DECISION

APPROVING PROGRAM FOR “ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING PRESCHOOL EDUCATION IN DISADVANTAGED AREAS FOR THE 2022-2030 PERIOD”

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization dated June 19, 2015; the Law on amendments to some Articles of the Law on the Government Organization and Law on Local Government Organization dated November 22, 2019;

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

Pursuant to the Children Law dated April 05, 2016;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 84/2020/ND-CP dated July 17, 2020 on elaboration of the Law on Education;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 56/2017/ND-CP dated May 09, 2017 on elaboration of the Children Law;

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Pursuant to Decision No. 1983/QD-TTg dated November 24, 2021 of the Prime Minister on promulgation of Plan to implement Conclusion No. 92-KL/TW dated November 5, 2020 of the Politburo on continuation in implementation of Resolution of the 11^th Central Committee's 5^th Plenum on some issues about social policies for the 2012 – 2020 period.

At the request of the Minister of Education and Training;

HEREBY DECIDES:

Article 1. The Program for “Assistance in developing preschool education in disadvantaged areas for the 2022-2030 period” (hereinafter referred to as “the Program”) is approved with the following contents:

I. SCOPE AND REGULATED ENTITIES

Children, managers, teachers, staff and preschool education institutions in poor districts, extremely disadvantaged and disadvantaged hamlets and communes in coastal sand dunes, coastal areas and islands, extremely disadvantaged and disadvantaged hamlets and communes in ethnic minority areas and mountainous regions, hamlets and communes in disadvantaged areas according to regulations issued by the Prime Minister, the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, competent authorities (hereinafter referred to as “disadvantaged areas”), and relevant organizations and individuals.

II. OBJECTIVES

1. General objectives

Assist in the development of preschool education in disadvantaged areas.  Give children additional opportunities for accessing quality preschool education on the basis of efforts to fulfill conditions regarding teachers and school and classroom facilities.  Ensure fairness in access to education, thereby contributing to narrowing the development gap among areas and regions; contribute to poverty eradication, economic and social development; sustainably preserve and promote cultural values of and areas and regions where many ethnic minority compatriots are residing.

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a) Regarding children:

- By 2025: at least 20% of children from 18 to 36 months of age and 90% of children from 3 to 5 years of age in disadvantaged areas will attend preschool education institutions, of which 30% of children in preschool education institutions shall receive extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of their first language in conformity with their age; at least 50% of provinces where there are many ethnic minority children will have models for extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of their first language;

- By 2030: at least 25% of children from 18 to 36 months of age and 95% of children from 3 to 5 years of age in disadvantaged areas will attend preschool education institutions, of which 60% of children in preschool education institutions shall receive extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of their first language in conformity with their age; at least 80% of provinces where there are many ethnic minority children will have models for extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of their first language;

- Every year, all children of preschool education institutions in disadvantaged areas are nurtured, cared for and educated according to preschool education programs suitable for conditions of areas and regions and ethnic groups and unique characteristics of children.

b) Regarding teachers:

- By 2025: 30% of teachers will undergo refresher training to be able to use the first language of children;

- By 2030: 60% of teachers will undergo refresher training to be able to use the first language of children; achieve the minimum ratio of teacher to classroom according to regulations.

c) Regarding preschool education institutions:

By 2030: Eliminate 100% of borrowed and temporary classrooms; build new schools according to the estimated planning for network of preschools in local areas; provide additional outdoor and indoor toys and for new schools and classrooms as a result of scale increase.

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1. Completion of mechanisms and polices on development of preschool education in disadvantaged areas

a) Review, conduct additional studies, and propose the development of support policies applicable to children and preschool education institutions in disadvantaged areas, especially children from 18 to 36 months of age, including policies on lunch support, tuition fee exemption and reduction, and learning cost financing;

b) Achieve the minimum ratio of teacher to classroom in disadvantaged areas according to regulations with priority given to teachers who teach in individual groups and classrooms in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, riverine areas, border areas, islands, coastal sand dunes and coastal areas;

c) Review, study and propose development and supplementation of support policies for teachers in disadvantaged areas, especially those directly teaching ethnic minority children; improve policies on training under contracts between companies and training institutions, recruitment, selection, and employment of local teachers who teach ethnic minority children; fully and promptly provide mechanisms to attract and encourage teachers to work for a long term in disadvantaged areas;

d) Conduct study and propose mechanisms and policies on investment in facilities in schools: prioritize investment funds to eliminate borrowed and temporary classrooms; construct official residences for teachers; purchase studying equipment to meet the needs of preschool education development in disadvantaged areas.

