The Ministry of Health will be responsible for issuing residency and specialist doctor diplomas.

Delegates attending the morning session on December 10. Photo: QUANG PHÚC

Presenting the report explaining and incorporating feedback, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son stated that the draft had been revised to clarify the legal status of vocational high schools within vocational education .

Accordingly, vocational education includes elementary, secondary, intermediate, and advanced vocational training programs; and vocational secondary education is defined as being at the same level as high school education. This regulation contributes to increasing the effectiveness of educational streaming, creating opportunities for articulation between high school and vocational training, and affirming the legal value of vocational secondary school diplomas.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son. Photo: QUANG PHUC

The draft also standardizes the term "diploma of specialized training programs in certain specific fields and disciplines," replacing "equivalent diploma," in order to accurately reflect the nature of diplomas such as those for doctors, pharmacists, engineers, and architects, and to align with international practices.

Notably, for advanced postgraduate training programs in the health sector, such as residency programs and specialist programs, the draft law stipulates that the Ministry of Health will be responsible for guidance, organization, implementation, and management in accordance with the amended Higher Education Law. This is a topic that has received much discussion from National Assembly deputies recently, particularly regarding the articulation between residency and specialist programs and master's and doctoral degrees. The Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Health have agreed on a management approach that emphasizes deeper specialization.

Regarding textbooks, the law stipulates that the Minister of Education and Training shall decide on a set of textbooks for unified use nationwide, which may be newly compiled or revised from existing sets depending on the practical situation. From January 1, 2026, students will receive free textbooks, and a single set of textbooks will be used nationwide.

Another important new feature is the elimination of lower secondary school diplomas. Students who complete the primary and lower secondary education programs and meet the requirements will have their completion confirmed in their school records by the principal, instead of receiving diplomas as before.

The amended Law on Higher Education also incorporates and revises regulations to clearly define the management mechanism for postgraduate specialized training programs in the health sector, and the awarding of residency and specialist doctor degrees, which are guided, organized, and managed by the Ministry of Health .

PHAN THAO

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/viec-cap-van-bang-bac-si-noi-tru-bac-si-chuyen-khoa-se-do-bo-y-te-thuc-hien-va-quan-ly-post827878.html