Vietnam: Are probationary teachers entitled to preferential allowances?

Are probationary teachers in Vietnam entitled to preferential allowances?

Under Official Dispatch 649/NGCBQLGD-CSNGCB in 2024, the guidance is as follows:

The preferential allowances for educators directly teaching in public education and training institutions shall follow the provisions of Decision No. 244/2005/QD-TTg dated October 6, 2005, of the Prime Minister of Vietnam and related guiding documents. The beneficiaries include educators (including probationary staff, contractual staff) on the payroll, directly teaching in public education and training institutions within the national education system.

For educators who are take sickness leave or maternity leave within the period prescribed by law, earn a salary according to current social insurance regulations, not directly participat in teaching, the preferential allowances for educators do not apply.

Thus, probationary teachers on the payroll, directly teaching in public education and training institutions within the national education system in Vietnam, are entitled to preferential allowances.

Are probationary teachers in Vietnam entitled to preferential allowances? (Image from the Internet)

Which periods are not covered by preferential allowances for probationary teachers in Vietnam?

According to sub-item 2 Section I of Joint Circular 01/2006/TTLT-BGDDT-BNV-BTC (amended by Article 2 of Circular 27/2018/TT-BGDDT), probationary teachers are not entitled to preferential allowances during the following periods:

- Periods of working, studying abroad, receiving 40% of salary according to regulations in Clause 4, Article 8 of Decree 204/2004/ND-CP;

- Periods of working, studying domestically, not engaged in continuous teaching for over 3 months;

- Periods of personal leave without pay for 1 month or more;

- Periods of sickness leave or maternity leave exceeding the period prescribed by current social insurance regulations;

- Periods of suspension from teaching.

What are the preferential allowance levels for probationary teachers at upper secondary schools in mountainous and island Areas?

Under point c clause 1 Article 2 of Decision 244/2005/QD-TTg, the preferential allowance levels and calculation methods are specified as follows:

Allowance levels and calculation methods

1. Preferential allowance levels for educators are regulated as follows:

a) A 25% allowance applies to educators directly teaching at universities, colleges, academies, training schools of Ministries, Governmental agencies, Communist Party organizations, and socio-political organizations at the central level, and political schools of provinces, centrally affiliated cities (except for educators teaching at pedagogy schools, pedagogy departments, and educators teaching Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh ideology);

b) A 30% allowance applies to educators directly teaching at junior upper secondary schools, upper secondary schools, general technical and vocational centers, continuing education centers, vocational training centers in plains and cities, district-level towns; professional secondary schools, vocational schools; political training centers of districts, counties, district-level towns, cities under provinces;

c) A 35% allowance applies to educators directly teaching at kindergartens, primary schools in plains and cities, district-level towns; junior upper secondary schools, upper secondary schools, general technical and vocational centers, continuing education centers, vocational training centers in mountainous areas, island areas, and remote areas;

d) A 40% allowance applies to educators directly teaching at pedagogical schools, pedagogy departments (university, college, secondary), management education and training schools, and educators teaching political subject in professional secondary schools, vocational schools;

e) A 45% allowance applies to educators directly teaching Marxist-Leninist science and Ho Chi Minh ideology in universities and colleges;

f) A 50% allowance applies to educators directly teaching in preschools, primary schools in mountainous areas, islands, and remote areas.

2. The preferential allowances specified in clause 1 Article 2 are calculated under the current grade/step-based salary, plus the leader allowance, and extra-seniority allowance (if any).

Thus, probationary teachers directly teaching at upper secondary schools in mountainous areas, islands, and remote areas are entitled to a preferential allowance level of 35%.

How to calculate the preferential allowances for educators in Vietnam?

According to sub-item 2 Section II of Joint Circular 01/2006/TTLT-BGDDT-BNV-BTC, the regulation is as follows:

Allowance levels and calculation methods

...

2. Calculation Method

The preferential allowance = Statutory Pay Rate x [current grade/step-based salary + leader allowance coefficient (if any) + % (converted to coefficient) extra-seniority allowance (if any)] x preferential allowance level.

The current statutory pay rate is 2,340,000 VND/month according to Article 3 of Decree 73/2024/ND-CP.

Therefore, the formula for the calculation of the preferential allowance for educators is as follows:

Preferential allowance = 2,340,000 x [current grade/step-based salary + leader allowance coefficient (if any) + % (converted to coefficient) extra-seniority allowance (if any)] x preferential allowance level.