Vietnam: Can a secondary school which achieves the external assessment results stating that the assessed school has conquered Level-1 be recognized as an "accredited school"?

Can a secondary school which achieves the external assessment results stating that the assessed school has conquered Level-1 be recognized as an "accredited school"?​

* Note: The Regulations on education quality accreditation and recognition of conformity with national standards for lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools and multilevel education institutions issued with Circular 18/2018/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam are abbreviated as Regulations issued with Circular 18/2018/TT-BGDDT.

Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 34 of the Regulations issued with Circular 18/2018/TT-BGDDT:

Recognition of the accredited school

1. Conditions for recognition of the accredited school:

a) Having at least an academic course in which students have graduated the secondary education program;

b) Achieving the external assessment results stating that the assessed school has conquered Level-1 or more in accordance with clause 1 of Article 6 herein.

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Thus, two conditions must be met to be recognized as achieving educational quality accreditation:

{1} The school must have at least one class of students who have completed the secondary program.

{2} The school must achieve an external evaluation result of at least Level 1.

Therefore, a secondary school with an external evaluation result of Level 1 does not yet meet the full conditions for recognition. It must additionally meet the condition of "having at least one class of students who have completed the secondary program" to be considered for recognition.

Can a secondary school which achieves the external assessment results stating that the assessed school has conquered Level-1 be recognized as an "accredited school"?​ (Image from the Internet)

How many levels of recognition of the accredited secondary school?

Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 34 of the Regulations issued with Circular 18/2018/TT-BGDDT as follows:

Recognition of the accredited school

...

Recognition level:

a) Level 1: The assessed school conquers Level 1 prescribed in clause 1 of Article 6 herein;

b) Level 2: The assessed school conquers Level 2 prescribed in clause 1 of Article 6 herein;

c) Level 3: The assessed school conquers Level 3 prescribed in clause 1 of Article 6 herein;

d) Level 4: The assessed school conquers Level 4 prescribed in clause 1 of Article 6 herein.

Thus, a secondary school attains educational quality accreditation across four levels.

What does it mean for a secondary school to achieve an external evaluation result from Level 1?

The external evaluation result from Level 1 is carried out according to Article 6 of the Regulations issued with Circular 18/2018/TT-BGDDT as follows:

Secondary school assessment levels

1. Secondary schools may be assessed according to the following levels:

a) Level 1: Conformance to regulations laid down in Section 1 of Chapter II in these Regulations;

b) Level 2: Conformance to regulations laid down in Section 2 of Chapter II in these Regulations;

c) Level 3: Conformance to regulations laid down in Section 3 of Chapter II in these Regulations;

d) Level 4: Conformance to regulations laid down in Section 4 of Chapter II in these Regulations.

2. A secondary school is recognized to meet a benchmark if they meet all indicators of that benchmark. The school is recognized to meet an indicator if all requirements included in that indicator are satisfied. 

Referring to Section 2, Chapter 2 of the Regulations issued with Circular 18/2018/TT-BGDDT (whose content was rendered invalid by Circular 29/2021/TT-BGDDT), a secondary school must meet the following standards to achieve an external evaluation result from Level 1:

Standard 1: School organization and management (Article 7 of the Regulations issued with Circular 18/2018/TT-BGDDT)

Standard 2: School managers, teachers, staff, and students (Article 8 of the Regulations issued with Circular 18/2018/TT-BGDDT) (whose content was rendered invalid by Circular 29/2021/TT-BGDDT)

Standard 3: Facilities and teaching equipment (Article 9 of the Regulations issued with Circular 18/2018/TT-BGDDT)

Standard 4: Relationship between the school, family, and society (Article 10 of the Regulations issued with Circular 18/2018/TT-BGDDT).

Standard 5: Educational activities and educational results (Article 11 of the Regulations issued with Circular 18/2018/TT-BGDDT).

How many years does a secondary school with an external evaluation result of Level 1 have before it must undergo educational quality accreditation?

Pursuant to Article 5 of the Regulations issued with Circular 18/2018/TT-BGDDT:

Cycle of education quality accreditation and recognition of conformity with national standards for secondary schools

1. The cycle length of education quality accreditation and recognition of conformity with national standards for secondary schools shall be 5 years.

2. A secondary school shall be recognized as successfully passing the education quality accreditation according to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 34 in these Regulations for at least 02 years from the day on which they are registered for the external assessment and recommended for the recognition that they successfully pass the education quality accreditation at a higher level.

3. A secondary school shall be recognized as achieving the Level-1 national standard for at least 02 years from the day on which they are granted recognition, registered for the external assessment and recommended for recognition as the Level-2 accredited school.

Thus, a secondary school with an external evaluation result of Level 1 must wait at least 02 years from the date of external evaluation registration to apply for higher level educational quality accreditation.