Is it permissible for lower secondary school in Vietnam receive sponsorship in the form of diamonds?

Is it permissible for lower secondary school in Vietnam receive sponsorship in the form of diamonds?

Based on the provisions in Article 4 of Circular 16/2018/TT-BGDDT on the forms of sponsorship for lower secondary schools:

Forms of sponsorship

1. Monetary sponsorship: Lower secondary schools may transfer an amount in Vietnamese Dong, foreign currency, diamonds, gemstones, precious metals directly to the educational institution or through the educational institution’s account opened at the State Treasury or a Commercial Bank.

2. Sponsorship in Kind: Donors may transfer to the educational institution tangible items such as books, notebooks, clothing, foodstuffs, materials, equipment, teaching aids, construction works, and other tangible items that are of use and meet the practical needs of students and the educational institution.

For the form of sponsorship in construction works, the appraisal, approval of technical designs and total cost estimates, issuance of construction permits, quality management, acceptance, handover, warranty, and insurance of construction works shall comply with the current laws on construction investment.

3. Non-Monetary sponsorship: Donors may transfer or grant non-monetary rights like copyrights and intellectual property ownership; land use rights; labor contributions; and provide training services, field trips, surveys, seminars, and free consultancy for the educational institution.

Lower secondary schools are allowed receive sponsorship in three forms: monetary sponsorship, sponsorship in kind, or non-monetary sponsorship.

For monetary sponsorship, the donor shall transfer an amount in Vietnamese Dong, foreign currency, diamonds, gemstones, or precious metals directly to the educational institution or through the educational institution’s account opened at the State Treasury or a Commercial Bank.

Hence, according to the above provisions, if the lower secondary school receives a sponsorship in the form of diamonds, it can still be accepted but must be converted into an equivalent amount in money or foreign currency.

*Note: A lower secondary school receiving diamond sponsorship can either take the equivalent converted amount directly from the donor or through the educational institution’s account opened at the State Treasury or a Commercial Bank.

Is it permissible for lower secondary school in Vietnam receive sponsorship in the form of diamonds?​ (Image from the Internet)

Is it permissible for a newly constructed lower secondary school in Vietnam, which lacks the minimum equipment for teaching, to mobilize sponsorship?

Based on the provisions in Article 3 of Circular 16/2018/TT-BGDDT on the content of solicitation and acceptance of sponsorship:

Content of Solicitation and Acceptance of Sponsorship

1. Educational institutions may solicit and accept sponsorship for the following purposes:

a) Equipping facilities, teaching and learning aids; equipment for scientific research; renovating, repairing, and constructing educational service structures within the educational institution;

b) Supporting educational, training, and scientific research activities within the educational institution.

2. Sponsorship shall not be solicited for payment of: teaching remuneration; direct payments to administrators, teachers, lecturers, and staff; security and protection activities; remuneration for monitoring student traffic means; classroom and school sanitation maintenance; rewarding administrators, teachers, and staff; and expenses supporting the managerial activities of the educational institution.

Lower secondary schools can solicit sponsorship for the following:

(1) Equipping facilities, teaching and learning aids; equipment for scientific research; renovating, repairing, and constructing educational service structures within the educational institution;

(2) Supporting educational, training, and scientific research activities within the educational institution.

Therefore, if a newly built lower secondary school lacks basic teaching equipment, it can completely solicit sponsorship.

These basic teaching equipment belong to the service structures serving educational activities at the educational institution.

*Note: sponsorship cannot be solicited for paying teaching remuneration; direct payments to administrators, teachers, lecturers, and staff; security and protection activities; remuneration for monitoring student traffic means; classroom and school sanitation maintenance; rewarding administrators, teachers, and staff; and expenses supporting the managerial activities of the educational institution.

What are 6 principles for soliciting sponsorship for lower secondary schools in Vietnam?

Based on the provisions in Article 2 of Circular 16/2018/TT-BGDDT, lower secondary schools must ensure compliance with the following six principles when soliciting sponsorship:

Principle [1] Voluntary, transparent, open, non-coercive, without stipulating an average sponsorship amount, without stipulating a minimum sponsorship amount, and not exploiting the sponsorship for compulsory contributions.

Principle [2] The solicitation, receipt, management, and use of sponsorship must be publicly posted and listed.

Principle [3] The management and use of sponsorship must be governed by principles of frugality, efficiency, and alignment with intended purposes.

Principle [4] Do not accept in-kind sponsorship that do not meet the usage purposes within the educational institution, harmful, or dangerous items.

Principle [5] Encourage donors to self-organize investments in construction and equipment procurement.

Principle [6] Encourage organizations and individuals to donate and support to develop the cause of education.