Decree 37/2025/ND-CP functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of Ministry of Education and Training

DECREE

Defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training^[1]

Pursuant to the February 18, 2025 Law on Organization of the Government;

At the proposal of the Minister of Education and Training;

The Government promulgates the Decree defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Article 1. Position and functions

The Ministry of Education and Training is an agency of the Government, performing the state management of early childhood education, general education, vocational education, higher education and continuing education; vocational skill development; Vietnamese language and ethnic minority languages; and public services under the Ministry’s state management. 

Article 2. Tasks and powers 

The Ministry of Education and Training shall perform the tasks and exercise the powers defined in the Law on Organization of the Government and the Government’s regulations on the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structures of ministries and ministerial-level agencies, and has the following specific tasks and powers:

1. Regarding legal affairs:

a/ To submit to the Government draft laws and draft resolutions of the National Assembly; draft ordinances and draft resolutions of the National Assembly Standing Committee; draft decrees of the Government; resolutions, projects, schemes, draft decisions and draft directives of the Prime Minister and other documents as assigned by the Government or the Prime Minister; to seek the Government’s opinions on draft laws and draft ordinances submitted by agencies, organizations or National Assembly deputies to the National Assembly or the National Assembly Standing Committee that are related to the sectors and fields under the Ministry’s state management;

b/ To promulgate circulars and other documents under the Ministry’s state management in accordance with law;

c/ To direct, guide and organize popularization and dissemination of documents after they are promulgated in accordance with law; to monitor, inspect and organize the implementation of such documents.

2. Regarding strategies, master plans and plans:

a/ To submit to the Government or the Prime Minister strategies, master plans, schemes and long-term, medium-term and annual development plans, national target programs, national programs, national action programs, and important national works under the Ministry’s state management; to announce contents (except contents classified as state secrets) and organize and direct the implementation of strategies, master plans, schemes and plans after they are approved; and mechanisms and policies for mobilization of social resources to develop education and training, build a learning society and carry out streaming in education;

b/ To submit to the Prime Minister for approval the master plan on the network of higher education and teachers training institutions; the master plan on the network of vocational education institutions; and the master plan on the system of specialized education institutions for people with disabilities and the system of inclusive education development support centers.

3. Regarding education goals, programs and contents:

a/ To guide, and organize the implementation of, education goals in conformity with different education and training levels of the national education system;

b/ To promulgate early childhood education curricula; to specify criteria for and processes of compilation and editing of early childhood education curricula; to define duties, powers, operating methods, standards, number and structure of members of the National Council for Appraisal of Early Childhood Education Curricula;

c/ To promulgate general education curricula; to specify criteria for and processes of compilation and editing of general education curricula; to define duties, powers, operating methods, standards, number and structure of members of the National Council for Appraisal of General Education Curricula; to specify the volume of upper secondary education knowledge taught in vocational education institutions;

d/ To provide national defense and security education curricula and contents and organize the implementation of such curricula for learners in upper secondary schools, higher education institutions and vocational education institutions;

dd/ To provide continuing education curricula;

e/ To provide the formulation, appraisal and promulgation of higher education and vocational education curricula and the list of disciplines of different levels of higher education and vocational education; to provide other vocational training programs in accordance with the law on vocational education;

g/ To promulgate further training curricula on pre-university education;

h/ To guide the building of a learning society and the formulation of policies to promote lifelong learning.

4. Regarding the state management of Vietnamese language and ethnic minority languages:

a/ To submit to the Government for promulgation regulations on policies for development and conservation of Vietnamese language and ethnic minority languages;

b/ To guide the learning of Vietnamese language for foreign citizens and overseas Vietnamese citizens.

