JOINT CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON ASSESSMENT OF HEALTHCARE ACTIVITIES IN PRESCHOOL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No.36/2012/ND-CP on functions, entitlement, responsibilities and organizational structures of Ministries and Ministerial-level authorities dated April 18, 2012;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No.32/2008/ND-CP on functions, entitlement, responsibilities and organizational structures of the Ministry of Education and Training dated March 19, 2008;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No.63/2012/ND-CP on functions, rights, responsibilities and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health dated August 31, 2012;

Pursuant to the Directive No.23/2006/CT-TTg on healthcare in educational institutions dated July 12, 2006 by the Prime Minister;

The Minister of Education and Training and Minister of Health hereby introduce this Joint Circular on

 Assessment of healthcare activities in preschool education institutions.

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GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope and regulated entities

1. This Circular stipulates regulations on assessment of healthcare activities in preschool education institutions including school healthcare activities, medical facilities and equipment; funding for healthcare activities and the implementation of healthcare system in preschool education institutions

2. This Circular applies to preschool education institutions including kindergartens, nursery schools, preschool education classes, preschools (hereinafter referred to as “preschool”) and relevant entities.

Article 2. Purposes of assessment of healthcare activities in preschools

1. To lay a foundation for assessment of preschool activities by education authorities, health authorities and schools.

2. To ensure the consistency of preschool healthcare activities and gradually standardize healthcare activities in preschools in order to improve the quality of childcare and health protection in preschools.

Article 3. Rules for assessment of healthcare activities

The assessment of healthcare activities in preschools shall be made in accordance with the Decision No.14/2008/QD-BGDDT on preschool charters dated April 07, 2008 by the Minister of Education and Training; Circular No.21/2012/TT-BGDDT on organizational and operational regulations of non-public preschools dated June 15, 2012 by the Minister of Education and Training; Decision No.58/2008/QD-BGDDT on healthcare activities in preschool education institutions dated October 17, 2008 by the Minister of Education and Training; Joint Circular No.03/2000/TTLT-BYT-BGDDT on guidelines for the implementation of healthcare in preschool education institutions dated March 01, 2010 by the Minister of Education and Training and Minister of Health; Circular No.30/2012/TT-BYT on food safety requirements for food and beverage business facilities, and street food vendors dated December 05, 2012 by the Minister of Health; Circular No.46/2010/TT-BYT on National technical regulations on prevention and control of infectious diseases in schools under the national education system dated December 29, 2010 by the Minister of Health and provisions hereof.

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 HEALTHCARE ACTIVITIES IN PRESCHOOLS

Article 4. Healthcare activities and management

1. Carry out periodic checkup and measure student’s health status at least twice per academic year at the beginning of each semester; have health examination records and logbooks available to keep track of student’s health status during their preschool age; measure student's physical development under current regulations of laws.

Notify of student’s health status to their parent or guardian periodically or where necessary.

2. Measure the height and weight and record physical developmental milestone charts of under-24- month students every month and above-24-month students every quarter; cooperate with student’s parents or guardians to keep track of the vaccination.

3. Administer first-aid treatment, urgent care and primary care under current regulations of laws. Cooperate with local medical facilities to deliver healthcare and medical treatment to sick students and make referral to superior medical facilities where necessary.

4. Participate in raising student’s awareness of environmental and personal hygiene and rehabilitation of disabled students who are receiving inclusive education according the early intervention program; and prepare healthy servings and menu for students.

Article 5. Student health education

1. Design health education programs in respect of environmental and personal hygiene, common disease prevention, accident prevention, food safety and negative behaviors that may affect student’s health status for students, baby-sitters, student’s parents or guardians.

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3. Educate parents or guardians about child care and education and update them on health education programs.

Article 6. Infectious disease prevention and control

1. Proactively implement and cooperate with relevant entities to implement regulations on infectious disease prevention and control.

2. Strictly monitor infectious diseases and promptly notify competent authorities of any symptom of infectious diseases in the preschool under regulations of laws.

3. Cooperate with medical facilities and relevant agencies to promptly implement preventive measures under regulations of laws.

Article 7. Child accident prevention

1. Comply with regulations on preschool safety and accident prevention.

2. Ensure that there is no child hospitalized for serious injuries due to accidents occurred within the preschool.

3. Report on student accidents and injuries under regulations of laws.

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1. Ensure food safety and provide proper nutrition for students.

