The implementation of a two-tier local government system has brought significant changes in the authority over tasks such as issuing graduation certificates, transferring students, selecting textbooks, and recognizing graduation for students.

The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has recently issued several circulars that redefine the distribution of authority and responsibilities for state management in education between the two levels of local government.

Under the new framework, many responsibilities previously handled by the district-level Department of Education and Training (DOET) have been reassigned to commune-level People’s Committees.

The circulars replace phrases such as "DOET" and "district-level People's Committee" with "commune-level People's Committee", and "Head of DOET" with "Chairperson of the commune-level People's Committee".

Commune-level authorities now issue graduation certificates and national education system diplomas

One notable update is Circular No. 13/2025/TT-BGDDT on the management of diplomas and certificates.

Starting July 1, 2025, the responsibility for managing the use of diploma and certificate templates and issuing diplomas and certificates as stipulated in Clause 3, Article 3 of the regulations attached to Circular No. 21/2019/TT-BGDDT will shift to the commune-level People's Committees.

These include diplomas for lower and upper secondary schools, pedagogical colleges, and universities, as well as certificates within the national education system.

For diplomas and certificates issued by the DOET before July 1, 2025, tasks such as reissuance, issuing copies from the original register, content corrections, and revocations will remain under the authority of provincial-level DOETs.

Provincial DOETs to approve key educators and managers

In addition, the MOET has released Circular No. 12/2025/TT-BGDDT regarding the delegation of responsibilities in managing teachers and education administrators under the new local governance model.

Accordingly, evaluating principals based on professional standards and approving the list of key education administrators in general education institutions will be conducted by the provincial-level DOETs.

The selection and approval of key teachers at general education institutions are also under the authority of the provincial DOETs.

Meanwhile, organizing teaching competitions and outstanding homeroom teacher contests will fall to the commune-level People's Committees.

Commune-level authorities now handle secondary school transfers

The MOET has also introduced Circular No. 10/2025/TT-BGDDT detailing the division of responsibilities in general education management.

Under this regulation, the transfer and admission of students to lower secondary schools are now the responsibility of the commune-level People's Committees.

Specifically, the issuance of school transfer letters for lower secondary students, as defined in Point f, Clause 1, Article 5 of Decision No. 51/2002/QD-BGDDT, will be conducted by the Chairperson of the commune-level People's Committee at the student’s current residence.

The responsibility for reviewing documents, issuing referral letters, and admitting students lies with the commune-level People's Committee where the receiving school is located.

Any exceptional cases regarding transfer timing will be decided by the Chairperson of the commune-level People's Committee of the new location.

Graduation recognition for lower secondary students also sees a shift. The authority for approving graduation, forming the graduation recognition council, announcing graduation lists, and distributing diplomas now rests with the commune-level People’s Committee as per Circular No. 31/2023/TT-BGDDT.

Changes in textbook selection procedures for schools

The process for selecting textbooks in general education institutions has also been revised. Circular No. 10/2025/TT-BGDDT amends Circular No. 27/2023/TT-BGDDT by replacing the phrase "appraisal of dossiers" with "review of dossiers" in Article 8 and Clause 1 of Article 15. Accordingly, the review of textbook selection dossiers at primary and lower secondary schools will now be managed by the commune-level People's Committees.

These newly issued circulars will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Thanh Hung