Vietnam: Who has the competence to issue the lower secondary diploma to students after completion of lower secondary education?

Who has the competence to issue the lower secondary diploma to students after completion of lower secondary education in Vietnam?

Article 34 of the Law on Education 2019 stipulates the certification for completion of primary education and issuance of lower secondary diploma and upper secondary diplomas as follows:

Certification for completion of primary education and issuance of lower secondary diploma and upper secondary diploma

1. Students who complete the primary education programme and meet the requirements set by the Minister of Education and Training will be certified in their official academic records by a primary school principal that they have completed primary education.

2. Students who complete the lower secondary education programme and meet the requirements set by the Minister of Education and Training will be issued with lower secondary diplomas by the head of an educational specialized agency under the management of a provincial People’s Committee.

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Additionally, Article 15 of the Regulation on management of lower secondary diplomas, upper secondary diplomas, Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training, Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training, higher education degrees, and certificates of the national educational system certificates of national educational system issued together with Circular 21/2019/TT-BGDDT specifies the competence to issue graduation diplomas for various types of diplomas as follows:

Competence in issuance of degrees and certificates

1. Competence in issuance of degrees and certificates:

a) Lower secondary diplomas shall be issued by heads of Bureaus of Education and Training;

b) Upper secondary diplomas shall be issued by heads of Departments of Education and Training;

c) Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training and Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training shall be issued by heads of pedagogical institutions or heads of higher education institutions providing pedagogical training;

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For students completing the lower secondary program and meeting the conditions stipulated by the Minister of Education and Training, the head of an educational specialized agency under the management of a provincial People’s Committee will issue the lower secondary diplomas.

Thus, the head of an educational specialized agency under the management of a provincial People’s Committee will be the person to issue lower secondary diplomas.

Who has the competence to issue the lower secondary diploma to students after completion of lower secondary education in Vietnam? (Image from Internet)

What are the obligations of students in Vietnam when being issued a lower secondary diploma?

Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 4 of the Regulation on management of lower secondary diplomas, upper secondary diplomas, Level 4 of VQF diplomas in teacher training, Level 5 of VQF advanced diplomas in teacher training, higher education degrees and certificates of the national educational system certificates of national educational system issued together with Circular 21/2019/TT-BGDDT, students who are issued lower secondary diplomas will have seven (7) obligations as follows:

- Provide information to be written on the degree or certificate to the issuing authority accurately and adequately;

- Review the information written on the degree or certificate before signing to acknowledge receipt of the degree or certificate;

- Provide a letter of authorization as regulated if the degree or certificate is received by another person;

- Protect the degree or certificate; neither erase or alter any content written on the degree or certificate nor allow another person to use it;

- Use the degree or certificate together with the decision on amendment to the degree or certificate after such amendment;

- Inform the issuing authority and nearest public security authority upon loss of the degree or certificate;

- Return the degree or certificate to the authority with competence in its revocation within 30 days starting from the date of receipt of the revocation decision.

In case the degree or certificate is lost, draw up a written confirmation of such loss and be held accountable to the law for the confirmed contents.

What is the formal lower secondary diploma in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 33 of the Law on Education 2019 regarding general education institutions:

General education institutions include:

- Primary schools;

- Lower secondary schools;

- Upper secondary schools;

- Multi-level schools;

Simultaneously, pursuant to Clause 1, Article 5 of the Law on Education 2019 regarding formal education as follows:

Definitions

In this Law, the undermentioned terms shall be defined as follows:

1. “Formal education” means cohort-based education in educational institutions to implement a certain educational programme. It is established following the goals of each educational level and qualification, and the learners are issued degrees/diplomas of the national educational system.

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Formal education means cohort-based education in educational institutions to implement a certain educational programme. It is established following the goals of each educational level and qualification, and the learners are issued degrees/diplomas of the national educational system.

Thus, according to the regulations, after completing the lower secondary education program, students will be awarded a diploma of that educational level. The diploma issued by the competent authority and issued for the first time is called a Formal lower secondary diploma.