Vietnam: Teachers are not required to participate in Excellent Teacher Contests from February 2020

Vietnam: Teachers are not required to participate in Excellent Teacher Contests from February 2020 (Illustrative photo)

1. Teachers in Vietnam are not required to participate in Excellent Teacher Contests from February 2020

According to Clause 2, Article 2 of the Regulation on the Excellent Teacher Contest in Preschool Institutions; Excellent Teacher Contests, Excellent Homeroom Teacher Contests in General Education Institutions issued with Circular 22/2019/TT-BGDDT on December 20, 2019 by the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training, the principles of Excellent Teacher Contests, Excellent Homeroom Teacher Contests are as follows:

- Based on the voluntary participation of teachers; failing to force or create pressure for teachers to participate in the Contest;

- Ensuring honesty, democracy, transparency, fairness, impartiality, and practicality;

- Ensuring conformity with the policies, laws of the State, and the regulations of the Education sector.

Teachers will voluntarily participate in the Excellent Teacher Contest and the Excellent Homeroom Teacher Contests. This regulation is progressive and suitable to the aspirations of not only the teachers but also the managing educational institutions generally. The previous coercion and pressure for teachers to participate in Excellent Teacher Contests led to many negative consequences in education and adversely affected students' psychology.

2. Disciplinary action shall not be taken against teachers failing to participate in the Excellent Teacher Contest

According to Article 17 of the Law on Public Employees, the obligations of public employees in professional activities are stipulated as follows:

- Perform the assigned work or tasks ensuring requirements on time and quality.

- Cooperate well with colleagues in performing the work or tasks.

- Comply with work assignments of authorized individuals.

- Constantly study to improve professional skills and competencies.

- …

The current law only stipulates that teachers must constantly study to improve their professional skills and competencies, etc., and does not mandate participation in the Excellent Teacher Contest.

Note: the obligation to comply with work assignments of authorized persons, authorized persons have the right to require teachers to participate in the Excellent Teacher Contest as part of their responsibilities.

However, in Article 11 of the Law on Public Employees, when conducting professional activities, public employees have the following specific rights:

- Be protected by law in professional activities.

- Be provided with training and additional training to improve political, professional, and occupational skills.

- Be provided with information related to the assigned work or tasks.

- Have the right to refuse to perform work or tasks that are contrary to laws.

- …

Teachers have the right to refuse if they are forced to participate in the Excellent Teacher Contest as a work assignment from authorized persons because, under current laws, teachers may voluntarily participate in these contests.

Hence, teachers will not be disciplined for failing to fulfill their obligations as public employees in their professional activities.

3. Recognition as an excellent teacher is a benefit of teachers in Vietnam

In Article 5 of the Regulation on the Excellent Teacher Contest issued with Circular 22/2019/TT-BGDDT, the recognition of the title of Excellent Teacher and Excellent Homeroom Teacher is stipulated as follows:

- Teachers are recognized as Excellent Teachers, and Excellent Homeroom Teachers, and are granted certificates by the organizing body of the Contest when:

+ Participating in all parts of the Contest

+ Meeting the prescribed evaluation requirements for each level as stipulated in Circular 22/2019/TT-BGDDT.

- The titles of Excellent Teacher and Excellent Homeroom Teacher are preserved as follows:

+ The titles of Excellent Teacher and Excellent Homeroom Teacher at the school level are preserved for 01 year following the year they are recognized as Excellent Teacher, Excellent Homeroom Teacher at the school level;

+ The titles of Excellent Teacher and Excellent Homeroom Teacher at the district level are preserved for 01 year following the year they are recognized as Excellent Teacher, Excellent Homeroom Teacher at the district level;

+ The titles of Excellent Teacher and Excellent Homeroom Teacher at the provincial level are preserved for 03 years following the year they are recognized as Excellent Teacher, Excellent Homeroom Teacher at the provincial level.

- The titles of Excellent Teacher and Excellent Homeroom Teacher are preserved and not used as a standard for participating in contests for Excellent Teachers and Excellent Homeroom Teachers at higher levels.

The recognition of the titles of Excellent Teacher and Excellent Homeroom Teacher is a legitimate benefit of teachers, realized voluntarily without coercion, which is entirely consistent with the individual aspirations of each teacher. This principle also ensures fairness and avoids pressure and negative effects for the Excellent Teacher Contest and educational institutions.

Le Vy

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