Circular 19/2025/TT-BGDDT regulating commendation and discipline of students

CIRCULAR

Regulating the commendation and discipline of students

Pursuant to the Education Law No. 43/2019/QH14;

Pursuant to the Law on Emulation and Commendation No. 05/2022/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 of the Department of Student Affairs;

The Minister of Education and Training hereby promulgates the Circular regulating the commendation and discipline of students.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of regulation and subjects of application

1. This Circular regulates the commendation and discipline of students in educational institutions.

2. This Circular applies to: primary schools, lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools, multi-level general education schools, ethnic minority boarding schools, ethnic minority semi-boarding schools, specialized schools, schools for the gifted, continuing education centers, vocational education centers, vocational education - continuing education centers, intermediate schools, and colleges where students are enrolled in general education programs or continuing education programs at the lower secondary and upper secondary levels (hereinafter referred to as "educational institutions"); the heads of educational institutions (hereinafter referred to as "principals"); educational administrators; teachers; staff; learners enrolled in general education programs or continuing education programs at the lower secondary and upper secondary levels at educational institutions (hereinafter referred to as "students"); parents and guardians of students (hereinafter referred to as "the student's family"); and relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In this Circular, the terms below shall be construed as follows:

1. Verbal warning means the act of an educational administrator, teacher, or staff member of an educational institution verbally addressing a student who has committed a violation to note, learn from the experience, and adjust their behavior.

2. Reprimand means the act of a principal or homeroom teacher using stern and direct speech to analyze and assess a violating act, helping the student to realize the consequences and take measures to rectify and adjust their behavior.

3. Apology means the act of a student verbally admitting their violating act, clearly recognizing the wrongfulness of the act, expressing regret for their actions, wishing for forgiveness, and remedying the consequences for the individual or collective that the student has wronged.

4. Written self-criticism means the act of a student admitting their violating act in writing, clearly recognizing the wrongfulness of the act, expressing regret for their actions, wishing for forgiveness, and committing to learning from the experience and remedying the consequences for the individual or collective that the student has wronged.

Article 3. General principles of commendation and discipline of students

1. The commendation and discipline of students shall ensure an educational and humanity, for the progress of students.

2. To promote decentralization and delegation of authority, enhance the autonomy and self-responsibility of educational institutions, principals, and teachers; ensure coordination among the educational institution, family, and society in the commendation and discipline of students.

3. To properly and fully exercise the functions, tasks, and powers of the educational institution in the commendation and discipline of students.

Chapter II

COMMENDATION

Article 4. Purposes and principles of commendation

1. Purposes

Commendation aims to recognize, praise, motivate, encourage, and create impetus for students to train, cultivate, and strive to advance in their studies and life; to honor and multiply examples of good people and good deeds.

2. Principles

a) To ensure publicity, objectivity, accuracy, fairness, timeliness, targeting of the correct subjects, and proportionality between the form of commendation and the achievement attained.

b) Depending on the achievement attained, students may be praised and commended through various forms.

Article 5. Forms of commendation

1. Commendation before the class.

2. Commendation before the entire educational institution.

3. Certificate of merit from the principal.

4. Letter of commendation.

5. Other forms of praise and commendation.

Article 6. Commendation before the class

1. Commendation before the class shall be implemented for students who demonstrate good conduct with a positive widespread influence on other students in the class or for students who show clear progress in their studies and training.

2. The teacher shall decide and implement the commendation of students before the class at an appropriate time.

Article 7. Commendation before the entire educational institution

1. Commendation before the entire educational institution shall be implemented for students with excellent achievements, good conduct with a positive widespread influence on other students in the educational institution, or for students with outstanding achievements in their studies and training.

2. The homeroom teacher shall propose to the principal the commendation of students before the entire educational institution.

Article 8. Certificate of merit from the principal

1. The principal shall award a certificate of merit to students in accordance with the regulations detailing the implementation of several articles of the Law on Emulation and Commendation for the education sector.

2. Based on the learning and training results and achievements of students in the class, the homeroom teacher shall propose that the principal award a certificate of merit in accordance with regulations.

