Vietnam: How are teachers who teach ethnic minority languages trained?

How are teachers of ethnic minority languages trained and developed?

According to the provisions of Article 6 Circular 32/2021/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, teachers of ethnic minority languages are trained and developed as follows:

- Teachers of ethnic minority languages are trained in pedagogy for ethnic minority languages at higher education institutions. These higher education institutions assigned the task of training teachers must prepare all necessary conditions to open training courses for teachers of ethnic minority languages to meet practical demands.

- Institutions assigned the task of training and developing teachers of ethnic minority languages shall compile training materials based on the Training Program for teachers of ethnic minority languages issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

- The training of teachers for ethnic minority languages shall be carried out according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Education and Training.

How are teachers of ethnic minority languages trained and developed? (Image from the Internet)

How do teachers of ethnic minority languages achieve the required training standards?

According to Article 2 Circular 32/2021/TT-BGDDT:

Conditions for organizing teaching

1. Ethnic minorities in the locality have the desire and need to learn ethnic minority languages in educational institutions.

2. The scripts of ethnic minority languages taught and learned in educational institutions must be traditional scripts widely circulated and used within the ethnic community, identified by specialized agencies and approved by the Provincial People's Committee (hereinafter referred to as Provincial People's Committee) or scripts issued by the Government of Vietnam. For ethnic minority languages with multiple scripts, the choice of script for teaching and learning is decided by the Ministry of Education and Training.

3. The ethnic minority language program issued by the Ministry of Education and Training, and textbooks on ethnic minority languages approved by the Ministry of Education and Training.

4. Teachers of ethnic minority languages meet the required training standards of the corresponding educational level as prescribed in Article 72 of the Education Law 2019. In cases where there is a shortage of teachers who meet the standards, individuals who are qualified to teach at the respective educational level and have a certificate of training for teaching ethnic minority languages can be employed.

5. Facilities for ethnic minority language classes are equipped like regular classes, meeting the requirements of the general education program. Teaching equipment for ethnic minority languages shall be equipped according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training on the minimum list of teaching equipment for each ethnic minority language teaching program.

Thus, teachers of ethnic minority languages achieve the required training standards of the corresponding educational level as follows:

- Hold a college degree in pedagogy or higher for preschool teachers;- Hold a bachelor's degree in teacher training or higher for primary, secondary, and high school teachers.

In cases where a subject lacks teachers with a bachelor's degree in teacher training, individuals must hold a bachelor's degree in the relevant major and have a certificate of pedagogical training;

- Hold a master's degree for university lecturers; hold a doctoral degree for lecturers teaching and supervising master's theses and doctoral dissertations;

- The training standards for teachers teaching in vocational education institutions comply with the provisions of the Vocational Education Law 2014.

Note: In cases where there is a shortage of qualified teachers, individuals who are qualified to teach at the respective educational level and have a certificate of training for teaching ethnic minority languages can be employed.

Do teachers of ethnic minority languages receive responsibility allowances?

According to Article 7 Circular 32/2021/TT-BGDDT:

Policies

1. For instructors:

a) Instructors who meet the required teaching hours, including at least 04 periods/week of ethnic minority language teaching for teachers; at least 02 periods/week of ethnic minority language teaching for principals, vice principals, and equivalents are entitled to a job responsibility allowance of 0.3 compared to the statutory pay rate in addition to other allowances as prescribed. This allowance does not apply to teachers, principals, vice principals, and equivalents who have already received responsibility allowances as stipulated in Article 12 of Decree 76/2019/ND-CP dated October 08, 2019, of the Government of Vietnam on policies for officials and public employees, workers, and salaried personnel in the armed forces working in areas with extremely difficult socio-economic conditions. The job responsibility allowance is paid monthly along with the salary and is not used for calculating social insurance, unemployment insurance, and health insurance;

b) Instructors who teach ethnic minority languages exceeding the required teaching hours shall have the excess hours paid according to current state regulations.

2. For students: Ethnic minority students studying ethnic minority languages in educational institutions are provided with textbooks and reference materials by the state to serve their learning needs.

3. For educational institutions assigned the task of teaching ethnic minority languages, the head of the educational institution shall arrange teachers to ensure sufficient teaching hours as prescribed.

4. The Provincial People's Committee is responsible for ensuring the funding for implementing policies on teaching and learning ethnic minority languages as stipulated in this Circular according to current state budget decentralization regulations.

Thus, teachers of ethnic minority languages are entitled to the following policies:

- Instructors who ensure the required teaching hours, including at least 04 periods/week of ethnic minority language teaching for teachers;

- At least 02 periods/week of ethnic minority language teaching for principals, vice principals, and equivalents are entitled to a job responsibility allowance of 0.3 compared to the statutory pay rate in addition to other allowances as prescribed.

These individuals receive the job responsibility allowance paid monthly along with the salary and it is not used for calculating social insurance, unemployment insurance, and health insurance.

Instructors who teach ethnic minority languages exceeding the required teaching hours shall have the excess hours paid according to current state regulations.

Note: This job responsibility allowance does not apply to teachers, principals, vice principals, and equivalents who have already received responsibility allowances as stipulated in Article 12 Decree 76/2019/ND-CP.