Vietnam: Does a secondary school have legal status?

Does a secondary school have legal status?

According to the provisions in Article 2 of the lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school charter issued together with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam:

Position of secondary schools in national educational system

Secondary schools are institutions providing general education in the national educational system. Each secondary school has legal status and a separate account and stamp.

Thus, according to the above regulations, a secondary school has legal status, its own account, and its own seal.

Does a secondary school have legal status? (Image from the Internet)

Is the name of the secondary school inscribed on its seal?

According to Clause 2, Article 5 of the lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school charter issued together with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT:

School name and school name sign board

1. Regulations on naming a school:

a) School name format: Trường trung học cơ sở (“lower secondary school”) (or trung học phổ thông (“upper secondary school”); tiểu học và trung học cơ sở (“primary and lower secondary school”); trung học cơ sở và trung học phổ thông (“lower secondary and upper secondary school"); tiểu học, trung học cơ sở và trung học phổ thông (“primary, lower secondary and upper secondary school”); or trung học phổ thông chuyên (“specialized upper secondary school”)) + proper name of the school.

b) The school’s proper name must be clear and transparent, not cause any confusion regarding the organization and operation of the school; and be appropriate to Vietnamese national history, culture, ethics, fine traditions and customs.

2. The school name shall be included in the school’s establishment decision, stamp, school name signboard and transaction documents.

3. Contents of a school name signboard consist of:

a) In top left corner of the board:

- For secondary schools the highest education level of which is lower secondary level:

First row: name of district-level People’s Committee;

Second row: Phòng Giáo dục và Đào tạo (“Bureau of Education and Training”).

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Thus, the school’s name is inscribed on the school's establishment decision, the school’s seal, the school nameplate, and transaction documents.

Therefore, according to the above regulations, the name of the secondary school must be inscribed on its seal.

What are the 12 duties and rights of a secondary school?

According to the provisions in Article 3 of the lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school charter issued together with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT, 12 duties and rights of a secondary school are prescribed as follows:

1. Formulate the school’s development plans and strategies as appropriate to the socio-economic situation of the location where the school is located; determine the school’s vision, mission, and core values in relation to education, culture, history and traditions.

2. Develop and launch the school’s education plans in accordance with the general education curricula promulgated by the Minister of Education and Training. Cooperate with students’ families, organizations and individuals in organization of educational activities.

3. Admit and receive students, and manage students according to regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

4. Launch plans for universalization of education as assigned.

5. Enable teachers, staff and students to participate in social activities.

6. Manage teachers and staff as prescribed by law.

7. Mobilize, manage and use resources for education in compliance with the law.

8. Manage, use and preserve facilities and equipment as per the law.

9. Carry out activities of educational quality assurance, assessment and accreditation according to regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

10. Publicly announce the school’s commitment to educational quality, educational quality assurance conditions, and revenues and expenditures in compliance with the law.

11. Practice democracy and accountability in management of educational activities; ensure the participation of students, students’ families and the society in management of educational activities as prescribed by law.

12. Perform other duties and exercise other powers as prescribed by law.

What are the two types of secondary schools currently?

Based on Clause 1, Article 4 of the lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school charter issued together with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT:

Secondary school types and systems

1. There are two types of secondary schools: public schools and private schools.

a) A public secondary school is established and directly managed by the competent authority. The school’s facilities and recurrent expenditures are mostly covered by state budget.

b) A private secondary school has its establishment invested in and operating conditions guaranteed by a foreign or Vietnamese investor and is established under the law.  The school’s facilities and operating expenses are not covered by state budget.

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Thus, there are currently two types of secondary schools: public and private.