2. Increase in capacity of teachers and managers in preschool education institutions in disadvantaged areas and provision of refresher training for language assistants

a) Organize refresher training to increase capacity of managers and teachers for management, implementation of preschool education programs in conformity with characteristics of children in disadvantaged areas, bilingual education methods and skills, and extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of the first language of ethnic minority children, especially focus on children from 18 to 36 months of age and new children from 3 to 5 years of age; visit and share learning experiences at exemplary schools;

b) Give minority language training courses to teachers who teach ethnic minority children;

c) Provide refresher training and training for language assistants and bilingual educators on the basis of the first language of children;

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3. Stimulation of investment in facilities

a) Make plans and roadmap and adopt solutions for construction of official residences for teachers, eliminate borrowed and temporary classrooms, provide additional classrooms in case of inadequate classrooms, purchase additional learning equipment in disadvantaged areas to fulfill children’s demands for attendance in  schools and classrooms, focus on children from 18 to 36 months of age and from 3 to 5 years of age; give additional learning materials which serve extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of the first language of children and improvement of the quality of preschool education in disadvantaged areas.

b) Focus on additional provision of toys and education equipment used inside and outside classrooms, construct a model of an education environment with distinctive culture and regional characteristics, create an environment landscape most suitable for children and unique culture of each education institution; establish and expand exemplary schools to use them as locations for training, sharing and exchange of professional experience in preschool education in disadvantaged areas;

4. Execution of preschool education programs suitable for disadvantaged areas, characteristics of reception and culture and the first language of children

a) Execute preschool education programs suitable for conditions of areas and regions, characteristics of ethnic minority children.  Review and complete programs and reform preschool education contents and methods in order to make them suitable for disadvantaged areas, characteristics of reception and culture and the first language of children;

b) Focus on development of indigenous culture in organization and execution of preschool education programs for children in disadvantaged areas and ethnic minority children.

c) Organize compilation and sharing of, and training in child-friendly education materials suitable for children at preschool education institutions in disadvantaged areas; promote training in execution of education programs and methods suitable for teachers directly teaching ethnic minority children;

d) Give extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of the first language of children; build and maintain Vietnamese language environment on the basis of the first language in preschool education institutions in which ethnic minority children are learning; pay attention to children from 18 to 36 months of age and from 3 to 5 years of age who are unable to speak Vietnamese.

5. Mobilization of resources for development of preschool education in disadvantaged areas.

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- Establish policies to encourage domestic and foreign organizations and individuals to invest in construction of preschools. Encourage the participation of all people and social organizations and socio-professional organizations; and initiatives set up by the public for development of preschool education in disadvantaged areas;

- Stimulate border guard officers and soldiers to participate in teaching Vietnamese language to their parents and caregivers of ethnic minority children; encourage retired officers and members of organizations and associations, especially the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Women's Union and the Vietnam Study Encouragement Association to participate in assistance in providing extra training in Vietnamese language for their parents and other practical activities for ethnic minority children;

- Encourage domestic and foreign enterprises, organizations and individuals to contribute funds, books, documents, education materials, teaching aids and toys to assistance in developing preschool education in disadvantaged areas.

b) Interdisciplinary cooperation promotion

- Promote cooperation, utilization of the strength and enhancement of roles of the entire political system; relevant agencies, especially those of ethnic councils, organizations of Women's Union, and Youth Union in assistance in developing preschool education in disadvantaged areas; improve the quality of care, nurture and education of children in families and communities;

- Integrate and carry out tasks and solutions of this Program and the Project on mobilization of social resources for supporting children in extremely disadvantaged communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2019-2025 period.

c) International cooperation promotion

Mobilize financial and technical support from international organizations; make cooperation in and selectively adopt advanced methods for enhancing quality of preschool education, providing extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of the first language of ethnic minority children and developing preschool education in disadvantaged areas.

6. Dissemination and increase in awareness of the Program

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b) Establish websites and sections on mass media to raise awareness among government authorities at all levels, the public, young parents, domestic and foreign organizations and individuals of investment on and focus on the development of preschool education in disadvantaged area;

c) Disseminate information and give assistance to parents and caregivers of children in caring, nurturing, educating and providing extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of the first language.  Compile documents on communication and training in preschool education in conformity with characteristics of areas and regions, and extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of the first language intended for ethnic minority children's parents and ethnic minority community;

d) Closely cooperate with village chiefs and prestigious persons in the community to encourage ethnic minority families to enable their children to attend preschools and two sessions per day.

IV. FUNDING

1. Funding sources

a) Funding for education and training which is part of the funding for the programs and projects (the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021 – 2030; the National Target Program on New Rural Development for the period 2021 – 2025; and the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the period 2021 – 2025) provided by competent authorities and included in annual plans of ministries, central and local authorities according to management delegation;

b) Medium-term public investment capital which has been provided for the 2021-2025 period and medium-term public investment capital for the 2026-2030 period in conformity with balance capacity of state budget according to regulations of the law on public investment;

c) Private capital for education and other legal funding sources.

2. The formulation and implementation of financial plans for the tasks of the Program shall comply with regulations of the Law on State Budget, the Law on Public Investment and applicable regulations on mid-term public investment plans and mid-term financial plans of the State.

