At primary education level, the duration of the Vietnamese programme required by Vietnamese students must not be less than 140 minutes a week from the first grade to the fifth grade, and the duration of Vietnamese studies must not be less than 70 minutes a week from the fourth to the fifth. — Photo pic.edu.vn

The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) issued Circular No. 34/2014/TT-BGDDT (October 15, 2014) guiding foreign investment and co-operation in education. The circular provides guidance on the implementation of Government Decree No.73/2012/ND-CP (September 26, 2012) with respect to inspection of education quality of a joint training programme and foreign invested educational institutions, compulsory education programme and subjects required by Vietnamese students studying at foreign invested educational institutions and others.

Inspection of education quality

Vietnamese educational institutions and foreign educational institutions providing joint training programs with Vietnamese educational institutions must comply with regulations on standards and procedures for education quality inspection in universities, colleges, vocational schools, primary and secondary schools, continuing educational institutions, pre-school education institutions issued by MOET; or regulations on international quality inspection organizations recognised by Vietnamese competent authorities.

Foreign invested multi-level general schools

1. Admitting Vietnamese students. Foreign invested multi-level general schools are those which comprise two levels or more, such as pre-school education (if any), primary education, lower secondary education and upper secondary education. These schools are allowed to admit Vietnamese students provided in the regulations. A student who has a foreign parent is admitted to the school as a foreign student.

2. Compulsory education program for Vietnamese students

(1) At primary education level, the duration of the Vietnamese programme required by Vietnamese students must not be less than 140 minutes a week from the first grade to the fifth grade, and the duration of Vietnamese studies must not be less than 70 minutes a week from the fourth to the fifth grade.

(2) At secondary education level, Vietnamese students must take the Vietnamese studies programme to equip themselves with general, basic, modern and systematic knowledge of history, geography, culture, traditions, customs and practices of Viet Nam. Duration of Vietnamese studies program must not be less than 90 minutes a week at both lower secondary and upper secondary levels.

Foreign invested vocational schools, colleges, universities, and programs for educational association with foreign partners

1. Compulsory subjects required to Vietnamese students

(1) Law is a compulsory subject applicable to Vietnamese students in foreign invested vocational schools. Marks of the compulsory subject must be recorded in the student performance report. The student is exempted from the Law subject if he/she completed it at another vocational school or higher education institution in Viet Nam.

(2) Compulsory subjects applied to Vietnamese schools must also be applied in the foreign invested colleges and universities. The student is exempted from the compulsory subjects if the student completed them at another college or university in Viet Nam.

(3) The student joining a joint training program with degrees to be granted by the foreign partner school is exempted from the above compulsory subjects.

2. Training majors in co-operation with foreign partners

(1) Foreign invested vocational schools, colleges and universities in Viet Nam are permitted to provide training majors at vocational, college, university, post-graduate and doctorate levels under MOET regulations, except the training majors relating to national security, defence, politics and religion.

(2) Foreign vocational schools, colleges, universities; Vietnamese vocational schools and universities; and foreign invested vocational schools, colleges, universities in Viet Nam are permitted to provide joint training programs within the list of training majors at vocational, college, university, post-graduate and doctorate levels under MOET regulations, except the training majors relating to national security, defence, politics and religion.

(3) The Minister of Education and Training decides to permit a new joint training programme or opening of training program not subject to the promulgated list in consideration of the necessity of the training for human resources and socio-economic development of the country.

3. Requirements for joint training program for foreign language. Vietnamese and foreign partners must agree on requirements of foreign language to beginning students, provide justifications for quality and training objective assurance and submit to the competent levels for approval of the joint training programme.

This Circular takes effect on 01 December 2014. — MAI COUNSEL