5. Regarding textbooks, course books and teaching materials:

a/ To specify criteria for, and processes of, compilation of manuals for implementing early childhood education programs and the selection of toys and learning materials for use in early childhood education institutions;

b/ To specify criteria for, and process of, compilation and editing of textbooks for general education; to define duties, powers, operating methods, standards, number and structure of members of the National Textbook Appraisal Council and provincial-level textbook appraisal councils; to provide the selection of textbooks in general education institutions;

c/ To promulgate regulations on textbooks, course books and learning materials for continuing education;

d/ To provide the compilation, selection, appraisal, approval and use of teaching materials, and course books for higher education and vocational education; to approve local education materials.

dd/ To set maximum prices for textbooks.

6. Regarding examination, testing, enrollment, training and issuance of diplomas and certificates:

a/ To submit to the Government for promulgation the system of higher education and vocational education diplomas and provide regulations on diploma equivalence for a number of specialties; 

b/ To promulgate regulations on examination, testing, assessment, enrollment, training and joint training, and management of diplomas and certificates in the national education system;

c/ To provide the recognition of diplomas issued by foreign education institutions and used in Vietnam, and the recognition of certificates used in the national education system.

7. Regarding teachers and education administrators:

a/ To specify professional title criteria for and working regime applicable to teachers and education administrators; to provide guidance on leading and managerial positions and specialized professional titles, the structure of public employees based on professional titles, and quotas of employees in public education institutions under regulations;

b/ To set standards for heads and deputy heads of education institutions;

c/ To promulgate professional standards of teachers; to formulate further training programs based on professional title criteria of lecturers, teachers and employees of the education sector;

d/ To promulgate the code of conduct applicable to teachers and education institutions;

dd/ To propose the Prime Minister to specify criteria and procedures for appointment and relief from duty of professors and associate professors;

e/ To promulgate according to the Ministry’s competence or submit to competent authorities for promulgation policies applicable to teachers; to manage and guide the implementation of policies on training, further training and preferential treatment of teachers and education administrators.

g/ To organize, or assign the Ministry’s subordinate units to organize, the consideration for rank promotion of professional titles for public employees in the education sector under regulations.

8. Regarding the management of and support for learners:

a/ To propose the Government or the Prime Minister to provide policies toward learners; to formulate, and submit to competent authorities for promulgation, incentive credit policies for learners;

b/ To specify teaching, management and education activities inside and outside schools; to provide the evaluation of learning and training results, and commendation and disciplining of learners.

c/ To provide guidance on, and organize the implementation of, school health work and children’s health protection and care at schools; to specify school nutrition education and the provision of school meals; to provide guidance on the building of safe schools, prevention and control of accidents and injuries for learners.

d/ To specify, guide and organize sports activities and competitions, and develop physical training and sports movements at schools.

9. Regarding the management of physical foundations and equipment of schools:

a/ To formulate and promulgate according to the Ministry’s competence or propose competent agencies to promulgate standards and technical regulations on physical foundations, libraries and equipment of schools and textbooks in accordance with law;

b/ To set standards and norms for use of special-purpose machinery and equipment and standards and norms for use of land areas exclusively used for non-business works under the Ministry’s state management.

c/ To organize the application of standards on physical foundations and lists of equipment based on education or training levels of the national education system.

10. Regarding the management of finances, assets and public investment:

a/ To make the Ministry’s annual budget estimates and 3-year finance-state budget plans; to provide detailed annual budget allocations of the Ministry; to exercise the rights and perform the responsibilities of the owner’s representative with regard to public assets under the Ministry’s management in accordance with law and the Government’s regulations on power delegation; to take part in the formulation of regimes, criteria and norms for state budget expenditures in the field of education and training and vocational education; to take part in summing up state budget estimates, formulating annual plans on allocation of central budget funds, 5-year financial plans, 3-year finance-state budget plans, and annual account-finalization of budget funds in the field of education and training and vocational education; to examine and monitor the implementation of budget funds in the field of education and training and vocational education;

b/ To promulgate, and guide the implementation of, standards, norms and regimes on use of public assets under the Ministry’s management or as authorized in accordance with the law on management and use of public assets; to guide the process of, and formulate, appraise and promulgate, techno-economic norms in the field of education and training as assigned; to guide methods of setting education and training and vocational education service charge rates; to make public and report on the management and use of public assets under the Ministry’s management in accordance with law;

