The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has just announced a draft Decree regulating universal preschool education for children from 5 to 6 years old, compulsory education and literacy to solicit broad opinions from relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals.
The development and promulgation of the Decree aims to institutionalize the provisions of Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW, Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW, and the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Education on universal education, compulsory education and illiteracy eradication.
Increase binding on 9-year compulsory education
The draft Decree specifically defines compulsory education from primary school to the end of secondary school. Compulsory education completion is the learner completing the education program within the age limit prescribed by law.
The draft Decree also clarifies the responsibilities of families, schools and local authorities in ensuring children complete their education.
Accordingly, all citizens of the prescribed age have the task of studying to reach the level of universal education and have the obligation to study to reach the level of compulsory education. Families are responsible for creating conditions for family members of the prescribed age to study to reach the level of universal education, compulsory education. Educational institutions are responsible for organizing the implementation of universal education, compulsory education, and literacy according to their functions and tasks.
The draft Decree supplements a mechanism for monitoring, managing and supporting students, shifting the focus from "recognizing results" to "process control". This is aimed at limiting the situation of dropping out of school in the current situation in localities.
Standardize the standards for recognizing the results of universal education, compulsory education and illiteracy eradication in a practical direction.
The draft specifies the subjects and programs of universal preschool education for children from 5 to 6 years old, compulsory education and illiteracy eradication.
Regarding universal preschool education for children from 5 to 6 years old, compulsory education, the draft Decree clearly stipulates the standards for recognizing standards for individuals, commune and provincial levels; clarifying the conditions for recognition and re-recognition to ensure sustainable maintenance of achieved results; ensuring that children of age are fully prepared physically and mentally before entering grade 1 and completing the compulsory education program until the end of secondary school.
Regarding literacy, the draft Decree stipulates the standards for recognizing individuals who meet literacy standards, the standards for recognizing literacy standards at level 1 and level 2. The criteria are supplemented and clearly defined according to each level, aiming to ensure practical quality, limit formality and the risk of re-literacy.
Ensuring all children of school age can go to school
The draft Decree clearly stipulates the conditions for programs, staff, facilities, equipment and implementation costs. Standards are specified more specifically, in order to improve the quality of education.
In which, the network of schools and classes is arranged reasonably according to residential areas, meeting the learning needs of children, students and trainees in the area of universal preschool education for children from 5 to 6 years old, compulsory education, literacy; ensuring convenience for students to go to school and study regularly.
Prioritize planning and arranging the network of schools and classes in areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions, ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, islands, industrial parks, new urban areas and areas with population fluctuations.
A noteworthy new point is that the draft Decree supplements regulations on strengthening the application of information technology in management, updating and monitoring data recognizing the standard of universal preschool education for children from 5 to 6 years old, compulsory education and illiteracy eradication.
Along with that, the draft also clearly defines the responsibilities of ministries, branches, and localities in organizing the implementation, inspection, and recognition of results in universal preschool education for children from 5 to 6 years old, compulsory education and illiteracy eradication.
Policies on universal education, compulsory education and illiteracy eradication when completed and promulgated will contribute to ensuring that all children of school age can go to school, complete compulsory education programs; create learning opportunities for adults who are illiterate or re-illiterate; narrow the educational gap between regions, strengthen fairness in access to education and effectively implement the goal of building a learning society.
