion of Formal education program for lower secondary education or Continuous education program for lower secondary education in the ninth grade due to unqualified academic results of the ninth grade (or disciplinary ranking of the whole year is rated “yếu” or “kém”).

c) have not been recognized for completion of Formal education program for lower secondary education or Continuous education program for lower secondary education in the ninth grade due to failure to attend more than 45 periods in ninth grade and apply for grade repetition.

d) are older than 21 years old, have finished Formal education program for lower secondary education, have not been recognized for graduation, apply for repetition of ninth grade in accordance with Continuous education program for lower secondary education in respect of education institutions providing Continuous education program for lower secondary education.

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8. Store application for graduation recognition as per the law.

Article 15. Commendation, penalties, handling of complaints and lawsuits

1. Individuals and organizations attaining achievements in recognition for graduation shall be eligible for commendation in accordance with emulation and commendation laws of the Government.

2. Individuals and organizations violating this Regulation shall be met with penalties as per the law.

3. Handling of complaints and lawsuits shall be implemented as per the law./.