Vietnam: May elementary homeroom teachers attend their own homeroom students' classes?

May elementary homeroom teachers attend their own homeroom students' classes?

According to Clause 2, Article 29 of the Charter of Primary Schools issued with Circular 28/2020/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, rights of homeroom teachers and staff are specified as follows:

Rights of teachers and staff

...

2. Homeroom teachers, in addition to the rights mentioned in Clause 1 of this Article, have the following rights:

a) To attend the classes and other educational activities of their assigned students.

b) To attend meetings of the reward and disciplinary council and other councils when addressing issues related to their assigned students.

c) To attend training classes and conferences on homeroom activities.

d) To have the right to permit individual students to take leave for up to 03 consecutive days.

dd) To have reduced teaching hours per week and other rights as prescribed.

...

Thus, primary school homeroom teachers are allowed to attend the classes of their assigned students.

May elementary homeroom teachers attend their own homeroom students' classes? (Image from the Internet)

What are the duties of primary school homeroom teachers?

According to Articles 3 and 4 of the regulations regarding working policies for general education teachers issued with Circular 28/2009/TT-BGDDT, the duties of primary school homeroom teachers are stipulated as follows:

- To follow the regulations set forth in the Charter of Primary Schools; the organization and operation regulations of ethnic boarding schools, and semi-boarding ethnic schools.

- To understand and be well-informed about all aspects of the students in the class to devise appropriate educational measures to enhance the progress of each student and the class as a whole;

- To coordinate closely with students' families, and actively cooperate with subject teachers, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization, other related bodies, and social organizations in the teaching and education activities of their assigned class;

- To comment, evaluate, and rank students at the end of each term and school year, propose rewards and disciplinary measures for students, recommend lists of students for promotion, those needing reassessment, or additional behavioral training during the summer, and retain those needing to repeat a grade, ensuring the proper recording of grades and report cards;

- To participate in guiding collective activities, educational activities, and training organized by the school;

- To periodically or unexpectedly report the class’s situation to the principal.

Do primary school homeroom teachers receive a reduction in teaching hours?

Based on Article 6 of the working policies for general education teachers issued with Circular 28/2009/TT-BGDDT, supplemented by Clause 5, Article 1 of Circular 15/2017/TT-BGDDT, the teaching hour norm for primary school teachers is 23 periods per week, except:

- Teachers at semi-boarding ethnic schools: 21 periods per week.

- Teachers at schools or classes for the disabled: 21 periods per week.

Teachers serving as Chief of the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organization in grade 1 schools teach 2 periods a week, in grade 2 schools teach 1/3 of the teaching period norm, and in grade 3 schools teach 1/2 of the teaching period norm of teachers of the same level. The school grading is in accordance with current regulations.

Additionally, according to Article 8 of the working policies for general education teachers issued with Circular 28/2009/TT-BGDDT supplemented by Clause 8, Article 1 of Circular 15/2017/TT-BGDDT, it is stipulated as follows:

Regulations on reduced teaching hours for teachers concurrently performing professional duties

1. Homeroom teachers at the primary level are granted a reduction of 3 periods per week, at middle and high school levels are granted a reduction of 4 periods per week.

2. Homeroom teachers at ethnic boarding middle and high schools are granted a reduction of 4 periods per week. Homeroom teachers at specialized and semi-boarding schools are granted a reduction of 4 periods per week. Homeroom teachers at schools or classes for the disabled are granted a reduction of 3 periods per week.

2a. Homeroom teachers at university preparatory schools are granted a reduction of 3 periods per week.

3. Teachers concurrently in charge of a subject room are granted a reduction of 3 periods/subject/week.

4. Teachers concurrently in charge of school-wide cultural, physical education activities, school garden, workshop, equipment room, library (if these tasks do not have dedicated staff) are granted a reduction of 2 - 3 periods per week depending on the workload and as decided by the principal.

5. Head of subject departments are granted a reduction of 3 periods per week.

5a. Deputy head of subject departments are granted a reduction of 1 period per week.

5b. Teachers concurrently head of functional departments at university preparatory schools are granted a reduction of 3 periods per week;

Teachers concurrently deputy head of functional departments at university preparatory schools are granted a reduction of 1 period per week.

Thus, primary school teachers who additionally serve as homeroom teachers are granted a reduction of 3 periods per week.