Official back-to-school schedule and the opening of the 2023-2024 school year for students at all levels in Vietnam

Official back-to-school schedule and the opening of the 2023-2024 school year for students at all levels in Vietnam (Internet image) 

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

The Ministry of Education and Training issued Decision 2171/QD-BGDDT dated July 28, 2023, on the timeframe for the 2023–2024 school year for preschool, general education, and continuing education.

Official back-to-school schedule and the opening of the 2023-2024 school year for students at all levels in Vietnam

The Ministry of Education and Training has announced the timeframe for the 2023–2024 school year for preschool, general education, and continuing education nationwide as follows:

- The earliest back-to-school schedule is 1 week before the opening schedule.

Particularly for grade 1, the earliest return to school schedule is 2 weeks before the opening schedule.

- Organizing the opening ceremony on September 5, 2023.

- Ending the first semester before January 15, 2024; completing the second semester education plan by May 25, 2024, and end the school year before May 31, 2024.

- Considering the recognition of completing the primary program and considering the recognition of secondary school graduation before June 30, 2024.

- Completing enrollment for the first classes by July 31, 2024.

- High school graduation exams and national exams are conducted according to the regulations and guidelines of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Thus, the back-to-school schedule for the 2023–2024 school year for all levels across the country will be one week earlier than the opening schedule; especially for grade 1, it will be at the earliest two weeks before.

As for the opening schedule, it will be held on September 5, 2023.

05 principles for developing local plans for the 2023-2024 school year in Vietnam

The development of time plans for the 2023–2024 school year by localities must ensure the following principles:

(1) The local school year time plan must ensure the actual number of weeks of study.

- For preschool and general education, there are 35 weeks of actual learning (the first semester has 18 weeks, the second semester has 17 weeks).

- For continuing education (implementation of lower and upper secondary education programs).

+ For grade 9 and grade 12: 32 weeks of practical study (each semester has 16 weeks).

+ For grade 6, grade 7, grade 8, grade 10 and grade 11: 35 weeks of practical study (semester I has 18 weeks, semester II has 17 weeks).

(2) The school year's time plan must be suitable for the characteristics and practical conditions of the locality.

(3) Public holidays and New Year's holidays are implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Code and its guiding documents annually.

(4) Teachers' annual leave is taken during the summer break or can be alternated at other times of the year.
to suit the specific characteristics and timetable of the local school year.

(5) The school year time plan should ensure synchronization for all levels of education in a residential area, especially in high schools with many levels.

Responsibilities of Presidents of Provincial People's Committees in Vietnam

Specifically, the President of the People's Committee of the province or centrally run city shall decide:

- The school year time plan for pre-school education, general education, and continuing education is suitable for local practice.

- The time to return to school early and the extension of the school year must not exceed 15 days compared to the provisions in Article 1 of Decision 2171/QD-BGDDT to ensure the implementation and completion of the program of preschool education, general education, and continuing education in case of impacts of natural disasters or epidemics; report to the Ministry of Education and Training for special cases arising before implementation.

More details can be found in Decision 2171/QD-BGDDT, effective from the date of signing.

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