Vietnam: What is the Continuing Education Center?

What is a Continuing Education Center in Vietnam?

Under the regulation in Clause 2, Article 5 of the Law on Education 2019, “Continuing education” means education that follows a certain education programand has flexible organisation regarding programme implementation formats, time, methods, locations, satisfying the learners’ need for lifelong learning.

Additionally, Article 2 of the Regulation on Organization and Operation of Continuing Education Centers issued together with Circular 10/2021/TT-BGDDT stipulates that a Continuing Education Center is a continuing education institution within the national education system. The Center has legal status, its own seal and account. The Department of Education and Training directly manages and directs the Center.

What is a Continuing Education Center in Vietnam? (Image from Internet)

Who are the learners at the Continuing Education Center in Vietnam?

According to Article 12 of the Regulation on the Organization and Operation of Vocational Education - Continuing Education Centers issued together with Circular 01/2023/TT-BGDDT, the enrollment guidelines for Vocational Education - Continuing Education Centers are as follows:

Enrollment

1. Annually, the Center prepares an enrollment plan based on the learning needs of the community, the local socio-economic development plan, the operational scale, and the capacity of the Center. The Center publicizes information about courses, including programs, teaching materials, learning objectives, conditions, teachers, assessment methods, results verification, start time, tuition fees, and other necessary information, before the course begins.

The Center Director is responsible for the accuracy and truthfulness of the enrollment information, ensuring the students' rights.

2. Learners of lower/upper secondary programs

a) Individuals who study the continuing education program to have a lower secondary school diploma include individuals who have completed the primary education program or the illiteracy eradication program. Individuals who study the continuing education program to have an upper secondary school diploma are those who have graduated from lower secondary school.

b) Individuals who have been certified as having completed the general education program and wish to study at the Center (without re-assessment) to reinforce knowledge to participate in the upper secondary school diploma exam will be admitted based on the Center's capacity and class arrangement decisions by the Center Director.

c) For enrollment for grades other than the first grade of educational level, if the student's academic records meet the required level, the Center arranges for them to continue to the next grade.

3. Learners of other programs. The Center enrolls students according to their needs and the Center's capacity to meet teaching and learning conditions.

Thus, the learners at the Continuing Education Center in Vietnam include:

- Individuals who study the continuing education program to receive a lower secondary school diploma:

+ Individuals who have completed the primary education program;

+ Individuals who have completed the illiteracy eradication program.

- Individuals who study the continuing education program to receive an upper secondary school diploma:

+ Individuals who have graduated from lower secondary school.

- Individuals who have certification of completion of the general education program.

- For enrollment for grades other than the first grade of educational level, if the student's academic records meet the required level, the Center arranges for them to continue to the next grade.

What are the duties and powers of the Continuing Education Center in Vietnam?

According to Article 4 of the Regulation on the Organization and Operation of Vocational Education - Continuing Education Centers issued together with Circular 01/2023/TT-BGDDT, the duties and powers of a Continuing Education Center include:

Task [1] To organize and implement education and training programs:

- The illiteracy eradication program.

- General education programs leading to national education system diplomas, including continuing education programs at the lower secondary school and high school levels for special social policy beneficiaries, people with disabilities, those in compulsory schooling ages according to the local annual plan, and workers needing to complete general education programs.

- Education programs meeting learners' needs that update knowledge and skills in various fields such as law, culture, society, sports, arts, environment, health, economics, and finance; skills education programs; technology transfer programs in labor and production to enhance labor productivity

- Training and retraining programs to improve professional qualifications and vocational skills, including foreign language, informatics, and cultural knowledge;

Special ethnic minority language for officials working in ethnic and mountainous areas: regular teacher retraining; retraining for preschool, primary, and lower secondary school teachers on organizing experiential and career orientation activities;

Teacher retraining programs meet the requirements of improving professional qualifications and skills: retraining programs to improve professional qualifications, and skills for officials and public employees according to local planning and lifelong learning needs of the people.

(2) To link domestic and foreign education and training activities according to the provisions of the Law on Education and relevant laws; organize for learners to study, practice, and experience through cooperation and linking of education and training programs.

(3) To exercise autonomy according to legal regulations and specific stipulations as follows:

- Decide on the Center's objectives, mission, strategy, and development plans;

- Formulate organizational structures, and develop teaching staff, and management personnel based on the Center's strategy and development plan; stipulate the functions and tasks of the Center’s units;

- Manage finances and investments to develop training quality assurance conditions as per legal regulations; determine tuition fees for educational programs meeting learners' needs according to financial autonomy regulations for the Center;

- Enroll and manage students; develop educational programs; compile or select learning materials suitable for each program's educational objectives; manage student certification per legal regulations;

- Implement scientific and technological research activities, and international cooperation according to the Center's development strategy and plans; assure the Center's educational quality; choose quality accreditation organizations to register for accreditation.

(4) To mobilize, manage, and utilize resources per legal regulations.

(5) To build, invest in, manage, and efficiently utilize educational infrastructure and equipment as required by educational and training programs.

(6) To recruit, utilize, and manage teachers, management staff, and public employees; offer continuous professional updates and improvements for teachers; organize social participation for teachers, public employees, and students.

(7) To implement democratic regulations within the Center.

(8) To adhere to information, reporting, and accountability procedures to authorities, students, and society.

(9) Other tasks and powers as prescribed by law.