Are Grade II lower secondary school teachers in Vietnam required to have a university degree?

Are Grade II lower secondary school teachers in Vietnam required to have a university degree?

Based on Article 4 of Circular 03/2021/TT-BGDDT (amended and repealed by Clauses 2, 3, 4, and Clause 13 of Article 3 Circular 08/2023/TT-BGDDT) as follows:

Lower secondary school Teacher Grade II - Code V.07.04.31

1. Responsibilities

In addition to the duties of a Grade III lower secondary school teacher, a Grade II lower secondary school teacher must perform the following tasks:

a) Serve as a reporter or demonstrate in teacher training classes or pilot new models, methods, and technologies from the school level or higher; preside over training content and thematic activities in professional groups or participate in developing electronic learning materials;

b) Participate in guiding or evaluating scientific and technological research products from the school level or higher;

c) Engage in social activities, serve the community; attract participation from organizations and individuals in organizing teaching and educational activities for students;

d) Join external assessment teams; or work on professional and operational inspection for teachers from the school level or higher;

đ) Participate as a judge or in question-setting committees or as a coach in competitions (for teachers or students) from the school level or higher (if any).

3. Standards of Education and Training Qualifications

a) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher in teacher training for lower secondary school teachers.

If the subject lacks teachers with a bachelor's degree in teacher training, one must have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and a certificate in lower secondary school teaching pedagogy training according to the program issued by the Minister of Education and Training;

b) Have a certificate in training according to the standards of the Grade II lower secondary school teacher's professional titles.

4. Standards of Professional Competence and Skills

a) Master the guidelines, policies, laws of the Communist Party, the State, regulations, and requirements of the sector and locality on secondary education and effectively implement them in assigned tasks;

b) Flexibly adjust teaching and educational plans to suit the school's and locality's actual conditions; have the ability to design interdisciplinary lessons;

c) Proactively update and flexibly and effectively apply new teaching methods and educational technologies to meet the objectives of the general education program, suitable for the school's and locality's actual conditions;

d) Proactively update and creatively apply the forms, methods of testing, assessing students' learning outcomes, training, and progress towards developing students' qualities and competencies;

đ) Effectively apply psychological counseling and career guidance measures suitable for each student in teaching and educational activities;

e) Proactively and positively establish healthy, trusting relationships with students' parents and related organizations and individuals in implementing teaching and educational activities for students;

g) Proactively research and promptly update new professional and operational requirements; creatively, suitably, and effectively apply forms to enhance their professional competence;

h) Have the ability to apply information technology in professional activities; be able to use a foreign language or ethnic minority language as required for the job position;

i) Be recognized as an emulation soldier at the grassroots level; or receive certificates of merit or commendation from the district level upward; or be recognized as achieving one of the titles: excellent teacher, excellent class teacher from the school level upward, or excellent instructor for the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer organization from the district level upward;

k) Civil servants taking an examination or considering promotion to the professional title of Grade II lower secondary school teacher (code V.07.04.31) must have held the professional title of Grade III lower secondary school teacher (code V.07.04.32) or equivalent for at least 09 (nine) years (excluding probation period) as of the deadline for application submission for the promotion examination or consideration.

Grade II lower secondary school teachers must meet the following educational qualifications:

(1) Hold a bachelor's degree or higher in teacher training for lower secondary school teachers.

If the subject lacks teachers with a bachelor's degree in teacher training, one must have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and a certificate in lower secondary school teaching pedagogy training according to the program issued by the Minister of Education and Training;

(2) Have a certificate in training according to the standards of the Grade II lower secondary school teacher's professional titles.

Accordingly, based on the above regulations, Grade II lower secondary school teachers need to have a university degree (also known as a bachelor's degree) in teacher training for lower secondary school teachers.

However, in case a subject lacks teachers with a bachelor's degree in teacher training, one must have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and a certificate in lower secondary school teaching pedagogy training according to the program issued by the Minister of Education and Training.

Are Grade II lower secondary school teachers in Vietnam required to have a university degree? (Image from the Internet)

What is the pay step of Grade II lower secondary school teachers in Vietnam?

Based on Article 8 of Circular 03/2021/TT-BGDDT as specified:

Salary Classification

1. Appointed civil servants to the professional titles of lower secondary school teachers stipulated in this Circular shall apply the corresponding pay steps issued in Decree No. 204/2004/ND-CP dated December 14, 2004 of the Government of Vietnam on salary policies for officials and public employees and the armed forces. Specifically:

a) Grade III lower secondary school teachers, code V.07.04.32, apply the salary coefficient of public employees of type A1, from a salary coefficient of 2.34 to a salary coefficient of 4.98;

b) Grade II lower secondary school teachers, code V.07.04.31, apply the salary coefficient of public employees of type A2, group A2.2, from a salary coefficient of 4.00 to a salary coefficient of 6.38;

c) Grade I lower secondary school teachers, code V.07.04.30, apply the salary coefficient of public employees of type A2, group A2.1, from a salary coefficient of 4.4 to a salary coefficient of 6.78.

2. Salary classification when appointing to professional titles is carried out according to the guidance in Clause 1, Section II of Circular No. 02/2007/TT-BNV dated May 25, 2007, of the Ministry of Home Affairs guiding salary classification when promoting, transferring ranks, changing types of officials and public employees and in accordance with current laws. When implementing new salary policies, transferring to the new salary shall follow the Government of Vietnam's regulations.

The salary classification for Grade II public lower secondary school teachers, code V.07.04.31, corresponds to the salary coefficient of public employees of type A2, group A2.2, from a salary coefficient of 4.00 to a salary coefficient of 6.38.

Therefore, Grade II lower secondary school teachers have a pay step (salary coefficient) from 4.00 to 6.38.

What are the rights of Grade II lower secondary school teachers in Vietnam?

Based on Article 29 of the Regulations on lower secondary schools, high schools, and multi-level schools, promulgated with Circular 32/2020/TT-BGDDT. To be specific:

- Have autonomy in performing professional tasks with the assignment and support of the professional group and the school.

- Be entitled to salary, allowance policies, preferential policies (if any) as prescribed; be allowed to change professional titles; enjoy material and spiritual benefits as prescribed.

- Be facilitated for political, professional, and operational training; receive full salary, allowances according to salary, and other policies when being sent for study and training by competent authorities.

- Be allowed to contract for guest lectures, scientific research at other schools, educational institutions, or research facilities on the condition of fulfilling duties at the current workplace and with the written consent of the principal.

- Be respected, protected for dignity, honor, and physical safety.

- Have summer holidays and other days off as prescribed by law.

- Other rights as prescribed by law.

For teachers serving as class advisors, in addition to the above rights, they also have the following rights:

- Attend students' lessons and other educational activities in their class.

- Attend meetings of the reward and discipline councils when resolving issues related to students of their class.

- Attend training classes and thematic conferences on advisory work.

- Be entitled to allow individual students with valid reasons to take leave for up to 3 continuous days.

- Be entitled to a reduced teaching load as prescribed.