2. Have preschool canteens certified satisfactory in terms of food safety by competent authorities under regulations of laws.

3. Provide canteen staff with training courses in food safety, and periodic checkups, and protective clothes; and monitor carriers.

4. Only use known-origin goods and foods with that satisfy food safety regulations. Prevent food poisoning and foodborne illness in preschools.

Chapter III

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES

Article 9. Preschool hygiene

1. Every preschool must be distant from noisy, dusty or noxious gas-emitting places, bus stations, train stations, markets, oil and gas warehouses, trunk roads, mountain foot and river banks that may contain risks of landslide.

2. Every preschool must have playground and trees. Waste collection and treatment equipment such as recycle bins and landfills shall be available. Each classroom or office shall be cleaned before the class and shall have recycle bins.

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4. Every school shall be responsible for the provision of sufficient drinking water and domestic water for students, teachers, managers and employees within the preschool.

5. No teacher, officer or parent is allowed to smoke inside the preschool campus.

Article 10. Classrooms

every classroom shall be:

1. Safe for students and have emergency exits and fire protection systems. Facilitate the use of disabled students.

2. Well-ventilated air conditioned in summer, and warm in winter. Every classroom must be equipped with artificial ventilation systems such as ceiling fans, exhaust fans that are properly installed.

3. Illuminated with natural light with the luminance of at least 100 lux. Every classroom having students with visual impairments shall be designed to be illuminated with the luminance of at least 300 lux.

4. Soundproofed; Noise in classrooms shall not exceed 50 decibels (Db).

Article 11. Classroom furniture and facilities for child fostering, care and education

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2. Classroom furniture shall be made from healthy materials and shall be kept clean.

Article 12. Kitchens

1. The kitchen design and all facilities and furniture inside shall be conformable to current regulations of laws on food safety.

2. All tools and equipment for food processing, preserving and storing shall satisfy standards under regulations of laws.

Article 13. School bathrooms

every bathroom shall:

1. Cover a standard area prescribed by laws and have urinals and toilets for male and female separately installed under regulations of laws.

2. Satisfy regulations on school bathroom requirements and have hand wash areas available.

Article 14. Medical rooms

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1. Be at least 12 m² in width.

2. Have records of immunization and periodic checkup; first-aid and emergency regimens of common diseases and injuries that students may suffer; photos, pictures and documents on student healthcare.

3. Be located in a favorable position to facilitate the first aid or transport of sick students.

4. Keep the environment surrounding the medical room and medical room clean; and have waste collection and treatment systems available under regulations of laws.

Article 15. Facilities and medicines

every preschool shall have

1. Medicine cabinets, essential medicines, and logbooks for recording and monitoring the input and output of medicines under regulations of laws.

2. Specialized facilities for administration first aid, emergency and primary care and at least 01 sickbed.

3. Furniture and common equipment.

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FUNDING FOR HEALTHCARE AND HEALTH SYSTEMS

Article 16. Sources of finance

1. School healthcare activities may be funded with the school’s annual education and training budget according to the current allocation.

2. School healthcare activities may be funded with domestic and overseas entities and other legal earnings (if any).

3. School healthcare activities may be funded with budgets for professional activities, healthcare education, procurement and repairing of medical equipment and other sources of finance under current regulations of laws.

4. Logbooks and financial statements shall be made in accordance with current regulations of laws.

Article 17. Preschools

Every preschool shall:

1. Establish a Student Health Advisory Board including the school’s representative as chairman and local health authority’s representative as deputy chairman, medical officer as standing member, and representative of teachers, nutrition officers and Parent Representation Committee as members.

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3. Prepare healthcare plans, execute such plans and assess the healthcare activities in every academic year.

4. Submit reports on school health service performance to the supervisory authority by the end of the academic year or irregularly at request.

Article 18. Medical staff

Every preschool medical staff shall:

1. Obtain at least a two-year associate degree in health and medicine and be named on the official payroll.

2. Consult the principal about preparation and execution of healthcare plans for each academic year.

3. Attend training courses and seminars on health held by health authorities, education authorities or relevant agencies.

4. Be granted allowances and preferential policies under the State's regulations of laws.

Chapter V

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Article 19. Date of assessment

1. Healthcare activities shall undergo the assessment from March to May inclusive of every year.

2. Education authorities shall take charge of and cooperate with local medical facilities and relevant agencies to set up an interdisciplinary assessment board to carry out assessment of healthcare activities in preschools within their jurisdiction once a year.

