What is a teacher practicing certificate in Vietnam? What are contents of the professional development program for teachers at all levels in Vietnam?

What is a teacher practicing certificate in Vietnam?

According to Clause 3, Article 12 of the Education Law 2019, the certificate from the national education system is issued to learners as proof of their learning results after they have undergone training, skills enhancement to elevate academic levels or professions, or have attended exams to obtain the certificate according to regulations.

Furthermore, the issuance of teacher practicing certificate is stipulated in Article 13 of the regulations issued with Decision 31/2008/QD-BGDDT. Learners are granted the teacher practicing certificate when:

- They complete the pedagogical training program as required

- They are not under investigation for criminal liability.

The head of the training institution grants the teacher practicing certificate to the individuals who meet the stipulated conditions in Clause 1, Article 13 of the regulations issued with Decision 31/2008/QD-BGDDT.

Thus, a teacher practicing certificate proves that an individual has completed a course in pedagogical skills training for those not trained in a pedagogical specialty.

What is a teacher practicing certificate in Vietnam? What are contents of the professional development program for teachers at all levels in Vietnam?​ (Image from the Internet)

Do visiting lecturers in Vietnam who conduct pedagogical training need a teacher practicing certificate?

According to the provisions in Article 4 of Circular 20/2020/TT-BLDTBXH:

Regulations on the teaching staff

1. There must be enough lecturers to teach, with at least 70% of the course load for the pedagogical training program for vocational educators to be covered by full-time instructors.

2. The full-time and visiting teaching staff participating in teaching must have a master's degree or higher, have a bachelor's degree in a relevant pedagogical field or a certificate of pedagogical skills at the college level, or a teacher practicing certificate for university or college lecturers or equivalent and at least five consecutive years of direct teaching at college or university level or higher.

3. At least 30% of full-time lecturers must be specially trained in pedagogy or education science or education management or educational psychology.

Thus, visiting lecturers conducting pedagogical training must have a teacher practicing certificate or have graduated with a bachelor's degree in pedagogy or hold a pedagogical skills certificate for teaching at the college level.

What are the content and curriculum for pedagogical training for lower secondary school, upper secondary school, primary school, and university teachers in Vietnam?

The content of the pedagogical training program for lecturers in educational institutions is specifically prescribed in Section IV of Circular 12/2021/TT-BGDDT as follows:

[1] Structure and Duration of the Program

* Program Structure:

The program consists of a general module (Part A) and a branch module: the module for individuals with a bachelor's degree in a field compatible with lower secondary school subjects, aspiring to become a lower secondary school teacher (Part B), or individuals with a bachelor's degree in a field compatible with upper secondary school subjects, aspiring to become a upper secondary school teacher (Part C).

* Program Duration:

- General module: 17 credits.

- Branch module: 17 credits for lower secondary school branch, 17 credits for upper secondary school branch.

[2] General Module (Part A)

Duration: 17 credits, including 15 mandatory credits and 02 elective credits.

(01 credit equates to 15 theory sessions; 01 theory session equals 02 discussion or practical sessions).

[3] Lower secondary/upper secondary school Branch Module (Part B/C)

The lower secondary school branch module (Part B) and the upper secondary school branch module (Part C) have a unified structure and equivalent duration. The symbols “Lower secondary/upper secondary school”, “B/C” depict the split.

Duration of each branch module: 17 credits, including 09 subject-selection credits, 06 mandatory practical or internship credits at schools, and 02 elective credits.

For the pedagogical training program for primary school teachers:

The content of the pedagogical training program for lecturers in educational institutions is specifically prescribed in Section IV of Circular 11/2021/TT-BGDDT as follows:

* Program Volume:

Total: 35 credits, including:

- Mandatory part (MP): 31 credits.

- Elective part (EP): 04 credits.

(01 credit equates to 15 theory sessions; 01 theory session equals 02 discussion or practical sessions).

* Content of the mandatory part: Minimum (31 credits).

* Content of the elective part: Select 02 modules from 07 modules as defined.

For the content of the pedagogical training program for university lecturers, the program content in higher education institutions is specifically prescribed in Section II of Circular 12/2013/TT-BGDDT as follows:

* Total minimum knowledge volume: 20 credits

Including:

- Minimum compulsory knowledge block: 15 credits.

- Elective knowledge volume: 5 credits

* Content of the minimum compulsory knowledge block: 15 credits