3. On the basis of the homeroom teacher's proposal, the principal shall decide to award the certificate of merit in accordance with regulations and select an appropriate time to organize a solemn ceremony to promptly motivate, encourage, honor, and set an example for students.

Article 9. Letter of commendation

1. A Letter of commendation shall be issued to students who have made progress in their studies and training, have overcome their own challenges, or have achieved sudden and outstanding accomplishments.

2. Teachers, principals, or management agencies shall, depending on the nature and extent of the achievement, decide on sending a letter of commendation to the student.

Article 10. Other forms of praise and commendation

1. In addition to the forms of praise and commendation prescribed in this Circular, agencies, organizations, and individuals may implement other forms of praise and commendation consistent with the principles of commendation specified in this Circular and other relevant legal documents to promptly motivate and set an example for students in their studies and training.

2. For forms of commendation stipulated by the Law on Emulation and Commendation and its guiding documents, the principal shall commend the student before the entire educational institution and submit the case to the competent authority for commendation.

Chapter III

DISCIPLINE

Article 11. Purposes and principles of discipline

1. Purposes

a) Discipline aims to prevent, deter, and handle the violating acts of students.

b) Discipline aims to educate and assist students in recognizing their violating acts; to voluntarily adjust their behavior, remedy the consequences, and voluntarily cultivate and train themselves for progress and the formation of disciplined habits and lifestyles.

2. Principles

a) To ensure proactiveness and positivity in the performance of students' tasks and rights; to maintain order and discipline within the educational institution.

b) To respect, be tolerant, be objective, be unprejudiced, and ensure the right to participation and the interests of students in related matters.

c) To ensure appropriateness to the psycho-physiological characteristics, gender, physical condition, family circumstances, and regional cultural characteristics of each student.

d) Not to use disciplinary measures that are violent, defamatory to dignity and honor, or affect the physical and mental well-being of students.

Article 12. Violating acts and levels of violation for disciplinary review

1. Violating acts

a) Acts strictly prohibited for students in educational institutions as stipulated in the Law on Education.

b) Acts that violate the regulations of the educational institution or of competent state agencies.

2. Levels of violation

Educational administrators, teachers, and staff shall, based on the nature and consequences of the violating act, determine the level of violation as follows:

a) Level 1 constitutes a violation that is harmful to the student themself;

b) Level 2 constitutes a violation that has a negative impact within the scope of a group or a class;

c) Level 3 constitutes a violation that has a negative impact within the scope of the educational institution.

Article 13. Disciplinary measures

1. Disciplinary measures for primary school students

a) Verbal warning;

b) Requiring an apology.

2. Disciplinary measures for students other than primary school students

a) Verbal warning;

b) Reprimand;

c) Requiring a written self-criticism.

Article 14. Application of disciplinary measures for primary school students

1. The disciplinary measure of verbal warning shall be applied to students who commit a Level 1 violation as stipulated at Point a, Clause 2, Article 12 of this Circular.

2. The disciplinary measure of requiring an apology shall be applied to students who have already received a verbal warning but continue to commit a Level 1 violation; or to students who commit a Level 2 or higher violation as stipulated at Points b and c, Clause 2, Article 12 of this Circular.

Article 15. Application of disciplinary measures for students other than primary school students

1. The disciplinary measure of verbal warning shall be applied to students who commit a Level 1 violation as stipulated at Point a, Clause 2, Article 12 of this Circular.

2. The disciplinary measure of a reprimand shall be applied to students who have already received a verbal warning but continue to commit a Level 1 violation; or to students who commit a Level 2 violation as stipulated at Point b, Clause 2, Article 12 of this Circular.

3. The disciplinary measure of requiring a written self-criticism shall be applied to students who have already received a reprimand but continue to commit a Level 2 violation; or to students who commit a Level 3 violation as stipulated at Point c, Clause 2, Article 12 of this Circular. The student's written self-criticism must be confirmed and committed to by the family, in coordination with the educational institution, in managing, educating, and supporting the student to recognize, learn from the experience, and remedy the consequences for the individual or collective that the student has wronged. The student's written self-criticism shall be filed in the records of the educational institution.

