Formulating new regulations on guiding funding management of textbook appraisal

The Ministry of Finance is collecting opinions on draft Circular on guiding funding management of book appraisal textbooks of general education

This circular guided on cost management of textbook appraisal of general education implemented by the National Textbook Evaluation Council in accordance with the regulation in Decision No.404/QĐ-TTg of the Prime Minister dated March 27, 2015 approving the scheme reforming the textbooks of general education programme.

Along with that, this circular applied to subjects including the central and local State management authorities for education and training, the National Council for Textbook Evaluation was established by the Minister of Education and Training establishment in accordance with the Education Law No. 43/2019/QH14, relevant authorities, units and individuals.

The draft stipulated the funding sources for the evaluation of general education textbooks would include the State budget (the budget spending for education - training and vocational training under the central budget) complying with regulations of Law on State Budget; funding and support from domestic and foreign organisations and individuals; sources of socialised capital, legally mobilised capital, and other revenue sources as prescribed by law.

In terms of fund management for the evaluation of general education textbooks, the draft clearly stated that authorities, organisations and individuals are responsible for managing and using the funding for the right purposes, effectively and publicly transparent. The estimation and settlement of funding for evaluation of general education textbooks should comply with the law provisions on the State budget and accounting.

The draft also stipulated the content and evaluation cost of general education textbooks. For the cost of organising meeting for textbook appraisal, the draft clearly stated the hiring of halls, meeting rooms, and equipment for appraisal meetings (if any) includes renting IT equipment, projectors, transmission line rental, and other related direct expenses; other expenses serving the appraisal council meeting (electricity, water, communications, stationery, delivery of documents to members of the Council and other direct expenses) will be counted based on arising costs.

The actual expenses, when making payment must have all vouchers and invoices in accordance with the regulations. Expenses for hiring halls, meeting rooms and equipment must have contracts and invoices as prescribed; the case of borrowing facilities from other agencies or units to organise the appraisal meeting but still must pay the charges for electricity, water, sanitation, security and service, the payment voucher will be the contract and liquidation of the contract between the two parties, together with receipt of the authority or unit that lent the facilities; the facility lender recorded this revenue to reduce the entity's operating expenses.

Regarding expenses for members of the Appraisal Council, the cost of reading documents before the meeting will be up to 35,000 VND/lesson/person.

As for the cost of the appraisal meeting, the draft also stipulates the Chairman of the Appraisal Council will be up to 200,000 VND/ person/session and the Vice Chairman, member, secretary of appraisal council will be up to 150,000 VND/person/session.