Circular 16/2026/TT-BGDDT providing for career guidance and streaming in education

CIRCULAR

Providing for career guidance and streaming in education

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Pursuant to the Law on Education No. 43/2019/QH14 and the Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Education No. 123/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 37/2025/Nd-CP dated February 26, 2025, defining the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

At the proposal of the Director General of the Department of General Education;

The Minister of Education and Training hereby issues the Circular providing for the implementation of career guidance and streaming in education.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation and subjects of application

1. This Circular provides regulations on the implementation of career guidance and streaming in education, including: contents, forms, measures, and conditions for ensuring the implementation of career guidance education (hereinafter referred to as career guidance) and student streaming orientation (hereinafter referred to as streaming) in general education institutions.

2. This Circular applies to:

a) Primary schools, lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools, multi-level general schools, specialized schools, and other educational institutions implementing the general education program (hereinafter collectively referred to as general education institutions);

b) Universities, academies, teacher training institutions (hereinafter collectively referred to as higher education institutions), and vocational education institutions;

c) Agencies, organizations, enterprises, and individuals involved in coordinating the organization and implementation of career guidance and streaming.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In this Circular, the following terms are construed as follows:

1. Career guidance in education means a system of measures organized within and outside educational institutions to help students gain vocational knowledge and the ability to choose occupations suitable for their competency, interests, personal aspirations, and the labor needs of society.

2. Career guidance activities mean educational activities organized within and outside educational institutions to deploy career guidance contents for students in accordance with the law, including providing vocational information, career counseling, assessment of capacity and interests, and organizing appropriate vocational experiences.

3. Career counseling means the activity of supporting individuals or groups of students in identifying their competency, interests, and learning conditions; choosing vocational fields; and developing learning plans and vocational competency development pathways.

4. Streaming in education means a measure to organize educational activities based on the implementation of career guidance in education, creating conditions for students, after completing lower secondary, upper secondary, and vocational secondary education programs and their equivalents, to continue studying at higher levels or degrees or participate in labor suitable for their competency, interests, aspirations, personal conditions, and the needs of society.

Article 3. Principles of implementation

1. Ensuring consistency with the competency, interests, and aspirations of students as well as human resource needs and socio-economic development requirements of the nation and localities.

2. Ensuring the right of students to choose their study and career paths; creating conditions for learners to engage in lifelong learning and transition between educational and training streams in accordance with the law.

3. Implementing career guidance and educational streaming systematically and continuously, enhancing practical experiences, and integrating these into the educational program; ensuring quality and articulation between streams.

4. Ensuring coordination among educational institutions, families, state management agencies, social organizations, enterprises, and relevant organizations and individuals in the organization and implementation of career guidance and educational streaming.

5. Ensuring fairness, gender equality, and access opportunities to career guidance and education streaming activities for all categories of learners, especially those in remote, isolated, border, and island areas, and areas with exceptionally difficult socio-economic conditions, and learners with disabilities.

6. Encouraging the mobilization of social resources to participate in career guidance and educational streaming activities in accordance with the law.

Chapter II

CAREER GUIDANCE IN EDUCATION

Article 4. Career guidance contents

1. General education institutions shall take the lead in organizing the implementation of career guidance contents for students; vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, enterprises, and relevant agencies and organizations shall participate in coordination according to their assigned functions and tasks. Career guidance contents organized within and outside educational institutions shall include:

a) Provision of vocational information, comprising: information on sectors and occupations; requirements for competencies and qualities; training conditions; employment opportunities; labor market trends; and contents aimed at raising awareness of labor values, vocational consciousness, and learning attitudes.

b) Supporting students in self-awareness, comprising: assessment of competency, interests, vocational values, and personal characteristics; counseling on suitable career choices; and guidance on developing learning and career development plans through forms of counseling, testing, exchange, and vocational experiences.

c) Developing career choice skills, comprising: skills for searching and processing vocational information; career decision-making skills; soft skills related to occupations such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, creativity, adaptability, and other necessary skills for career orientation; and entrepreneurship and innovation spirit.

d) Vocational experience contents aimed at assisting students in becoming familiar with the labor environment, vocational activities, and processes of production, business, services, and research; and enhancing practical understanding of occupations and the connection between learning and labor market requirements and socio-economic conditions.

dd) Contents on the application of information technology and digital transformation in career guidance, comprising: enhancing access to vocational information through digital platforms, vocational databases, online counseling tools, and artificial intelligence; and supporting students in updating career trends within the context of international integration.

