Are all lower secondary school teachers in Vietnam required to improve their qualifications by December 31, 2025?

Are all lower secondary school teachers in Vietnam required to improve their qualifications by December 31, 2025?

According to Clause 2, Article 6 of Decree 71/2020/ND-CP, the roadmap for improvement of qualifications for teachers in Vietnam is regulated as follows:

Roadmap for improvement of qualifications for lower secondary school teachers

1. The implementation roadmap is from July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2030.

2. The roadmap is carried out in two phases:

a) Phase 1: From July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2025, ensure that at least 60% of lower secondary school teachers are being trained or have completed training programs and are awarded a bachelor's degree;

b) Phase 2: From January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030, to address the remaining teachers to ensure 100% of lower secondary school teachers have completed training programs and are awarded a bachelor's degree.

Therefore, the roadmap for improvement of qualifications for lower secondary school teachers shall include 2 phases: Phase 1 ends on December 31, 2025, and Phase 2 runs from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030.

Thus, arranging for all lower secondary school teachers to improve their qualifications before December 31, 2025 is not mandatory.

Which entity issues the annual plan for implementing the roadmap for the improvement of qualifications of lower secondary school teachers in Vietnam?

Under Clause 1, Article 8 of Decree 71/2020/ND-CP, the implementation plan for the improvement of qualifications for teachers in Vietnam  is regulated as follows:

Implementation plan for the improvement of qualifications for teachers

1. Based on the orientation, goals for building and developing the national, regional, teacher workforce, teacher employment needs, and criteria specified in Articles 4, 5, and 6 of this Decree, the plan development is carried out as follows:

a) The People's Committee at the provincial level formulates an annual plan for implementing the roadmap for improvement of qualifications of preschool, primary, and lower secondary school teachers;

b) The Ministry of Education and Training issues a five-year plan following the 2020-2025 and 2026-2030 roadmaps.

2. Developing the plan:

a) The Ministry of Education and Training issues a five-year plan following the 2020-2025 and 2026-2030 roadmaps, sending it to the provincial People's Committees to serve as a basis for formulating annual plans;

b) Annually, preschool and general education institutions develop plans, submit them to the Education and Training Department for synthesis, advising district-level People's Committees to issue plans and send to Department of Education and Training, Department of Education - Science and Technology Bac Lieu (collectively referred to as the Department of Education and Training);

The provincial People's Committee issues annual plans advised and proposed by the Department of Education and Training, based on the plans of the Ministry of Education and Training and the annual plans of district-level People's Committees;

c) The provincial People's Committee sends the plan to the Ministry of Education and Training for synthesis, monitoring, and directive for implementation.

Thus, the provincial-level People's Committee issues the annual plan for implementing the roadmap for the improvement of qualifications of preschool, primary, and lower secondary school teachers.

Are all lower secondary school teachers in Vietnam required to improve their qualifications by December 31, 2025? (Image from the Internet)

What are the responsibilities of lower secondary school teachers improving their qualifications in Vietnam?

Under Clause 2, Article 10 of Decree 71/2020/ND-CP, regulations on the rights and responsibilities of teachers improving their qualifications are as follows:

Rights and responsibilities of teachers improving their qualifications

1. Rights of teachers sent for training to improve qualifications:

a) Facilitated by management and usage agencies regarding time; receive support for tuition fees (applied according to current legal provisions for pedagogical students);

b) The training period is counted as part of continuous professional time;

c) Receive 100% of salary and allowances as prescribed by law.

2. Responsibilities of teachers sent for training to improve qualifications:

a) Comply with training regulations, rules and regulations regarding the training period; subjected to management by the training institution during participation in training activities;

b) Committed to performing duties at preschools and general educational institutions after completing the training program for at least twice the training duration;

c) Throughout the course duration, teachers must still perform work tasks as prescribed when not participating in training activities;

d) If a teacher fails to complete the training program within the prescribed time resulting in extended training time, they must cover the self-incurred training costs arising during the extended training period.

Thus, the responsibilities of teachers sent for training to improve qualifications include complying with training regulations, rules, and time requirements; being managed by the training institution during participation in training activities and other tasks as mentioned above.