Are kindergartens in Vietnam allowed to mobilize funds to cover cleaning costs of the school and classrooms?

Are kindergartens in Vietnam allowed to receive sponsorships?

Pursuant to Article 1 of Circular 16/2018/TT-BGDDT regarding the scope of regulation and subjects of application of Circular 16/2018/TT-BGDDT as follows:

Scope of Regulation and Subjects of Application

1. This Circular prescribes the mobilization, receipt, management, and use of sponsorships from domestic and foreign agencies, organizations, and individuals for educational institutions within the national education system.

2. This Circular applies to:

a) Educational institutions within the national education system, including: kindergartens, general educational institutions, specialized schools, continuing education centers, pedagogical intermediate schools, pedagogical colleges, and higher education institutions (hereinafter referred to as educational institutions);

b) Related agencies, organizations, and individuals.

3. Sponsorships for education as stipulated in this Circular are voluntary, non-refundable contributions in cash, in-kind, or non-material supports from sources outside the state budget from domestic and foreign agencies, organizations, and individuals (hereinafter referred to as sponsors) for educational institutions.

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Thus, according to the above regulation, kindergartens are among the entities eligible to receive sponsorships.

Can kindergartens in Vietnam mobilize funds to cover cleaning costs of the school and classrooms? (Image from the Internet)

6 principles of kindergartens need to note when mobilizing, receiving, managing, and using sponsorships

Pursuant to Article 2 of Circular 16/2018/TT-BGDDT, the 6 principles kindergartens need to note when mobilizing, receiving, managing, and using sponsorships are as follows:

Principle [1] Sponsorships must ensure principles of voluntariness, transparency, non-coercion, no fixed average sponsorship level, no minimum sponsorship level, no exploitation of sponsorship for coercive contributions, and not making sponsorship a condition for providing education and training services.

Principle [2] The mobilization, receipt, management, and use of sponsorships must be publicly announced and posted at the educational institution receiving the sponsorship and comply with current legal regulations.

Principle [3] The management and use of sponsorships must follow principles of thriftiness, efficiency, proper purpose, and must not lead to waste or loss.

Principle [4] Do not receive in-kind donations that do not fulfill the usage purpose within the educational institution, hazardous or dangerous materials to the environment, health of staff, teachers, and students.

Principle [5] Encourage sponsors to independently organize the investment in construction, procurement of equipment, and complete installation to hand over to educational institutions as per mutual agreement and guidance from the educational institution.

Principle [6] Encourage organizations and individuals to sponsor and support to develop educational undertakings, enhance the infrastructure of schools, and support teaching-learning activities and educational activities at educational institutions.

Are kindergartens in Vietnam allowed to mobilize funds to cover cleaning costs of the school and classrooms?

Pursuant to Article 4 of Circular 16/2018/TT-BGDDT, regulations on forms of sponsorship are as follows:

Forms of Sponsorship

1. Cash sponsorship: The sponsor transfers an amount in Vietnamese Dong, foreign currency, diamond, precious stones, or precious metals directly to the educational institution or through the account of the educational institution opened at the State Treasury or a commercial bank.

2. In-kind sponsorship: The sponsor transfers to the educational institution items such as books, notebooks, clothes, food, supplies, equipment, teaching aids, constructions and other items of use value, meeting the practical needs of learners and educational institutions.

For the form of sponsorship in constructions, the appraisal, approval of technical design and total cost estimate, issuance of construction permits, quality management of constructions, acceptance, handover, warranty, and insurance of constructions are implemented in accordance with current legal regulations on construction investment.

3. Non-material sponsorship: The sponsor transfers or grants usage rights without charging for copyrights and ownership rights of intellectual properties; land use rights; labor contributions; provision of training, sightseeing, surveying services, workshops, and free consultant experts' services for the educational institution.

Additionally, pursuant to Article 3 of Circular 16/2018/TT-BGDDT, regulations on the content of mobilizing and receiving sponsorships are as follows:

Content of Mobilizing and Receiving Sponsorships

1. Educational institutions are allowed to mobilize and receive sponsorships for the following contents:

a) Equip teaching and learning devices and tools; devices for scientific research; renovate, repair, and construct components serving educational activities at educational institutions;

b) Support educational, training, and scientific research activities within educational institutions.

2. Mobilizing sponsorships is not allowed for: paying teaching remuneration; expenses directly related to management staff, teachers, lecturers, and employees; security and protection activities; vigilance allowance for student vehicles; cleaning classroom and school cleaning remuneration; rewarding management staff, teachers, and employees; expenses supporting the management work of the educational institution.

Thus, according to the above regulations, kindergartens are entirely allowed to mobilize cash sponsorships. However, mobilizing funds to pay for cleaning costs of the school and classrooms is not permitted.