Roadmap for improvement of background qualifications for preschool teachers in Vietnam

Roadmap for improvement of background qualifications for preschool teachers in Vietnam

Based on Article 4 of Decree 71/2020/ND-CP, regulations on the Roadmap for improvement of background qualifications for preschool teachers are as follows:

Roadmap for improvement of background qualifications for preschool teachers

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

2. The Roadmap is divided into two phases:

a) Phase 1: From July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2025, ensuring that at least 60% of preschool teachers are being trained or have completed the training program and granted a diploma in pedagogy;

b) Phase 2: From January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030, applying to the remaining teachers to ensure 100% of preschool teachers complete the training program and are granted a diploma in pedagogy.

The Roadmap for improvement of background qualifications for preschool teachers will be implemented in 2 phases.

Phase 1: From July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2025, ensuring that at least 60% of preschool teachers are being trained or have completed the training program and granted a diploma in pedagogy;

Phase 2: From January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030, applying to the remaining teachers to ensure 100% of preschool teachers complete the training program and are granted a diploma in pedagogy.

Therefore, the Roadmap for improvement of background qualifications for preschool teachers will extend to the year 2030.

Roadmap for improvement of background qualifications for preschool teachers (Image from the Internet)

Responsibilities of preschool teachers in improvement of background qualifications in Vietnam

Based on Article 10 of Decree 71/2020/ND-CP, the regulations on the rights and responsibilities of teachers participating in upgrading their background qualifications are as follows:

Rights and Responsibilities of Teachers Participating in improvement of background qualifications

1. Rights of teachers assigned to improve their background qualifications:

a) Facilitated with time by the management and user agency; supported with tuition fees (according to the current legal regulations for pedagogy students);

b) Training time is counted as continuous working time;

c) They are entitled to 100% salary and other policies, and allowances as per legal regulations.

2. Responsibilities of teachers assigned to improve their background qualifications:

a) Comply with training regulations, rules, and time requirements; under the management of the training institution during participation in training activities;

b) Commit to performing tasks and duties at educational institutions after completing the training program for at least twice the duration of the training period;

c) During the training period, teachers must still perform their assigned duties when not participating in training activities;

d) In case teachers fail to complete the training program on time, leading to an extension period, they must self-finance all additional training costs incurred during the extended time.

Thus, preschool teachers participating in upgrading their background qualifications must fulfill four responsibilities:

(1) Comply with training regulations, rules, and time requirements; under the management of the training institution during participation in training activities;

(2) Commit to performing tasks and duties at educational institutions after completing the training program for at least twice the duration of the training period;

(3) During the training period, teachers must still perform their assigned duties when not participating in training activities;

(4) In case teachers fail to complete the training program on time, leading to an extension period, they must self-finance all additional training costs incurred during the extended period.

Cases where preschool teachers in Vietnam are not required to improve background qualifications

Based on Article 72 of the Education Law 2019, the background qualifications for educators are as follows:

(1) Holding a diploma in pedagogy or higher for preschool teachers.

(2) Holding a bachelor's degree in education or higher for primary, lower secondary, and upper secondary school teachers.

(3) In cases where a subject lacks enough teachers holding a bachelor's degree in education, they must hold a relevant bachelor's degree and have a pedagogical training certificate.

Additionally, the government has set a Roadmap for upgrading teacher qualifications from July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2030 (based on Clause 1, Article 4 of Decree 71/2020/ND-CP).

Simultaneously, Article 2 of Decree 71/2020/ND-CP specifies the subjects required to improve their training as follows:

Subjects required to improve their background qualifications

1. Preschool teachers who do not hold a diploma in pedagogy or higher, with a minimum of 7 years (84 months) of service remaining from July 1, 2020, until retirement age according to regulations.

2. Primary school teachers who do not hold a bachelor's degree in primary education or a relevant bachelor's degree with a pedagogical training certificate, with a minimum of 8 years (96 months) of service remaining for those with a technical college degree, and 7 years (84 months) for those with a college degree, from July 1, 2020, until retirement age according to regulations.

3. Lower secondary school teachers who do not hold a bachelor's degree in education or a relevant bachelor's degree with a pedagogical training certificate, with a minimum of 7 years (84 months) of service remaining from July 1, 2020, until retirement age according to regulations.

According to the regulations, only the subjects specified in Article 2 of Decree 71/2020/ND-CP are required to improve their background qualifications.

Therefore, preschool teachers who do not hold a diploma but have less than 7 years of service remaining from July 1, 2020, will not be required to improve their background qualifications.