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1. Ministry of Education and Training

a) Preside over and cooperate with relevant ministries and authorities and People's Committees of provinces and central- affiliated cities in performance of the Program's tasks;

b) Preside over and cooperate with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in providing guidance on use of and prioritizing capital of National Target Programs for implementation of the Program;

c) Organize compilation of appropriate materials, refresher training and training in increase capacity of managements and teachers who nurture, care and educate ethnic minority children for management, development and reform of contents and methods for implementation of the preschool education program in conformity with characteristics of children in disadvantaged areas; methods and skills in bilingual education and extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of the first language of children suitable for ethnic minority children;

d) Develop plans and programs to provide refresher training in minority language for teachers nurturing, caring for and educating ethnic minority children.

dd) Assist in building and providing a pilot model of extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of the first language of ethnic minority children; developing software which gives extra training in Vietnamese language on the basis of the first language of children;

e) Preside over inspection, assessment and consolidation of results of implementation of the Program, organization of preliminary and final reviews and submission of annual reports to the Prime Minister.

2. Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs

a) Preside over and cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training in studying and proposing concretization of tasks included in the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021 - 2030 by way of performance of tasks and solutions in order to achieve objectives of the Program;

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c) Cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training, relevant ministries and central authorities in inspecting organization and implementation of the Program.

3. Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs

a) Preside over and cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training in studying and proposing concretization of tasks included in the National Target Program for Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the period 2021 - 2025 by way of performance of tasks and solutions in order to achieve objectives of the Program;

b) Cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training, ministries and central and local authorities to promote social propaganda and mobilization activities and increase capacity so as to implement the Program; ensure that children’s rights are protected and exercised in disadvantaged areas within their management scope;

c) Preside over and cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training in directing and supervising the implementation of relevant policies applicable to teachers and children from 18 months to 05 years of age in disadvantaged areas within their management scope.

4. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Preside over and cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training in studying and proposing concretization of tasks included in the National Target Program on New Rural Development for the period 2021 - 2025 by way of performance of tasks and solutions in order to achieve objectives of the Program;

5. Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam

a) Preside over review and submission of the mid-term public investment plan for the 2026-2030 period to the Government and the Prime Minister, and on an annual basis, carry out tasks and projects approved by competent authorities according to regulations of laws on public investment and state budget for implementation of the Program;

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6. Ministry of Finance

Preside over and cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training and relevant ministries and central authorities in recommending the allocation of funding for the implementation of activities under the Program to competent authorities on the basis of its delegated state budget.

7. Ministry of Home Affairs

a) Cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training and relevant ministries and central authorities to conduct study and propose amendments to policies applicable to teachers, managers and staff in preschool education institutions in disadvantaged areas;

b) Cooperate with relevant units in strengthening inspection and supervision of recruitment, contracts, employment of, provision of benefits and rewards for preschool education teachers and managers in disadvantaged areas.

8. Ministry of Information and Communications

Preside over dissemination of information and propaganda about purposes, significance and necessity of the Program to heighten awareness of and responsibilities of Communist Party committees, local authorities, parents, teachers, managers and the community for investment in and focus on the development of preschool education in disadvantaged areas.

9. Ministries, ministerial agencies, Governmental agencies and relevant agencies, within their functions and tasks, shall organize the implementation of the Program.

10. People's Committees of provinces and central- affiliated cities

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b) Give funding and directly implement the Program in their provinces and ensure efficiency in the implementation

c) Issue necessary policies and mechanisms necessary for their provinces/cities, attract private capital and mobilize other legal funding sources to gradually provide all facilities, equipment, toys and education materials for preschool education institutions, especially individual groups and classrooms, thereby improving education quality in their provinces/cities;

d) Assist teachers who teach ethnic minority children in learning minority language in provinces/cities where they are working;

dd) Carry out programs for construction of official residences provided for teachers, eliminate borrowed and temporary classrooms and provide additional classrooms in case of inadequate classrooms for disadvantaged areas according to the Law on Public Investment and other regulations of law;

e) Give priority and focus on investment in facilities and teaching equipment in conformity with the actual status of preschools in disadvantaged areas;

g) Organize recruitment, training, designation in order to increase the quantity of preschool teachers, managers and staff in disadvantaged areas within their provinces/cities to fulfill objectives of the Program;

h) Conduct inspection and supervision of assessment and consolidation of results of the implementation of the Program within their provinces/cities.

11. The Central Committee of Vietnamese Fatherland Front, Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union, the Vietnam Farmers' Association, and member organizations of the Fatherland Front, the Vietnam Study Encouragement Association and social organizations, within the scope of their functions and tasks, are required to participate in organization of the implementation of the Program; promote propaganda and education activities in order to raise awareness of investment, focus on and assistance in development of preschool education in disadvantaged areas.

Article 2. This Decision comes into force as of its date of signing.

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PP. PRIME MINISTER
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER




Vu Duc Dam