Notable new policies of Vietnam effective as of the middle of February 2024

1. Vietnam to conduct 2 lower secondary graduation assessments in a year from 2024-2025 academic year

On December 29, 2023, the Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam promulgated Circular No. 31/2023/TT-BGDDT on the Regulation on lower secondary graduation assessment.   

According to the Circular, the number of graduation assessments of the general education program at the lower-secondary level in a year is stipulated as follows:

- Regarding educational institutions implementing the lower-secondary-level general education program, graduation assessment shall be organized up to 2 times per year for students finishing 9th grade.

The first graduation assessment shall be immediately implemented after the end of the academic year. The second graduation assessment (if any) shall be implemented before the start of the new academic year. 

- Regarding educational institutions implementing the lower-secondary-level continuing education program, graduation assessment shall be organized at least 1 time immediately after the end of the academic year for students finishing 9th grade. 

See more details in Circular No. 31/2023/TT-BGDDT, effective as of February 15, 2024. 

2. Financial sources for local salary reform in 2024 in Vietnam

On December 29, 2023, the Minister of Finance of Vietnam promulgated Circular No. 76/2023/TT-BTC on the implementation of state budget estimates in 2024. 

Specifically, the synchronous salary policy reform shall be implemented as of July 1, 2024 according to Resolution No. 27-NQ/TW 2018. 

Financial sources for salary reform in 2024 of provinces include: 

- 70% of the increase in local government budget revenue in 2023 compared to the estimate assigned by the Prime Minister of Vietnam, excluding revenues from: 

+ Collection of land use fees, lottery;  

+ Equitization and divestment of state-owned enterprises managed by local authorities; lump-sum land rent advanced by investors for compensation, site clearance, and revenue from handling public property at agencies, organizations, and units used by competent agencies for expenditures on investment as per regulation;

+ Collection of fees for rice cultivation land protection and development; 

+ Collection of fees for entrance to sites of world relics and heritage 

+ Collection of fees for the use of infrastructure works, service works, and public utilities at border checkpoints;

+ Collection of fees for environmental protection regarding mineral extraction; 

+ Collection of fees for environmental protection regarding wastewater and collection of public land funds, yield and public property at communes, rent, lease purchase, and sale of state-owned houses, etc.

See more details in Circular No. 76/2023/TT-BTC, which comes into force as of February 12, 2024 and applies to the budget year 2024.  

3. 4 cases not subject to disciplinary action in Army as of February 15, 2024 in Vietnam 

On December 27, 2023, the Minister of National Defense of Vietnam promulgated Circular No. 143/2023/TT-BQP on disciplinary actions in the People's Army of Vietnam.

According to the Circular, 4 cases not subject to disciplinary actions in the People’s Army of Vietnam include: 

 (1) Persons on leave as per regulation (excluding cases of leave in preparation for retirement);

 (2) Persons subject to treatment confirmed by at least military medical facilities at the regimental level or hospitals or medical centers of districts; 

 (3) Women who are pregnant, on maternity leave, or raising children below 12 months old; men (in case their wives die or due to objective reasons or force majeure) raising children below 12 months old, excluding cases of violating persons subject to documents requesting disciplinary actions; 

 (4) Persons waiting for the final handling results of authorities competent to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate acts of violating laws.

See more details in Circular No. 143/2023/TT-BQP, which comes into force as of February 15, 2024 and replaces Circular No. 16/2020/TT-BQP.

Attention: If documents cited in Circular No. 143/2023/TT-BQP are replaced, comply with their new editions. 

4. Vietnam to apply information technology to online training for higher education 

On December 29, 2023, the Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam promulgated Circular No. 30/2023/TT-BGDDT on the application of information technology to online training for higher education. 

According to the Circular, general principles and requirements regarding the application of information technology to online training are as follows: 

- Emphasize initiative, responsibility, and accountability of training facilities in online training.

- Online training must satisfy quality requirements of training programs; procedures, contents, and quality of online training must be continuously improved; the most advanced and appropriate technology must be utilized for online training.

- Ensure equality in accessibility and participation in online training activities and center around benefits of learners.

- Training facilities may invest in or hire information technology services in respect of technical infrastructures in order to facilitate online training; comply with regulations on information safety, personal information safety, cyber security, and intellectual property as per the law.

- Satisfy minimum requirements under this Circular.

See more details in Circular No. 30/2023/TT-BGDDT, effective as of February 13, 2024.   

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