What are the conditions for issuing a national defense education certificate in Vietnam?

What are the conditions for issuing a National Defense and Security Certificate in Vietnam?

According to Clause 1, Article 12 of the National Defense and Security Education Law 2013, national defense and security education in vocational colleges, and higher education institutions is a compulsory subject.

To be granted a national defense and security education certificate (referred to as the National Defense and Security Certificate), students must have an average score of 5 or higher (on a 10-point scale) in the subject (Article 10 of Joint Circular 18/2015/TTLT-BGDDT-BLDTBXH).

Furthermore, according to Clause 2, Article 10 of Joint Circular 18/2015/TTLT-BGDDT-BLDTBXH which stipulates the authority to grant National Defense and Security Certificates, the following entities have such authority:

- Directors and principals of education institutions that organize the teaching and learning of national defense education have the authority to grant National Defense and Security Certificates;

- Directors of national defense education centers grant certificates in accordance with regulations on the linkage of national defense education.

The printing, management, and issuance of National Defense and Security Certificates are conducted according to the current regulations issued by the competent state management agencies on vocational and higher education.

What are the conditions for issuing a National Defense and Security Certificate in Vietnam? (Image from the Internet)

What are purposes of the National Defense and Security Certificate in Vietnam?

According to Point a, Clause 1, Article 14 of the University Education Training Regulations issued with Circular 08/2021/TT-BGDDT and Article 34 of Circular 04/2022/TT-BLDTBXH, students must accumulate sufficient credits and complete other mandatory content required by the training program, meeting the graduation requirements of their institutions.

Thus, the national defense and security education certificate is essential to meet the graduation conditions at both college and university levels.

Therefore, to ensure graduation, students must have a national defense and security education certificate. If not, students must retake the subject until they are granted the certificate to be considered for graduation.

What is the validity period of the National Defense and Security Certificate in Vietnam?

According to Clause 1, Article 5 of Decree 13/2014/ND-CP as amended by Points a and b, Clause 5, Article 1 of Decree 139/2020/ND-CP as follows:

Certificate form and management of certificates for completing the national defense and security knowledge enhancement program

1. The Minister of Defense prescribes the form of the certificate for completing the national defense and security knowledge enhancement program for subjects across the country.

2. Management of certificates

a) The Director of the National Defense Academy decides the printing, issuance, reissuance, revocation, and annulment of certificates for subjects 1;

b) The Director of the Political Academy or the principal of the military zone military school decides the printing, issuance, reissuance, revocation, and annulment of certificates for subjects 2;

c) The Commander of the Hanoi Capital Command ensures the certification for subjects 2, 3, 4; managers of enterprises outside the state sector; public service providers outside the public sector; outstanding individuals and reputable persons in the residential community of Hanoi; the principal of the military school of the Hanoi Capital Command decides the issuance, reissuance, revocation, and annulment of certificates for subjects 2 belonging to Hanoi;

d) The Commander of the Ho Chi Minh City Command, the Chief of the Provincial Military Command ensures the certification for subjects 3, 4; managers of enterprises outside the state sector; public service providers outside the public sector; outstanding individuals and reputable persons in the residential community within the locality;

dd) The Chief of the Provincial Military Command; the Principal of the military school of the Hanoi Capital Command, the military school of the Ho Chi Minh City Command decides the issuance, reissuance, revocation, and annulment of certificates for subjects specified in Clause 3, Article 3 of this Decree.

The Commander of the Hanoi Capital Command, the Commander of the Ho Chi Minh City Command, and the Chief of the Provincial Military Command decide the issuance, reissuance, revocation, and annulment of certificates for religious dignitaries; cultural, social, scientific, artistic activists within the locality.

The Chief of the District Military Command decides the issuance, reissuance, revocation, and annulment of certificates for subjects 4 from district agencies and organizations and similar subjects 4; members of the district-level People's Council; clan chiefs within the locality.

The Chairman of the Commune People's Committee decides the issuance, reissuance, revocation, and annulment of certificates for subjects 4 from the commune.

e) The head of state agencies, political organizations, political-social organizations at the central and provincial levels decides the issuance, reissuance, revocation, and annulment of certificates for subjects 4 under their management.

3. Conditions for issuance, reissuance, revocation, and annulment of certificates for completing the national defense and security knowledge enhancement program are implemented according to the current regulations on diplomas and certificates.

Thus, according to the provided information, there are currently no regulations specifying the validity period of the national defense and security certificate for university students.

Moreover, the certificate form does not state a validity period for the national defense and security education certificate.

Who are exempted or deferred from National Defense and Security Education in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 4 of Joint Circular 18/2015/TTLT-BGDDT-BLDTBXH, the following students are exempted or deferred from the national defense and security education course:

- Exempted from the national defense education course:

+ Students with a certificate of reserve officers or a graduation diploma from military or police schools;

+ Students who already have a corresponding national defense and security education certificate for their level of training;

+ Students who are foreigners.

- Exempted from specific modules or content within the national defense and security education program include:

+ Students who have results confirming that they have scored 5 or higher on a 10-point scale for those modules or content.

- Exempted from practical military skills content:

+ Students who are disabled, with certification according to the regulations on people with disabilities;

+ Students who are not physically fit or have medical conditions that exempt them from military service according to current regulations;

+ Students who have completed military or police service.

- Deferred from the national defense education course:

+ Students who have to pause their studies for health reasons and need long-term treatment, with certification from the hospital where they are being treated;

+ Female students who are pregnant or during maternity leave as per current regulations.

- Principals and directors of educational institutions will consider deferring the national defense education course for the above-mentioned subjects. After the deferral period, educational institutions will arrange for the students to join appropriate classes to complete the program.