Vietnam: Who will establish boarding ethnic secondary schools?

Who will establish boarding ethnic secondary schools in Vietnam?

Under Article 6 of the Regulations on the Organization and Operation of Boarding General Education Schools for ethnic minority students issued together with Circular 04/2023/TT-BGDDT:

Delegation of authority

1. The lower-secondary boarding ethnic school is established under the decision of the President of the province-level People's Committee and managed by the district-level People's Committee.

2. The boarding ethnic school with the highest educational level being upper secondary school is established under the decision of the President of the province-level People's Committee and managed by the Department of Education and Training. The Department of Education and Training shall coordinate with the district-level People's Committees in formulating details about coordination in management and organization of educational activities related to lower-secondary and upper-secondary boarding ethnic schools.

3. Friendship 80 School, Friendship T78 School and Viet Bac Highland School shall be managed by ministries and central agencies; and under the management coordination of the Department of Education and Training where the school is located in the implementation of the program, organization of graduation exams and granting diplomas.

Thus, boarding ethnic secondary schools in Vietnam are established by the President of the Provincial People's Committee.

Who will establish boarding ethnic secondary schools in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What is the organizational structure of boarding ethnic secondary schools in Vietnam?

Under Article 7 of the Regulations on the Organization and Operation of boarding ethnic secondary schools issued together with Circular 04/2023/TT-BGDDT, boarding ethnic secondary schools in Vietnam have the following organizational structure:

- The organizational structure of boarding ethnic secondary schools in Vietnam follows the provisions of Article 9 of the Charter for Lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school issued together with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT as follows:

+ School council; principal and deputy principal(s); emulation and reward council; discipline councils; advisory councils;

+ Affiliate of the Communist Party of Vietnam; affiliate of trade union; affiliate of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union; affiliate of Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization;

+ Specialized teams; office team; and units in charge of educational activities characteristic of the school.

In addition, the boarding ethnic school is allowed to set up no more than 03 groups to assist the principal in carrying out the tasks of special education, care, nurturing and management of boarding ethnic students. 

The establishment of these groups is decided by the school principal on the basis of consensus of the governing body. Each group has a team leader, if there are 07 members or more, there is a deputy leader.

The team leaders and deputy leaders of these groups are appointed by the principal, under the management and direction of the principal.

- The groups in charge of special education, caring for, nurturing and managing boarding ethnic students have the following tasks:

+ Actively develop plans for special education, caring for, nurturing and managing boarding ethnic students by week, month, semester and school year; coordinate with other specialized groups in formulating and implementing education plans of the school;

+ Performing tasks as planned;

+ Participate in professional training as prescribed;

+ Perform other tasks assigned by the principal;

+ Organize activities at least once in 2 weeks and may hold unscheduled meetings according to work requirements or at the request of the principal. These groups operate on the principle of democracy, the members help each other to perform well the task of educating, caring for, nurturing and managing boarding ethnic students.

- Each class of the boarding ethnic school has no more than 35 students.

What are the duties of the principal and vice principal of boarding ethnic secondary schools?

Under Article 8 of the Regulations on the Organization and Operation of boarding ethnic secondary schools issued together with Circular 04/2023/TT-BGDDT, the duties and powers of the principal and vice principal are as follows:

- Master the guidelines and policies of the Communist Party of Vietnam  and the State regarding ethnic affairs.

- Organize the implementation of the duties of boarding ethnic secondary schools in Vietnam stipulated in Article 3 of the Regulations on the Organization and Operation of boarding ethnic secondary schools issued together with Circular 04/2023/TT-BGDDT.

- Understand the culture, language, customs, habits, and psychological characteristics of local ethnic minority students.

- Develop plans and organize specialized educational activities suitable for ethnic minority boarding students as prescribed in Articles 13, 14, and 15 of the Regulations on the Organization and Operation of boarding ethnic secondary schools issued together with Circular 04/2023/TT-BGDDT.

- Cooperate with local authorities, agencies, organizations, and social entities in the care, nurturing, and management of ethnic minority boarding students.

- Receive training on methods of education, care, and management of ethnic minority boarding students.

*In addition to the above-mentioned duties and rights, the principal and vice principal of boarding ethnic secondary schools in Vietnam also have duties and rights according to Article 11 of the Charter for Lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school issued together with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT as follows:

* Principal:

- Build and organize the school’s apparatus according to regulations in Article 9 of this charter; appoint department/unit heads and deputy heads; and establish the school council as per regulations in Points dd and e Clause 1 Article 10 of the Charter for Lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school. issued together with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT;

- Formulate the school’s development planning, objectives, vision and strategies; the school’s organizational and operational regulations; and the school’s annual education plans, which shall be proposed to the school council for approval and implementation;

- Adopt the school council’s decisions or conclusions concerning the matters mentioned in Point c Clause 1 Article 10 of the Charter for Lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school. issued together with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT.

In case the principal does not agree with a decision from the school council, obtain the opinion of the supervisory education authority. While waiting for said opinion, the principal must abide by the parts of the school council’s decision that are not against existing regulations of law and the Charter for Lower secondary school, upper secondary school and multi-level school. issued together with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT;

- Submit reports on and assessment of implementation of the school’s education plan and decisions issued by the school council to the school council and competent authorities;

- Recruit and manage teachers and staff; sign labor contracts with teachers and staff, and receive and relocate teachers and staff; manage academic matters; assign tasks to teachers and staff, inspect and evaluate teachers and staff; and reward and discipline teachers and staff as prescribed by law;

- Manage students and student activities organized by the school; approve student assessment results, sign school report books, sign written confirmation of completion of primary education program for primary school students (if any) of multi-level schools, grant certificate of completion of general education program to upper secondary students (if any) and decide rewards and discipline for students;

- Manage the school’s finance and property;

- Provide state benefits for teachers, staff and students; comply with regulations on democracy and accountability of heads of educational institutions in organization of their institutions’ activities; facilitate privatization of education in the school;

- Direct emulation movements and campaigns; provide transparency to the school and the society as per the law;

- Join meetings of specialized teams; self-learn to improve professional capacity and managerial capability; be entitled to benefits offered to teachers and incentive policies as prescribed by law; and may teach in compliance with regulations on teaching hour norms for principals;

- Hold the right to receive training to improve professional capacity and qualifications and be entitled to benefits prescribed by law.

* Vice Principal:

- Perform tasks assigned or authorized by the principal;

- Join meetings of specialized teams; self-learn to improve professional capacity and managerial capability; be entitled to benefits offered to teachers and incentive policies as prescribed by law; and may teach in compliance with regulations on teaching hour norms for deputy principals;

- Hold the right to receive training to improve professional capacity and qualifications and be entitled to benefits prescribed by law.