2. The career guidance content framework of an educational institution shall be developed on the basis of the groups of contents specified in Clause 1 of this Article, must be consistent with the instructions of the Ministry of Education and Training, and must be approved by the direct management agency prior to implementation.

3. Career guidance contents shall be periodically reviewed and updated under the direction of the education management agency to ensure suitability for student characteristics, conditions of the educational institution, and socio-economic development requirements of the locality.

Article 5. Forms and measures for implementing career guidance

1. Implementing career guidance through the integration and incorporation of career guidance contents into subjects and educational activities of the General Education Program, suitable for each educational level.

2. General education institutions shall take the lead in organizing career counseling in in-person and online forms; coordinate with vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, enterprises, and relevant organizations to provide information and organize experiences as a basis for choosing appropriate post-graduation pathways.

3. Applying information technology and digital transformation in career guidance activities; exploiting database systems and using online platforms for counseling, assessment of competency and interests, tracking of student learning pathways, and ensuring information security in accordance with regulations.

4. Communicating and raising awareness about career guidance for students, students' parents, and students' guardians (hereinafter collectively referred to as parents) and the community through educational activities within and outside schools.

Chapter III

STREAMING IN EDUCATION

Article 6. Contents of educational streaming

1. General education institutions shall take the lead in and coordinate with vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, continuing education centers, vocational education and continuing education centers, enterprises, and relevant agencies and organizations to provide students and parents with full and timely information on learning options after completing lower secondary, upper secondary, and vocational secondary education programs and their equivalents. This includes continuing to study at higher levels or degrees or participating in labor suitable for their competency, interests, personal conditions, and the needs of society.

2. Organizing direct and online counseling on streaming in education for students; providing guidance for students to learn about admission requirements, training duration, training costs, employment opportunities, and career development potential for each post-general education training pathway.

3. Incorporating contents of streaming in education into career guidance activities to help students realize the roles, benefits, and opportunities of each post-graduation pathway; supporting students in assessing their competency, interests, and personal conditions to choose an appropriate learning pathway.

4. Orienting students to participate in vocational education suitable for their competency, interests, and the labor needs of the locality and the economy; supporting students who wish to transition to vocational training in accessing admission information, training programs, and employment opportunities.

5. Coordinating with vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, enterprises, and relevant agencies and organizations to provide information, organize vocational experience and vocational practice activities, provide admission counseling, and support post-graduation learning pathways.

6. Carrying out communication on educational streaming and occupations for students, parents, and the community to raise awareness and reduce vocational prejudice, contributing to increasing the rate of students choosing appropriate pathways after graduation.

Article 7. Measures for streaming in education

1. General education institutions shall implement the general education program towards enhancing career orientation and creating favorable conditions for students to choose post-graduation learning pathways; organizing elective subjects, elective topics, and optional educational activities suitable for students' competencies and interests and the requirements of streaming in education.

2. General education institutions shall take the lead in and coordinate with continuing education centers, vocational education and continuing education centers, and vocational education institutions to organize models for concurrent academic and vocational training; diversifying programs and forms of articulation between levels; and ensure conditions for students to engage in appropriate vocational study.

3. General education institutions shall take the lead in organizing counseling and communication on streaming in education for students and parents; coordinating with vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, enterprises, and relevant organizations to organize workshops and education-career fairs; and apply digital technology in providing information and counseling on streaming in education.

4. Vocational education institutions shall take the lead in and coordinate with general education institutions, according to their functions and tasks, to implement articulation between education and training programs through the development of open and flexible learning pathways; recognize learning outcomes, modules, and credits in accordance with regulations; and create conditions for learners to transition between streams and training levels.

5. General education institutions shall coordinate with enterprises and local governments to develop cooperation models in organizing streaming in education; mobilize enterprises to participate in counseling, training, and recruitment; local governments shall coordinate human resource needs and support connections to enable students to access training and employment opportunities suitable for local practical conditions.

6. Enterprises participating in career guidance and streaming in education activities must possess legal entity status, appropriate functions and tasks, and the capacity to meet requirements; implement financial public disclosure and transparency and commit to ensuring safety and legitimate rights and interests for learners.

Chapter IV

ENSURING CONDITIONS

Article 8. Implementation personnel

1. The personnel implementing career guidance and streaming in education at general education institutions shall include: management staff, teachers, student counseling officers, and other personnel as assigned by the head of the educational institution.

2. The coordinating and supporting personnel shall include:

a) Teachers and lecturers of vocational education institutions and higher education institutions participating under coordination plans;

b) Experts, representatives of enterprises and professional organizations, scientists, artisans, representatives of local governments, mass organizations, and other appropriate individuals invited by the educational institution to provide vocational information, instruct vocational experiences, and support counseling on streaming in education for students.