c/ To formulate the Ministry’s medium-term and annual public investment plans, and decide on investment policy for, or decide on investment in, projects under the Ministry’s management in accordance with the law on public investment; to manage, and organize the implementation of, public investment projects under the Ministry’s state management in accordance with law; to monitor, examine, evaluate and supervise the implementation of plans, programs and projects under the Ministry’s management, and perform other tasks and exercise other powers as assigned by the Government or the Prime Minister or under regulations; to report on the disbursement and account-finalization of funds for tasks and projects using public investment capital in accordance with law;

d/ To propose lists of and investment policy for, and approve decisions on investment in, programs and projects to be funded with official development assistance (ODA) or concessional loans of donors, and non-refundable aid sources other than ODA sources provided by foreign agencies, organizations and citizens to Vietnam in accordance with law; to manage the monitoring and supervision of implementation thereof; to act as the managing body of programs and projects funded with ODA, concessional loans of donors, and non-refundable aid sources other than ODA sources provided by foreign agencies, organizations and citizens to Vietnam under the Ministry’s management in accordance with law;

dd/ To appraise contents of prefeasibility study reports and feasibility study reports of programs, projects and schemes in the fields and sectors under the Ministry’s management;

e/ To exercise the rights and perform the responsibilities and obligations of the state owner toward state enterprises and state capital amounts invested in other enterprises in accordance with law.

11. Regarding education quality assurance:

a/ To promulgate standards on higher education and vocational education institutions and standards of training programs for different levels of higher education; to specify the minimum knowledge volume and requirements on competency for learners after graduation for all training levels of higher education and vocational education;

b/ To provide conditions, order and procedures for establishment and suspension of operation of training disciplines at different levels of higher education and vocational education;

c/ To provide the determination of enrollment quotas for different levels of higher education and vocational education;

d/ To direct and guide the work of education quality assurance and publicity in education and training institutions.

12. Regarding education quality accreditation:

a/ To set standards for education quality evaluation, including those for education institutions and training curricula; the process and cycle of education quality accreditation at all educational levels and training levels; and operation principles, conditions and standards for organizations and individuals engaged in education quality accreditation; to license education quality accreditation activities; to grant and revoke education quality accreditation certificates;

b/ To propose the Government to specify conditions and procedures for establishment, licensing of operation, suspension and dissolution of education quality accreditation institutions; to specify conditions and procedures for foreign education quality accreditation institutions to be recognized for operation in Vietnam;

c/ To decide, or authorize competent units to decide, on establishment, or permit establishment and operation, suspend operation of, or dissolve, education quality accreditation institutions; to issue or revoke decisions on recognition of foreign education quality accreditation institutions operating in Vietnam in accordance with law; to provide the supervision and evaluation of education quality accreditation institutions;

d/ To manage the accreditation of training programs and accreditation of education institutions; to guide organizations, individuals and education institutions in evaluating and accrediting education quality; to examine and evaluate the implementation of regulations on education quality accreditation.

13. Regarding online education, scientific and technological activities, information, education about environmental protection, and digital transformation in the education sector:

a/ To perform the state management of online education for education and training activities in the national education system;

b/ To submit to competent authorities for promulgation, or promulgate, regulations, mechanisms and policies concerning scientific and technological activities, innovation, and education about environmental protection in education institutions; to apply information technology and digital transformation in activities of the education sector; to manage and efficiently use scientific and technological resources in the field of education and training in accordance with law;

c/ To guide, organize and monitor the application of science and technology, information technology and digital transformation in the education sector in accordance with law; to organize the performance of science, technology and innovation tasks and education about environmental protection;

d/ To organize and direct the implementation of education-related statistical work; to collect, summarize, analyze, manage, store and disclose education-related statistical information; to formulate and promulgate statistical indicators and statistical reporting regime of the education sector;

dd/ To build the education sector’s database; to carry out data connection and sharing in accordance with law; to deploy shared-use applications and platforms based on the education sector’s database.

