Vietnam: In the Preschool Education Program, how many times at minimum will the health check-up for children be conducted per year?

What are the principles for the development of the preschool education program in Vietnam?

Under Section 1 of Circular 17/2009/TT-BGDDT (amended by Article 1 of Circular 51/2020/TT-BGDDT), the preschool education program is developed on the following principles:

[1] The preschool education program serves as an open framework displaying the objectives of preschool education, and stipulates the requirements for content, teaching methods, and assessment of children's development. It also forms a basis for the management, guidance, and organization of nurturing, caring for, and educating children in all preschool educational institutions across the nation. Furthermore, the preschool education program is a commitment by the state to ensure the quality of the entire system and each preschool educational institution.

The preschool education program is developed upon the viewpoints of the Communist Party and the State on fundamental and comprehensive innovation in education and training, inheriting the advantages of previous childcare and education programs. It is developed with the perspective of ensuring the accommodation of diverse regional and child-specific characteristics, aiming for comprehensive development and creating opportunities for children to develop.

[2] The preschool education program ensures a close connection between different child age groups (infants and kindergarteners) and alignment with the general education program. The program embodies an integrated, holistic educational approach focused on the child, based on the principle of “learning through play, play by learning”.

[3] The program specifies educational content applicable to all preschool children while granting localities, preschool educational institutions, and teachers the autonomy to select and supplement certain educational content and implement educational plans appropriate for preschool children and local conditions.

In the Preschool Education Program, how many times at minimum will the health check-up for children in Vietnam be conducted per year? (Image from the Internet)

In the Preschool Education Program, how many times at minimum will the health check-up for children in Vietnam be conducted per year?

Under Article 15 of the Regulations on the organization and operation of independent daycare groups, independent kindergarten classes, independent nursery classes in people-founded and private forms, issued with Circular 49/2021/TT-BGDDT, the preschool education program is implemented as follows:

- Based on the preschool education program issued by the Minister of Education and Training, the independent preschool education institution shall plan and implement the children’s care and education in conformity with the culture and conditions of the locality, their facility, and the needs of children; fully perform the activities of taking care and education; flexibly organize pleasure and social activities, networking and experiences for children on a daily basis.

- Hold health checkups for children: at least once in an academic year.

- Assess the nutritional status of children based on growth charts as prescribed: at least once a month for children under 24 months old, once every 03 months for children at least 24 months old.

- Assess the children development as prescribed.

- Regarding children with disabilities who receive mainstream education, they shall be taken care of and educated in conformity with their capacity and in accordance with regulations on mainstream education for children with disabilities.

Thus, based on the above regulation in the preschool education program, it is required to conduct health check-ups at least once a year for children under 24 months old, and once every three months for children 24 months old and older.

What are the professional management regulations regarding the taking care and education of children in conformity with the preschool education program at preschools in Vietnam?

Under Clause 3, Article 12 of the Regulations on the organization and operation of independent daycare groups, independent kindergarten classes, independent nursery classes in people-founded and private forms, issued with Circular 49/2021/TT-BGDDT, professional management regulations are as follows:

Manage the taking care and education of children in conformity with the preschool education program, including:

- Make and initiate the plan for children’s care and education of the independent preschool education institution in conformity with the preschool education program;

- Inspect and supervise how teachers and staff in the independent preschool education institution take care of and educate children;

- Suggest assignment of teachers and staff in performing specialized tasks;

- Make plans for specialized activities; provide training in specialized and professional guidelines for teachers and staff;

- Participate in evaluation, grading, suggest commendation for and disciplinary actions against teachers and staff as prescribed;

- Be liable for every professional activities, records in service of the children’s care and education and implementation of the preschool education program;

- Self-learn and improve the managerial capability;

- Perform tasks and exercise entitlement as agreed in the employment contract with the owner of the independent preschool education institution.

What are the records of children’s care and education in a preschool education institution in Vietnam?

Based on Article 16 of the Regulations on the organization and operation of independent daycare groups, independent kindergarten classes, independent nursery classes in people-founded and private forms, issued with Circular 49/2021/TT-BGDDT, records of children’s care and education in a preschool education institution include:

- Application for enrollment filed by parents or guardians; birth certificates;

- Register of children;

- Logbook of plan for taking care and education;

- Logbook of serving sizes for children;

- Register of teachers and staff;

- Record of assets and finance;

- Record of professional activities.

Note: E-documents shall be used in substitution of paper documents by roadmap in line with conditions of the locality and the independent nursery education institution and these types of e-documents must be legitimate. The management of e-documents shall be governed by the Department of Education and Training in accordance with regulations on standards for connection and data of the Ministry of Education and Training.

>>> Download **** see detailed appendices issued with Circular 17/2009/TT-BGDDT