3. Personnel performing career guidance and streaming in education tasks must possess the capacity to counsel learners and understand age-appropriate psychological and physiological characteristics; possess knowledge of sectors, occupations, and required competencies for each vocational field; grasp local human resource needs and social career development trends; possess the capacity to organize educational activities; be able to apply technology in career guidance and streaming in education counseling activities; and participate in appropriate training and professional development programs to enhance their capacity to implement career guidance and streaming in education.

4. Parents shall coordinate with educational institutions and relevant organizations in providing information, orienting, and creating conditions for students to participate in career guidance and streaming in education activities.

5. Educational institutions shall be responsible for assigning tasks, ensuring working conditions, and organizing professional development and training for the personnel implementing career guidance and streaming in education.

Article 9. Facilities and equipment

1. Educational institutions shall arrange rooms or spaces for career guidance counseling to ensure conditions for information access, exchange, and learner support. The arrangement of counseling spaces shall be integrated and shared with school counseling rooms and support for inclusive education for students with disabilities or other appropriate functional rooms in accordance with current regulations on facility standards, without creating additional functional rooms beyond regulations.

2. Educational institutions shall invest in and supplement equipment for career guidance and streaming in education, including pictures, videos, models, vocational experience learning tools, simulation equipment, internet-connected computers, and other supporting means according to the school's capacity and conditions.

3. Organizations and individuals are encouraged to participate in the socialization of investment in facilities and equipment serving career guidance and streaming in education activities; the receipt, management, and use of socialized resources shall be implemented in accordance with the law.

Article 10. Materials and learning resources

1. Educational institutions shall develop and organize the implementation of annual career guidance and streaming in education plans in accordance with this Circular, consistent with the practical conditions of the educational institution and the locality.

2. Materials and learning resources used in career guidance and streaming in education activities must ensure accuracy, updates, suitability for student characteristics, and comprehensive coverage of career guidance and streaming in education content groups as prescribed by this Circular.

3. Localities and educational institutions may compile supplementary materials and learning resources based on needs, which must be appraised by the Department of Education and Training prior to use, and shall connect and share online data with education management agencies in accordance with the law.

4. Materials and learning resources supporting career guidance and streaming in education compiled by the Ministry of Education and Training shall be posted and provided on the online career guidance information system in accordance with the law.

Article 11. Implementation funding

1. Funding for implementing career guidance and streaming in education for students in educational institutions shall be mobilized from the following sources:

a) State budget;

b) Lawful revenues of educational institutions;

c) Sponsorships and aid from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals;

d) Other sources as prescribed by regulations.

2. The management, use, and public disclosure of funding sources shall be implemented in accordance with the Law on the State Budget and relevant legal provisions.

Chapter V

RESPONSIBILITIES OF AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS

Article 12. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Education and Training

1. Directing and providing guidance on the implementation of career guidance and streaming in education activities in general education in accordance with the law and this Circular.

2. Providing guidance on the coordination mechanism between general education institutions and vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, and relevant organizations in organizing career guidance and streaming in education activities.

3. Developing and provide guidance on the use of materials and learning resources; organizing professional development and capacity building for the personnel implementing career guidance and streaming in education.

4. Building and operating the national career guidance portal to provide information on sectors, occupations, the labor market, learning pathways, and learning resources supporting career guidance and streaming in education. Ensuring information safety and personal data security of learners during the collection, storage, and use of data for career guidance counseling purposes.

5. Organizing inspections and evaluations of the implementation of career guidance and streaming in education activities; compiling and report on implementation results as prescribed.

6. Organizing and coordinating the implementation of information and communication work regarding career guidance and streaming in education nationwide.

Article 13. Responsibilities of Provincial-level People's Committees

1. Directing the development and organization of the implementation of local career guidance and streaming in education plans suitable for socio-economic conditions and human resource needs.

2. Allocating resources and budget and mobilizing social resources to deploy career guidance and streaming in education activities.

3. Directing the Department of Education and Training, relevant departments and sectors, and Communal-level People's Committees to coordinate in organizing career guidance and streaming in education activities; communicating and advocating for learners and families to participate in appropriate educational streams.

4. Organizing inspections and evaluations of the results of career guidance and streaming in education; periodically reporting to the Ministry of Education and Training as prescribed.

Article 14. Responsibilities of the Department of Education and Training

1. Advising the Provincial-level People's Committee on the issuance of plans for deploying career guidance and streaming in education; guiding educational institutions in implementing the plans; and approving the Career Guidance Content Framework of general education institutions as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular.

