Vietnam: What is the type of a public lower secondary school?

What is a public secondary school?

According to Article 4 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, secondary school types and systems are prescribed as follows:

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.

2. Single-level secondary schools include:

a) Lower secondary schools.

b) Upper secondary schools.

3. Multi-level schools include:

a) Combined primary and lower secondary schools.

b) Combined lower secondary and upper secondary schools.

c) Combined primary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools.

4. Special schools and other educational institutions include:

a) Boarding general education schools and semi-boarding general education schools for ethnic minorities.

b) Specialized upper secondary schools and schools for gifted students.

c) Schools and classes for persons with disabilities.

d) Correctional institutions.

dd) Other educational institutions.

Additionally, Article 33 of the Education Law 2019 of Vienam stipulates institutions of general education as follows:

Institutions of general education

Institutions of general education include:

1. Primary schools;

2. Lower secondary schools;

3. Upper secondary schools;

4. Multi-level schools.

Thus, based on the above regulations, a public lower secondary school is one of the two types of secondary school organizations.

Additionally, a public lower secondary school is established and directly managed by competent state agencies, with the state budget ensuring its funding. Furthermore, a public lower secondary school is also a type of educational institution.

What is the type of a public lower secondary school? (Image from the Internet)

What are the 12 core duties and powers of secondary schools?

According to Article 3 of the lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school charter issued together with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT, duties and powers of secondary schools include:

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 duties and rights of principal of a lower secondary school?

According to Article 11 of the lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school charter issued together with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT, duties and rights of principal of a lower secondary school are as follows:

- The principal of a secondary school shall organize, manage and direct the school's operations and take responsibility for the school’s educational quality.

- In order to be appointed as the principal of a public secondary school or recognized as the principal of a private secondary school, one must meet the standards provided for in Clause 3 of this Article and other standards as per the law.

- The tenure of a secondary school’s principal shall be 05 years. After each academic year, the principal shall receive feedback from the school's public employees and staff and be assessed by the competent authority as prescribed by law. A person shall not hold their post as the principal of a public secondary school for more than two consecutive tenures.