Vietnam: What minimum requirements must students meet to be recognized as graduates of lower secondary school?

What minimum requirements must students meet to be recognized as graduates of lower secondary school?

Pursuant to Article 4 of the Regulation on graduation recognition in lower secondary education issued together with Circular 31/2023/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, lower secondary school students shall be recognized for graduation if they:

(1) Are not older than 21 years old (in calendar year) if they finish Formal education program for lower secondary education; or are at least 15 years old (in calendar year) if they finish Continuous education program for lower secondary education.

In case of students returning from overseas, participating in accelerated study, attending class at an older age, regulations on age and grades of the Ministry of Education and Training.

(2) Have completed Formal education program for lower secondary education or Continuous education program for lower secondary education.

(3) Have adequate documents according to Article 6 of the Regulation on graduation recognition in lower secondary education issued together with Circular 31/2023/TT-BGDDT.

Thus, it can be seen that for lower secondary school graduation recognition, students need to meet the minimum conditions in (1), (2), and (3).

What minimum requirements must students meet to be recognized as graduates of lower secondary school? (Image from the Internet)

How many times is lower secondary school graduation recognition conducted in a year?

Pursuant to Article 3 of the Regulation on graduation recognition in lower secondary education issued together with Circular 31/2023/TT-BGDDT, the number of occasions of graduation recognition in a year is specified as follows:

Number of occasions of graduation recognition in a year

1. In respect of education institutions providing Formal education program for lower secondary education, graduation recognition shall be implemented at most twice per year in which students finish ninth grade. The first occasion takes place immediately as a school year ends. The second occasion (if any) takes place before the opening ceremony of a new school year.

2. In respect of education institutions providing Continuous education program for lower secondary education, graduation recognition shall be implemented at least once per year in which students finish ninth grade at the end of the school year.

Thus, based on the above regulation, graduation recognition for lower secondary school is conducted up to 2 times a year for educational institutions implementing the general secondary education program, during the year when students complete Grade 9.

* Note: The first graduation recognition is conducted immediately after the end of the school year. The second recognition (if any) is conducted before the new school year starts.

For educational institutions implementing the continuing secondary education program, during the year when students complete Grade 9, graduation recognition is conducted at least 01 (one) time immediately after the end of the school year.

How is the academic performance of students evaluated for lower secondary school graduation?

According to clause 2, Article 9 of Circular 22/2021/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, the evaluation of students' academic performance is stipulated as follows:

Evaluation of academic performance

...

2. Academic performance for each semester, the entire school year

For subjects evaluated by both comments and scores, the semester grade point average (SGPA) is used to evaluate the academic performance of students for each semester, and the yearly grade point average (YGPA) is used to evaluate the academic performance for the entire school year. The academic performance of students for each semester and the entire school year is evaluated according to 01 (one) of 04 (four) levels: Excellent, Good, Pass, and Fail.

a) Excellent level:

- All subjects evaluated by comments are rated as Pass.

- All subjects evaluated by both comments and scores have SGPA and YGPA of 6.5 or higher, with at least 06 subjects having SGPA and YGPA of 8.0 or higher.

b) Good level:

- All subjects evaluated by comments are rated as Pass.

- All subjects evaluated by both comments and scores have SGPA and YGPA of 5.0 or higher, with at least 06 subjects having SGPA and YGPA of 6.5 or higher.

c) Pass level:

- At most 01 (one) subject evaluated by comments is rated as Fail.

- At least 06 (six) subjects evaluated by both comments and scores have SGPA and YGPA of 5.0 or higher; no subject has SGPA and YGPA below 3.5.

d) Fail level: All other cases.

3. Adjustment of academic performance levels

If the academic performance level of a semester or the entire school year drops by 02 (two) levels or more compared to the level stipulated in point a, point b, clause 2 of this Article due only to the evaluation result of one subject, the academic performance level for that semester or school year will be adjusted up by one level.

Thus, the evaluation of students' academic performance for lower secondary school graduation will be conducted according to 01 (one) of 04 (four) levels: Excellent, Good, Pass, Fail.

Note: If the academic performance level for a semester or the entire school year drops by 02 (two) levels or more compared to the level stipulated in point a, point b, clause 2 of this Article due only to the evaluation result of one subject, the academic performance level for that semester or school year will be adjusted up by one level.