Vietnam: How many years of teaching experience are required to become a primary school principal?

How many years of teaching experience are required to become a primary school principal?

Article 56 of the 2019 Education Law of Vietnam stipulates that the school principal is responsible for managing the school's operations and is appointed or recognised by a competent authority. School principal of the national educational system must be trained and upgraded in school management and meet standards of school principal.

Point b, Clause 1, Article 11 of the Primary School Charter issued together with Circular 28/2020/TT-BGDDT provides regulations on the principal and vice principal as follows:

Principal, Vice Principal

1. Principal

a) The principal of the primary school is responsible for managing, operating the school’s activities, and ensuring the quality of education.

b) A person appointed as a principal for public schools or recognized as a principal for private schools must meet the standards stipulated in the Principal Standards of Public Education Institutions and satisfy the following requirements: must meet the qualification standards for teachers as stipulated in the Education Law for the primary level; have at least 05 years of teaching experience (or 04 years for mountainous areas, islands, highlands, remote areas, areas with ethnic minorities, and areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions) at the primary level.

Thus, a primary school principal must meet the requirement of having at least 05 years of teaching experience (or 04 years for mountainous areas, islands, highlands, remote areas, areas with ethnic minorities, and areas with particularly difficult socio-economic conditions) at the primary level.

Additionally, primary school principals must meet other conditions and standards as prescribed by law.

How many years of teaching experience are required to become a primary school principal? (Image from the Internet)

Does the principal have the authority to establish the council of a public primary school?

According to Clause 1, Article 55 of the 2019 Education Law, the council of a public school is a governing body representing the ownership of the school and its related stakeholders.

Point e, Clause 1, Article 10 of the Primary School Charter issued together with Circular 28/2020/TT-BGDDT provides regulations on the school council as follows:

School Council

1. School council of public schools

...

e) Procedures for establishing the council of a public primary school

Based on the members stipulated in point b, Clause 1, Article 10 of this Circular, the principal compiles a list of staff recommended by the teaching staff and school organizations and submits it to the chairman of the district’s People’s Committee to issue a decision to establish the school council. The chairman of the school council is a member of the school and is elected by the council members; the vice-chairman and secretary of the council are appointed by the chairman. The council's term is 05 years; in case of personnel changes, the principal submits a request to the competent authority for a decision to supplement and consolidate the school council.

...

Thus, the principal of a public primary school is responsible for compiling the list of recommended staff by the teaching staff and school organizations and submitting it to the chairman of the district’s People’s Committee to issue a decision to establish the school council.

Therefore, the principal of a public primary school does not have the authority to establish the school council. The chairman of the district’s People’s Committee has the authority to decide on the establishment of the school council.

What are the duties and powers of the primary school principal?

According to Point d, Clause 1, Article 11 of the Primary School Charter issued together with Circular 28/2020/TT-BGDDT, the principal of a primary school has the duty to establish strategies and development plans for the school; formulate and organize the implementation of teaching and education plans; report and evaluate the implementation results before the school council and competent authorities.

The principal of a primary school has the authority to establish professional groups, office groups, commendation and reward councils; discipline councils, and advisory councils within the school; appoint group leaders, deputy group leaders; assign teachers to be in charge of the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization.

In managing staff, teachers, and employees, the principal of a primary school has the following duties and powers:

- Perform the duties of managing staff, teachers, and employees according to the regulations of the law and the guidelines of the education management agency; develop plans to enhance the professional capacity of teachers and staff;

- Encourage and facilitate teachers and staff to participate in educational innovation activities; evaluate and rank teachers and staff according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training;

- Participate in the process of recruiting, transferring, arranging teachers; organize the steps for recommending personnel for the appointment of vice principals to competent authorities.

Other duties and powers of the primary school principal include:

- Manage and admit students; approve transfers; decide on disciplinary actions and rewards for students; approve student evaluation results, class promotions, retentions; organize the examination to recognize the completion of primary education programs for students in the school and other entities within the school’s jurisdiction.

- Implement the primary education curriculum according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training; textbooks, and local education content as decided by the provincial People's Committee. Manage, use, and select reference materials for the school in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

- Participate in professional group activities; self-study, self-train to improve professional skills and management capacity. Attend political training classes, professional and managerial training; participate in teaching according to the prescribed teaching load for principals.

- Manage administrative work; autonomously use the school's financial resources, assets according to regulations.

- Implement grassroots democracy regulations; participate in educational socialization, coordinate and mobilize social forces to participate in educational activities, enhancing the role of the school towards the community.

- Build a safe, healthy, friendly school environment, and prevent school violence according to the law.

- Enjoy benefits, allowances for teachers, and preferential policies in accordance with the law.