Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has proposed eliminating the lower secondary school graduation diploma (currently awarded after Grade 9) to align with the two-tier local governance model and international educational trends.

The proposal is part of a draft law amending several provisions of the Education Law, recently made public for feedback.

One of the key changes would remove the current practice of district-level Education Departments issuing a graduation diploma after lower secondary school. Instead, school principals would confirm completion of the program in students' academic records.

According to the MOET, this adjustment ensures compatibility with Vietnam’s two-level local governance structure and supports the broader goal of universal education.

It also reflects international practices, where many developed countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Finland do not issue formal graduation diplomas after lower secondary school. Instead, student records validated by school principals are used to determine promotion or educational tracking.

The draft law also proposes decentralizing the management of preschool, primary, and lower secondary schools to the chairpersons of commune-level People’s Committees.

Meanwhile, upper secondary schools and multi-level general education institutions would fall under the jurisdiction of provincial Departments of Education and Training, except for those directly managed by the Minister of Education and Training.

Another major change in the draft is the shift in authority to issue upper secondary school graduation diplomas. Currently issued by provincial education directors, the new regulation would delegate this power to school principals.

The drafters say this change follows the principle of “training institutions issue their own diplomas” and supports the broader policy of decentralization and administrative autonomy.

The draft law also includes several other revisions: removing the term “intermediate schools”, implementing universal preschool education starting from age three, abolishing school boards at the preschool and general education levels, and providing infrastructure support to private schools.

The public consultation period for the draft law runs until July 9. The full text of the draft amendments to the Education Law is available for review.

Thuy Nga