Does the principal of a vocational college in Vietnam have the authority to decide the number of staff?

Does the principal of a vocational college in Vietnam have the authority to decide the number of staff?

Based on Clause 3, Article 14 of the Law on vocational education 2014 which stipulates the duties and powers of the principal of a vocational college. Specifically:

- Issue regulations within the college in accordance with the resolutions of the school council, the board of directors;

- Organize the implementation of the resolutions of the school council, the board of directors;

- Decide on establishing, merging, dividing, separating, and dissolving the organizations within the school according to the resolutions of the school council, the board of directors; appoint, relieve, and dismiss the heads and deputies of the school’s organizations;

- Develop planning and development for the teaching staff and management personnel; decide on the structure and number of staff and salaries based on work performance and quality; recruit public employees and workers according to the needs of the school; sign work contracts and labor contracts, manage, use, and terminate contracts in accordance with the law;

- Organize the implementation of training activities, international cooperation, vocational education quality accreditation, and cooperate with enterprises in training;

- Manage infrastructure, assets, and finances, and effectively exploit and use resources to serve the training activities of the school in accordance with the law;

- Implement information policies, report, and undergo supervision, inspection, and audits according to the law;

- Develop and implement grassroots democracy regulations; undergo supervision by individuals, organizations, and unions within the school;

- Annually, report on the results of the principal’s and executive board’s tasks to the school council and the board of directors;

- Other duties and powers as prescribed by law.

Therefore, one of the principal’s rights in a vocational college is to decide the number of staff and determine salaries based on work performance and quality.

Duties and powers of the principal of a vocational college in Vietnam (Image from the Internet)

What is the tenure of the principal of a vocational college in Vietnam?

Based on Clause 4, Article 14 of the Law on vocational education 2014, the following is stipulated:

Principal of secondary schools and vocational colleges

1. The principal of a secondary school or vocational college is the head of the institution, representing the school before the law, and responsible for managing all school activities. The tenure of the principal is 05 years. The principal is appointed and re-appointed according to the term and not to exceed two consecutive terms.

The principal of a public secondary school or vocational college is the account holder, responsible before the law for all financial management and asset management of the school.

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4. The authority to appoint, recognize, relieve, and dismiss the principal of a secondary school or vocational college is specified as follows:

a) The Minister, the head of a central agency, the head of an agency under the Government of Vietnam, the Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, the head of a socio-political organization appoints, relieves, and dismisses the principal of the secondary school or the public vocational college under their management;

b) The Chairman of the provincial People's Committee recognizes or does not recognize the principal of a private secondary school within their administrative area upon the proposal of the board of directors;

c) The head of the central state management agency on vocational education recognizes or does not recognize the principal of a private vocational college upon the proposal of the board of directors.

5. The procedures for appointing, recognizing, relieving, and dismissing the principal of a secondary school or vocational college are prescribed in the Charter of Secondary Schools and the Charter of Vocational Colleges.

Thus, the tenure of the principal of a vocational college is 05 years. Additionally, the principal can be appointed and re-appointed according to the tenure but cannot exceed two consecutive terms.

What responsibilities does the principal of a vocational college have in terms of bridge programs?

Pursuant to Article 9 of the Law on vocational education 2014, the regulations are as follows:

Bridge programs

1. Bridge programs is based on the training program; learners transitioning from lower to higher training levels in the same field or changing to a different field are not required to retake previously studied content.

2. The principal of a secondary school or vocational college decides the modules, credits, subjects, or content that learners do not need to retake based on the training program.

3. Bridge programs between training levels in vocational education is regulated by the head of the central vocational education authority; Bridge programs between vocational education training levels and higher education training levels is regulated by the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.

Therefore, the principal of a vocational college has the responsibility to decide the modules, credits, subjects, or content that learners do not need to retake based on the training program.