Article 20. Scoring and ranking

1. Each criterion shall be scored according to the assessment of healthcare activities in preschools form in the Annex herewith and converted into percentage and classified into 04 ranks. To be specific:

a) Excellent: From 90% of the benchmark;

b) Good: From 80% to not exceeding 90% of the benchmark;

c) Average: From 60% to not exceeding 80% of the benchmark;

d) Unsatisfactory: Under 60% of the benchmark.

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Chapter VI

IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATIONS

Article 21. Responsibilities of preschool principals

Every preschool principal shall:

1. Proactively consult and submit proposals for school healthcare activities to competent authorities.

2. Cooperate with relevant agencies to carry out the assessment of school healthcare activities for each academic year and include it in the annual academic report.

3. Facilitate the assessment of healthcare activities in preschools carried out by superior authorities.

Article 22. Responsibilities of Directors of Departments of Education and Training

Every Director of the Department of Education and Training shall:

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2. Proactively consult and submit proposals related to school healthcare activities to competent authorities.

3. Aggregate and submit reports on healthcare activities to the Ministry of Education and Training (Department of Student Affairs) and Ministry of Health (the General Department of Preventive Medicine) by the end of each academic year.

Article 23. Responsibilities of Directors of Departments of Health

 Every Director of Departments of Health shall:

1. Cooperate with Departments of Education of Training to prepare healthcare activities assessment plans and equipment and machinery within their province.

2. Proactively consult and submit proposals related to school healthcare activities to competent authorities.

Article 24. Entry into force

1. This Circular enters into force from August 02, 2013.

2. Any issue arising from the implementation of this Circular should be reported to the Department of Student Affairs – Ministry of Education and Training and General Department of Preventive Medicine- Ministry of Health./.

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PP. MINISTER OF HEALTH
DEPUTY MINISTER




Nguyen Thanh Long

PP. MINISTER OF EDCUATION AND TRAINING
DEPUTY MINISTER



Nguyen Thi Nghia

ANNEX

(Issued together with the Joint Circular No.22/2013/TTLT-BGDDT-BYT dated June 18, 2013 by the Ministry of Education and Training)

[Name of assessing authority]
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THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
Independence - Freedom - Happiness
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FORM FOR ASSESSMENT OF HEALTHCARE ACTIVITIES IN.......... [ACADEMIC YEAR]

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Name of school: ……………………………… Commune: …………………....….....

District: …………........…….. Province …………........……..

Address: …………………………………….......…………………………..……..

Total pre-schoolers:……………………Male:……………….Female:….…....……………

Total classrooms:……………Total teachers and officers: ………….…

No.

Criteria

Benchmark

Score

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I.. Healthcare activities and management

1

Carry out periodic checkup and evaluate student’s health status at least twice an academic year at the beginning of each semester.

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2

Monthly and quarterly measure the height and weight and record physical developmental milestone charts of under-24- month students and above-24-month students, respectively.

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Logically retain periodic health examination records

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4

- Administer primary care and first aid to students

- Monitor and update information on student's health status, cases of referral.

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- Promptly notify student’s parents or guardians of their child’s health after every periodic checkup.

- Cooperate with students’ parents or guardians to keep track of the vaccination.

- Prepare plans and documents on cooperation with local medical facilities in examination, treatment and vaccination.

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1

6

- Prepare and execute plans for education of environmental and personal hygiene.

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- Offer healthy menu and proper nutritious servings for every group of students.

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1

1

II. Health education

7

Develop child health education programs about:

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- Prevention of common diseases and accidents; food safety and negative behaviors that may affect health

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8

- Educate students about healthcare via extracurricular activities.

- Promote healthcare action programs launched by education authorities, health authorities and local governments.

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9

- Educate parents or guardians or caregivers about child fostering, care and education.

- Update student’s parents on health education information .

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1

III. Infectious disease prevention and control

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Proactively implement and cooperate with relevant entities to implement regulations on infectious disease prevention and control.

2

11

Strictly keep track of infectious diseases and promptly notify competent authorities of any symptom of infectious diseases in the school under regulations of laws.

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12

Have plans for disease prevention and control , and cooperate with medical facilities and relevant agencies to promptly implement preventive measures under regulations of laws.

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IV. Accident prevention

13

Issue directives on implementation of regulations on school safety and accident prevention.

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14

Have plans for accident prevention and inspection of school safety.