2. Directing and providing guidance to general education institutions in coordinating with vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, and local organizations and enterprises in organizing career guidance and streaming in education activities.

3. Organizing professional development and training for the personnel implementing career guidance and streaming in education according to the unified guidance of the Ministry of Education and Training regarding content, materials, and training forms; inspecting and supervising implementation at educational institutions.

4. Implementing statistical regimes and periodic and ad-hoc reporting as prescribed.

Article 15. Responsibilities of Communal-level People's Committees

1. Taking the lead in and coordinating with educational institutions, socio-political organizations, and relevant organizations and individuals in the area to organize communication and dissemination to raise public awareness of career guidance and streaming in education; advocating for families to create conditions for students to participate in appropriate educational streams after completing the lower secondary education program.

2. Directing communal-level boards, sectors, and mass organizations to ensure security, order, and safety for students when participating in experience and vocational practice activities at production and business establishments, craft villages, and other activity locations in the area.

3. Reviewing and updating information on production and business establishments, traditional craft villages, artisans, and local social resources to connect with schools for organizing career guidance and vocational experience activities for students in accordance with the law.

4. Monitoring and compiling statistics on the status of youth in the area after completing the lower secondary education program and graduating from upper secondary school; proposing solutions to support further study, vocational training, and job placement within their competence.

Article 16. Responsibilities of general education institutions

1. Developing and implementing career guidance and streaming in education plans within the school's educational plan; ensuring every student has access to career guidance and streaming in education activities.

2. Assigning officers and teachers in charge; organizing surveys on students' capacity, interests, and aspirations as a basis for counseling.

3. Coordinating with vocational education institutions, higher education institutions, enterprises, and relevant organizations in organizing counseling, vocational experiences, and providing admission information and learning pathways.

4. Coordinating with parents in providing information, counseling, and career orientation for students.

5. Organizing annual self-inspections and evaluations of the effectiveness of career guidance and streaming in education as a basis for reviewing school activity quality assessments in accordance with regulations.

Article 17. Responsibilities of higher education institutions and vocational education institutions

1. Coordinating with general education institutions to provide information on sectors, occupations, admissions, learning pathways, and employment opportunities; participating in counseling and organizing career guidance activities.

2. Creating conditions for general education students to visit, experience, practice, and intern; coordinating with enterprises to organize vocational practice activities; ensuring conditions for occupational safety, environmental sanitation, and other safety regulations for students during their participation in activities at the unit.

3. Implementing training and articulation in accordance with regulations; supporting students in choosing suitable sectors, occupations, and learning pathways.

4. Coordinating in organizing workshops and career guidance - admission fairs; providing materials and learning resources and online data for career guidance.

Article 18. Responsibilities of the personnel implementing career guidance and streaming in education

1. Performing career guidance and streaming in education activities according to the educational institution's plan.

2. Updating information on sectors, occupations, human resource needs, the labor market, and learning pathways to counsel students.

3. Coordinating with families, vocational education institutions, enterprises, and relevant organizations in organizing career guidance and streaming in education activities.

4. Counselling and supporting students in choosing suitable sectors, occupations, learning plans, and development pathways.

5. Fully participating in professional development and training activities to enhance capacity as required.

Article 19. Responsibilities of organizations and individuals participating in career guidance and streaming in education activities

1. Enterprises and professional associations shall coordinate to provide information on human resource needs and career trends; supporting the organization of experience activities and internships, and creating employment opportunities for students.

2. Socio-political organizations and socio-professional organizations shall participate in communication, and support skills training and scholarships, and connect student support programs.

3. Parents and relevant organizations and individuals in the community shall coordinate to provide information, share practical experiences, and support students in participating in career guidance and streaming in education activities according to their abilities and conditions.

4. Organizations and individuals with positive contributions to career guidance and streaming in education activities shall be recognized and rewarded in accordance with the law on emulation and commendation.

Chapter VI

MPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 20. Effect

1. This Circular shall take effect as from March 24, 2026.

2. As of the date this Circular takes effect, any previous regulations contrary to this Circular shall cease to be effective.

Article 21. Responsibility for implementation

1. The Chief of the Ministry Office, the Director General of the Department of General Education, the Heads of relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training, the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities, the Directors of the Departments of Education and Training, the heads of educational institutions, and relevant organizations and individuals shall be responsible for the implementation of this Circular.

2. During the implementation process, should any difficulties or problems arise, agencies, organizations, and individuals are requested to report to the Ministry of Education and Training for consideration and resolution within its competence.