In 2019, Are All Teachers "Forced" to Have Foreign Language and Informatics Certificates?

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It can be seen that Circular 20/2018/TT-BGDDT prescribing professional standards for teachers of general education establishments officially took effect on October 10, 2018, replacing Decision 14/2007/QD-BGDDT and Circular 30/2009/TT-BGDDT. From October 10, 2018, teachers at general education schools will be evaluated according to the new standards in Circular 20.

It is noteworthy that the content stipulated in Standard 5 regarding the use of foreign languages or ethnic languages, application of information technology, and utilization of technological devices in teaching and education.

To be specific, Criterion 14 of Standard 5 clearly stipulates that teachers can use a foreign language or an ethnic language.

Currently, there are 3 levels for evaluating teachers: Satisfactory, Good, and Excellent. Among them, the Satisfactory level only requires teachers to be able to use basic communication words in a foreign language (preferably English) or a second foreign language (for teachers teaching foreign languages) or an ethnic language for job positions requiring the use of an ethnic language.

At the same time, the Example of collecting evidence section in Official Dispatch 4530/BGDDT-NGCBQLGD guiding the implementation of Circular 20/2018/TT-BGDDT also clearly states the evidence for Criterion 14 includes:

- Opinions recorded and confirmed by the professional group/professional team/school administration/superior level about the teacher's ability to use basic communication words in a foreign language (preferably English) or a second foreign language (for teachers teaching foreign languages) or an ethnic language for job positions requiring the use of an ethnic language;

- Or having a foreign language certificate at level 1/6 according to Vietnam's foreign language competency framework or equivalent foreign language certificates issued by authorized institutions (for primary school teachers); Foreign language certificate at level 2/6 according to Vietnam's foreign language competency framework or equivalent foreign language certificates or ethnic language certificates issued by authorized institutions (for secondary and high school teachers).

Criterion 15 of Standard 5 specifically stipulates the requirements for applying information technology, utilizing technological devices in teaching and education. The Satisfactory level also requires teachers to be able to use basic application software and technological devices in teaching, education, and student management as stipulated; complete training courses, fostering, exploiting, and applying information technology and technological devices in teaching and education as stipulated.

The Example of collecting evidence section in Official Dispatch 4530/BGDDT-NGCBQLGD also clearly states the evidence for this Criterion includes:

- Opinions recorded and confirmed by the professional group/professional team/school administration/superior level about the information technology proficiency meeting the standards of information technology skills in teaching and education activities;

- Or valid certificates confirming the information technology proficiency meeting the basic information technology skills standards as stipulated in Circular 03/2014/TT-BTTTT;

- Or the plan and results of implementing the annual teaching and working plans integrating the application of technology, technological devices in teaching and student management.

Clearly, in the evidence collection parts for foreign language and information technology criteria, there are phrases like “be able to use…” and “or have certificate” in foreign languages and information technology.

Thus, the new standards in Circular 20 only require teachers to "be able to use" rather than mandatorily require teachers to have foreign language and information technology certificates to be evaluated as meeting the standards. However, in cases where teachers need to take tests or apply for promotion, they should have foreign language and information technology certificates.

- Nguyen Trinh -

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