14. Regarding vocational skill development:

a/ To provide training and further training to improve workers’ vocational knowledge and skills, and training and further training and updating of vocational knowledge and skills to raise workers’ professional capacity;

b/ To guide the organization of teaching festivals and competitions at all levels; to organize national-level teaching festivals and competitions and facilitate participation in regional and international skill competitions;

c/ To guide the formulation, appraisal and declaration of national vocational skill standards; to provide the issuance of national vocational skills certificates.

15. Regarding the management of education and training institutions:

a/ To promulgate charters and organization and operation regulations of early childhood schools, primary schools, lower secondary schools, upper secondary schools, multi-level general education schools, continuing education institutions, specialized schools, colleges, professional secondary schools, vocational education centers, national defense and security education centers and other education institutions in accordance with law; to guide and organize the implementation of regulations on the organizational structure of higher education institutions and vocational education institutions; 

b/ To propose the Government to specify conditions, procedures and competence for establishment or permission for establishment, registration of or permission for educational operations, suspension of educational operations, merger, division, splitting and dissolution of education institutions, branches of higher education institutions and branches of vocational education institutions; to name and rename higher education institutions and vocational education institutions; to transform universities into general universities and establish schools of higher education institutions; to merge universities into general universities; to transform private higher-education institutions into private higher-education institutions operating not for profit purposes; to transform private vocational-education institutions into private vocational-education institutions operating for not-for-profit purposes;

c/ To decide to establish national defense and security education centers of higher education institutions; to decide to permit or suspend educational operations of higher education institutions, branches of higher education institutions, and institutes established under the Prime Minister’s decisions in accordance with the Law on Science and Technology, national defense and security education centers and other education institutions in accordance with  law; to decide to establish representative offices of foreign higher education institutions operating in the field of higher education;

d/ To decide to establish, permit the establishment, division, splitting, merger, dissolution or renaming, permit or suspend operations of, vocational education institutions and national defense and security education centers of vocational education institutions; to decide to establish Vietnam-based representative offices of foreign vocational-education organizations and institutions; to recognize principals of private colleges within the Ministry’s competence;

dd/ To act as the management agency of national general universities; to propose the Government to provide specific regulations on the functions, duties, and powers of national general universities; to submit to the Prime Minister for promulgation the organization and operation regulation of national general universities and their member higher education institutions;

e/ To specify criteria for classifying public vocational education institutions in accordance with law.

16. Regarding international cooperation:

a/ To submit to the Government or the Prime Minister for decision guidelines and measures to enhance and expand relations with foreign countries and international organizations; the signing, ratification and approval of, or accession to, and measures to secure the implementation of, education-related treaties in the name of the State or in the name of the Government which fall under the Ministry’s state management;

b/ To organize the negotiation and signing of treaties as authorized by competent state agencies and organize the implementation of international cooperation plans and treaties to which Vietnam is a contracting party which fall under the Ministry’s state management of education;

c/ To join international organizations as assigned by the Government or the Prime Minister; to conclude, and organize the implementation of, international agreements in the Ministry’s name in accordance with law;

d/ To submit to the Government for promulgation regulations on foreign cooperation and investment in the field of education;

dd/ To manage, and guide education institutions under the Ministry’s state management in carrying out, international cooperation in teaching and training activities;

e/ To promulgate, or submit to competent authorities for promulgation, regulations on management of the operation of education institutions involving foreign elements in Vietnam;

g/ To promulgate regulations on management of, and guide education institutions under the Ministry’s state management of education in, the receipt for training and management of foreigners learning in Vietnam;

h/ To perform the state management of Vietnamese citizens going abroad for learning, teaching, scientific research or academic exchange under the Ministry’s state management of education.

17. Regarding emulation and commendation in the education sector:

a/ To provide the emulation and commendation work in the education sector; to provide the emulation and commendation work for education institutions;

b/ To propose the Government to provide the conferment of the titles of People’s Teacher and Meritorious Teacher;

c/ To organize emulation movements and carry out the emulation and commendation work in the education sector.