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15

Ensure that no child hospitalized for serious injuries due to accident occurred within the school.

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16

Have logbooks and reports on student’s accidents and injuries under regulations of laws available.

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V. Food safety and nutrition

17

Apply food safety and nutrition regimes for students.

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18

Have student’s servings decided and food safety inspected by medical officers

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Have school canteens certified as satisfactory in terms of food safety by competent authorities under regulations of laws.

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20

- Provide canteen’s staff with training courses in food safety

- Undergo periodic checkups, have carriers monitor and equip with protective clothes under regulations of laws.

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- Use clear origin goods and foods that satisfy foods safety regulations .

- Have no food poisoning and foodborne illness in schools.

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VI. School hygiene

22

 Have the school located distant from noisy, dusty or noxious gas emitting places, bus stations, train stations, markets, oil and gas warehouses, trunk roads, mountain foot, river banks that may contain risks of landslide

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23

Have trees in schoolyards, recycle bins, landfills and waste collection and treatment systems under regulation of laws. Each classroom has recycles and is cleaned before the class.

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24

Have closed storm water and wastewater drainage systems such as ditches constructed to keep the environment from polluted.

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25

Have safe schoolyards, playgrounds and stairs.

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26

Provide sufficient drinking water and domestic water for students, teachers and officers within the school.

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27

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VI. Classrooms

28

 Be safe for students and have emergency exits and fire protection systems available. Facilitate the use of disabled students.

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29

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30

Be illuminated with natural light with the luminance conformable to regulations of laws. Lighting systems are installed under ceiling fans .

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31

Keep noise in classrooms not exceeding 50 decibels (Db).

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32

Have electricity system and sockets installed out of the reach of students.

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VI. Furniture

33

Have student’s desks and chairs that are firm and wide enough for students to use available. The edge of furniture is smooth and flat to ensure the safety of students. The size of such furniture (the height, width and depth) is conformable to current regulations of laws.

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34

Have furniture made of harmless materials and painted with paint that is harmless to students.

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35

Have necessary tools that are always kept clean and safe for students available.

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36

Have all facilities , furniture inside and the canteen designed in conformity with current regulations of laws on food safety.

2

37

Have tools and equipment for food processing, preserving and storing satisfying standards under regulations of laws available.

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38

Have adequate urinals and toilets for male and female separately installed under regulations of laws.

2

39

Satisfy regulation on school bathroom requirements and have hand wash areas available.

2

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40

Have medical rooms located in a convenient position to facilitate the first aid or transport of sick students.

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41

Be at least 12 m² in width.

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42

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- Have common first aid and emergency regimes available.

- Have photos and documents on health education available.

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43

Have adequate chemicals, tools and protective equipment against bacteria and infection via blood and secretions available.

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44

- Keep the environment in and surrounding the medical room clean.

- Have waste collection and treatment systems available under regulations of laws available.

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XI. Medicines and facilities

45

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- Have medicine logbooks available under regulations of laws.

- Have periodic examination records, daily examination records, and health records available.

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46

- Have specialty equipment for first aid, emergency and primary health available.

- Have at least 01 sickbed available.

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47

Have furniture and common equipment available.

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XI. Sources of finance

48

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49

Funding from domestic and overseas entities and other legal earnings (if any).

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50

- Budgets for child health education and programs.

- Budgets for purchase and repairing of medical equipment and other sources of finance under current regulations of laws.

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51

Have logbooks and financial statements under current regulations of laws available.

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XI. School

52

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2

53

- Comply with the Communist Party and State’s policies on school healthcare .

- Introduce school health regulations according to the reality.

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54

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2

55

Submit reports on school healthcare activities to the supervisory authority by the end of the academic year or irregularly at request.

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XV. Medical staff

56

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- Consult the principal about preparation and execution of healthcare plans for each academic year.

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57

- Have medical officers undergo primary first aid training

- Have medical officers undergo school healthcare activities training

- Have medical officers undergo food safety training

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58

Attend training courses and seminars on health held by health authorities, education authorities or relevant agencies.

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59

Be granted allowances and preferential policies under the State's regulations of laws.

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Total score…../100 = ……%

Ranking:

□ Excellent (at least 90%)

□ Good (From 80% to not exceeding 90%)

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□ Unsatisfactory ( under 60%)

For school’s representative

(Sign and seal)

…..……..……..[Location and date]……..

For Assessing authority