New points in regulations on joint organization of foreign language proficiency certification exams

In the Circular recently issued by the Ministry of Education and Training regulating the joint organization of foreign language proficiency exams, there are some notable new points such as: Delegating approval authority to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; clarifying responsibilities in organizing exams to grant certificates, etc.

High school students (Photo: DAI THANG)

The Ministry of Education and Training has just issued Circular No. 16/2025/TT-BGDDT regulating the joint organization of foreign language proficiency certification exams, effective from October 12, 2025, replacing Circular No. 11/2022/TT-BGDDT dated July 26, 2022.

Concretize the policy of promoting decentralization and delegation

Decree No. 143/2025/ND-CP dated June 12, 2025 of the Government stipulating the decentralization and delegation of authority in the field of state management of the Ministry of Education and Training has amended and supplemented a number of articles of Decree No. 86/2018/ND-CP, Decree No. 124/2024/ND-CP, assigning the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee the authority to approve joint organization of foreign language proficiency exams.

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has the authority to approve joint organization of foreign language proficiency exams. The Provincial and Municipal People's Committees manage joint organization of foreign language proficiency exams in their localities.

The People's Committees of provinces and cities shall manage the activities of joint organization of foreign language proficiency examinations in their localities according to Government regulations; publicly announce and update on the electronic information page the list of units approved, adjusted, extended, and terminated joint organization of foreign language proficiency examinations in their localities.

Circular No. 16/2025/TT-BGDDT also amends and supplements a number of other provisions to specify the responsibilities of state management agencies, strengthen the responsibilities of parties involved in foreign language proficiency certification examinations, and specify the responsibilities of the parties involved (in publicity, transparency, accountability to society, handling of questions, ensuring the rights of test takers, etc.) in the process of implementing the association, organizing exams, and granting certificates as a basis for state management agencies to conduct post-inspection.

Clear responsibilities in organizing foreign language proficiency certification exams

According to the newly issued circular, the Vietnamese side is the joint testing organization - the testing facility in Vietnam - that has an agreement or cooperation contract with a foreign language proficiency assessment facility that is primarily responsible for organizing foreign language proficiency certification exams in Vietnam.

The foreign party is the foreign language proficiency certificate-issuing unit - the foreign language proficiency assessment facility responsible for and authorized to issue foreign language proficiency certificates or the foreign language proficiency assessment facility authorized or permitted by the foreign language proficiency certificate-issuing unit to organize the certificate-issuing exam.

Clarifying the concept of legal and popular foreign language proficiency certificates in the world

According to Circular No. 16/2025/TT-BGDDT, foreign language proficiency certificates are legally recognized in the host country when the competent authority of that country permits the organization of the certificate examination; or are used to review immigration applications, naturalization, and grant entry visas to citizens of countries who want to settle, work, research, study, and recognize the achievement of input and output standards in training programs for international students in countries using the language used for the certificate examination as the official language.

Also according to the provisions of the new circular, the approval of joint organization of foreign language proficiency certificates does not include the recognition of the levels of those foreign language proficiency certificates as equivalent to the levels of the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for use in Vietnam in the national education system.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, with the above new points, Circular No. 16/2025/TT-BGDDT is a step to complete the legal framework, increase transparency, clearly decentralize power and protect the rights of test takers in the joint organization of foreign language proficiency certification exams.

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Source: https://nhandan.vn/diem-moi-tai-quy-dinh-ve-lien-ket-to-chuc-thi-cap-chung-chi-nang-luc-ngoai-ngu-cua-nuoc-ngoai-post906432.html