18. Regarding public services:

a/ To perform state management of public service prices in the field of education and training and vocational education in accordance with law;

b/ To formulate and promulgate, amend and supplement techno-economic norms and cost norms (if any) for use as a basis for promulgation of unit prices and prices of state budget-funded public services within the scope and fields under the Ministry’s management in accordance with the law on price and other relevant laws, which shall be used for task assignment, order placement or bidding for provision of public services in accordance with law;

c/ To guide the implementation of policies and laws and support organizations in providing public services in the fields under the Ministry’s state management.

19. Regarding examination and inspection:

a/ To examine and inspect ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-attached agencies, People’s Committees at all levels and related agencies and units in implementing the education law under the Ministry’s state management;

b/ To settle education-related complaints, denunciations, petitions and reports of organizations and individuals under the Ministry’s state management; to organize the reception of citizens in accordance with law;

c/ To manage the handling of education-related administrative violations in accordance with law.

20. To decide on, and direct the implementation of, the Ministry’s administrative reform program according to the goals and contents of the state administrative reform program approved by the Government or the Prime Minister.

21. To perform the state management of associations and non-governmental organizations in the sectors and fields under the Ministry’s management in accordance with law.

22. To manage the Ministry’s organizational apparatus; working positions, payrolls of civil servants and structure of civil servant ranks; working positions, number of employees and structure of public employees based on professional title; and number of contractual workers under the Ministry’s management; to decide, or assign competent units to decide, on recruitment, employment and management of the Ministry’s cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers in accordance with law and the Party’s regulations; to decide on arrangement of payrolls of civil servants to work as full-time officers in charge of Party’s affairs and mass organizations; to provide professional training, further training and coaching and implement other regimes and policies toward cadres, civil servants and public employees under the Ministry’s state management in accordance with law; to take specific measures to enhance administrative discipline and order for the Ministry’s cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers; to practice thrift, prevent waste and combat corruption, negative practices, bureaucracy, harassment and authoritarianism in organizations and units under the Ministry’s management.

24. To perform other tasks and exercise other powers assigned by the Government or the Prime Minister or under regulations.

Article 3. Organizational structure

1. The Early Childhood Education Department.

2. The General Education Department.

3. The Higher Education Department.

4. The National Defense and Security Education Department.

5. The Student Affairs Department.

6. The Legal Affairs Department.

7. The Personnel and Organization Department.

8. The Planning and Finance Department.

9. The Office.

10. The Inspectorate.

11. The Teachers and Educational Administrators Department.

12. The Quality Control Department.

13. The Science, Technology and Information Department.

14. The International Cooperation Department. 

15. The Vocational Education and Continuing Education Department.

16. The Education Times Newspaper.

17. The Journal of Education.

18. The Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences.

The units specified in Clauses 1 thru 15 of this Article are organizations under the Ministry which assist the Minister in performing the state management function; the units specified in Clauses 16 thru 18 of this Article are public non-business units serving the Ministry’s state management function.

The Minister of Education and Training shall submit to the Prime Minister for promulgation a list of other public non-business units attached to the Ministry.

The Minister of Education and Training shall promulgate decisions defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structures of the units under or attached to the Ministry in accordance with law, except units falling under the competence of the Government or the Prime Minister.

Article 4. Transitional provisions

The General Directorate of Vocational Education and the Department of Continuing Education shall continue to perform their tasks and exercise their powers in accordance with law until the Minister of Education and Training promulgates a decision defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of Vocational Education and Continuing Education Department. The deadline for completion is March 31, 2025.

Article 5. Effect

1. This Decree takes effect on March 1, 2025.

2. This Decree replaces the Government’s Decree No. 86/2022/ND-CP of October 24, 2022, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training.

Article 6. Implementation responsibility

Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-attached agencies and chairpersons of provincial-level People’s Committees shall implement this Decree.-

On behalf of the Government
For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
LE THANH LONG