Expected new breakthroughs in diploma and certificate management

If issued, this Circular will replace Circular No. 21/2019/TT-BGDDT dated November 29, 2019 promulgating the Regulations on management of junior high school diplomas, high school diplomas, intermediate pedagogical diplomas, college pedagogical diplomas, university diplomas and certificates of the national education system.

According to the draft, the Regulations on diplomas and certificates of the national education system have 24 articles (10 articles less than the Regulations issued with Circular No. 21/2019/TT-BGDDT) with the content of the provisions being edited and perfected in a more concise and comprehensive direction, but with clearer people, clearer work, and clearer responsibilities.

Some new points of the specific Regulations are as follows:

Institutionalizing the Party's policies and the Government 's regulations on digital transformation in education

The draft supplements the concept of digital diplomas and certificates (Article 2 of the draft Regulation); the issuance, storage, and processing of digital diplomas and certificates (Articles 3, 7, 11, 19, 20); the issuance of copies, editing, revocation, and cancellation... of digital diplomas and certificates (Articles 14, 15, 16, 17, 18); regulations on how to build and update information on the database of diplomas and certificates; and the exploitation and use of the database of diplomas and certificates (Article 19).

Regulations on the list of key information fields that need to be updated on the database of diplomas and certificates are also added (in Appendix V) to strengthen the legal basis for implementing digital diplomas and certificates.

In addition, all articles in the Draft have been amended and supplemented in the direction of: regulations to promote the application of technology and digital transformation in the management of diplomas and certificates; synchronously deploy digital diplomas and certificates at the same time as issuing paper diplomas and certificates, ensuring drastic and urgent implementation of the Party and Government's directions on digital transformation in the education sector.

Unify and synchronize with the amendment of 3 laws in the field of education and training

The draft Circular ensures consistency and synchronization with the content of the draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Education, the Law on Higher Education (amended), and the Law on Vocational Education (amended) submitted to the 15th National Assembly for comments at the 10th session.

Accordingly, replacing the issuance of junior high school graduation certificates with confirmation of completion of junior high school program in the transcript, supplementing vocational high school diplomas, supplementing the form of digital diplomas, digital certificates...

The Draft Regulation also supplements the scope and subjects of regulation, including diplomas and certificates of vocational education.

Decentralization for modern governance

An important new point in the draft Circular is to implement decentralization for modern administration, promptly handle local and grassroots issues; competent entities to issue diplomas and certificates proactively organize implementation according to the authority and responsibilities assigned in legal documents and be accountable; state management agencies strengthen inspection and supervision work.

The draft clearly defines the content and scope of management of diplomas and certificates of the Ministry of Education and Training, Department of Education and Training, and educational institutions; clearly defines the authority and responsibilities of relevant organizations, units, and individuals.

In particular, the Ministry of Education and Training focuses on promulgating regulations and managing according to the provisions of law, not directly or on behalf of localities or establishments. The competent entities to issue diplomas and certificates are responsible for organizing implementation according to the authority and responsibilities assigned in the Regulations, specifically:

Remove the regulations on printing diplomas and certificates of the Ministry of Education and Training (Articles 9, 10, 11, 12 of the Regulations attached to Circular 21/2019/TT-BGDDT), decentralize to the Department of Education and Training or assign competent authorities to issue diplomas and certificates (for paper diplomas and certificates).

Implement decentralization and delegation of authority thoroughly, associated with promoting the responsibility of those with the authority to issue diplomas and certificates (Articles 5, 7, 10, 11, 18, 19).

The forms of college and secondary school diplomas and certificates of the national education system prescribed in current documents are replaced by regulations on the main content recorded on diplomas and certificates (Article 9). The forms of original diploma books, original diploma book appendices, books for issuing copies from original books... are replaced by regulations on the main content recorded on these books to increase the autonomy of competent authorities to issue diplomas and certificates in managing diplomas and certificates (Articles 7, 11, 18).

Reduce paperwork requirements, reduce administrative compliance costs

Regulations in the draft reduce documents, paperwork, implementation time, costs of administrative procedure compliance, and reduce inconvenience for people and students.

Regulations related to administrative procedures (Articles 14, 15, 16, 17, 20) are amended to reduce paperwork requirements, reduce administrative procedure compliance costs for learners/citizens and focus on receiving, processing records, and resolving administrative procedures in the field of diplomas and certificates through the online public service portal, ensuring publicity, transparency, and efficiency.

The deadline for issuing a paper high school diploma is reduced from 75 days from the date of the graduation recognition decision to 30 days; the deadline for issuing digital diplomas and certificates is determined to be 5 days from the date of the graduation recognition decision (Article 12).

Removing difficulties and obstacles in implementing the management of diplomas and certificates

Many problems and shortcomings in the practical implementation of diploma and certificate management in recent times have been synthesized and carefully studied for supplementation and adjustment; ensuring proper implementation of Resolution No. 278/NQ-CP dated September 13, 2025 of the Government.

Supplementing regulations on authorization and assigning deputies to sign diplomas and certificates to solve the problem of overload for heads of competent agencies issuing VBCCs in signing diplomas and certificates (Article 13). Stipulating special cases when issuing copies from original books, reissuing, editing content, revoking and canceling diplomas and certificates (when there is no original book, when there is no authorized person as prescribed in the Circular, when merging, splitting, dissolving competent agencies...) to ensure the rights of those who are granted diplomas and certificates, limiting complaints and recommendations (Article 11)...

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/du-kien-nhung-diem-moi-dot-pha-trong-quan-ly-van-bang-chung-chi-post752707.html