Article 16. Support activities for rectifying violating acts

1. Support activities for rectifying violating acts include:

a) Counseling and encouraging the student to self-recognize the violating act and the path to rectification.

b) Monitoring, advising, and supporting the violating student during the process of rectifying the violating act.

c) Requiring the student to participate in activities related to school counseling, social work within the institution, skills education, and other suitable activities as decided by the institution to change their awareness, adjust their behavior, and remedy the consequences of the violating act.

d) Coordinating with the student's family and other forces to provide counseling, management, and support to help the student change their awareness, adjust their behavior, and remedy the consequences of the violating act.

e) Other support activities consistent with the purposes and principles of student discipline stipulated in Article 11 of this Circular and the practical situation of the educational institution.

2. Support activities shall be implemented when a student has committed a violating act but has not yet been subjected to a disciplinary measure; or when a student who has committed a violating act is currently subject to one of the disciplinary measures stipulated in Article 13.

3. The person with the authority to apply support activities for rectifying violating acts shall be the person with disciplinary authority as stipulated in Article 17 of this Circular, or a person assigned by the principal.

Article 17. Disciplinary authority

1. The principal and the homeroom teacher shall implement the disciplinary measures stipulated in Article 13 of this Circular.

2. Educational administrators, teachers, and staff shall implement the disciplinary measures stipulated in Clause 1 and Point a, Clause 2, Article 13 of this Circular and shall coordinate with the homeroom teacher to implement the disciplinary measures as stipulated at Points b and c, Clause 2, Article 13 of this Circular.

Chapter IV

RESPONSIBILITIES OF AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS

Article 18. Responsibilities of the educational institution and its members

1. Responsibilities of the educational institution

a) Based on actual conditions, to issue regulations on the forms and levels of rewards for students who are awarded a certificate of merit by the principal and other forms of reward to ensure compliance with the law.

b) To supervise and inspect the implementation of democracy in the commendation and discipline of students in accordance with the law.

2. Responsibilities of the principal

a) To organize the dissemination and popularization of the regulations to all students, members of the educational institution, and students' families, and to organize the implementation of student commendation and discipline according to regulations.

b) To decide on the commendation and discipline of students within their authority. To be responsible before the law for the implementation of student commendation and discipline.

c) To assign members of the educational institution and coordinate with other forces outside the institution to implement support activities to help students rectify their violating acts.

3. Responsibilities of the homeroom teacher

a) To strictly implement the regulations on student commendation and discipline;

b) To propose forms of student commendation and discipline that fall under the principal's authority;

c) To act as the focal point to assist the principal in coordinating with the student's family and other forces to promote the student's capabilities, provide timely commendation and motivation, and provide counseling, supervision, management, and support to limit the student's violating acts.

d) To be responsible before the law and the principal for the implementation of student commendation and discipline within their authority.

4. Responsibilities of educational administrators, teachers, staff, and union organizations within the educational institution

a) To strictly implement the regulations on student commendation and discipline;

b) To coordinate with the homeroom teacher to propose forms of student commendation and discipline that fall under the principal's authority.

5. Responsibilities of students

To strictly implement the regulations on student commendation and discipline.

Article 19. Responsibilities of the student's family

1. To proactively and actively coordinate in managing and educating the student to strictly implement the regulations on student commendation and discipline.

2. To create conditions and provide support to motivate and encourage the student to develop their qualities and capabilities and to make progress in their studies and training.

3. To manage, supervise, counsel, and support students who are at risk of or show signs of committing violating acts. To provide confirmation on the student's written self-criticism (if any) and commit to the educational institution in coordinating the management, education, and support for the student to recognize, learn from the experience, and rectify the violating acts caused by the student to individuals or collectives.

Article 20. Responsibilities of the Department of Education and Training

To direct, guide, inspect, and supervise the educational institutions under its management in the implementation of this Circular.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 21. Effect

This Circular takes effect from October 31, 2025, and replaces the Ministry of Education’s Circular No. 08/TT dated March 21, 1988, guiding the commendation and discipline of students in general education schools.

Article 22. Responsibility for implementation

The Chief of the Office, the Director of the Department of Student Affairs, the heads of relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training; the Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities; the Directors of Departments of Education and Training; the Chairpersons of commune-level People's Committees; and relevant agencies, organizations, units, and individuals shall be responsible for the implementation of this Circular./.