Recently, LawNet has received numerous opinions from our Customers and Members regarding the issue of teachers having to take too many types of certifications and the costs associated with studying and taking these tests. This situation has led to many teachers feeling pressured, and some even considering leaving the profession for this reason.
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Regarding this matter, LawNet would like to clarify as follows:
According to current regulations, at each educational level, teachers must meet different requirements for Foreign Language, Information Technology, and training certificates fitting each level. For specific criteria, teachers of all levels can see the details HERE.
As stipulated in Circular 28/2017/TT-BGDDT, one of the conditions for teachers to register for ranking up their professional titles is to have sufficient training and professional capacity according to the prescribed level in Joint Circular 20/2015/TTLT-BGDDT-BNV, Joint Circular 21/2015/TTLT-BGDDT-BNV, Joint Circular 22/2015/TTLT-BGDDT-BNV and Joint Circular 23/2015/TTLT-BGDDT-BNV.
Currently, teachers need three types of certificates: Information Technology, Foreign Language, and professional title training certificates to meet ranking up conditions. Specifically, the Ministry of Education and Training has confirmed that for professional title training certificates, not all teachers are required to attend, only those aiming for a higher rank. Specifically, for each professional title rank, if there is a requirement for a training certificate, teachers only need to attend once throughout their rank tenure. Therefore, if they do not aspire to rank up, teachers only need to participate in training once during their entire career to meet the rank requirements assigned.
Simultaneously, according to Circular 28/2017/TT-BGDDT, sending teachers for ranking exams or training for professional titles must base on job positions, professional title structure, the needs of public education institutions, and local realities, not applicable to all teachers. Therefore, not all teachers will participate in ranking exams/training, naturally not all will need professional title training.
Furthermore, each type of certificate is currently available only at certain units licensed by the Ministry of Education and Training. Specifically, for professional title training certificates for teachers and lecturers, only 49 educational institutions are tasked with it. For the detailed list, see HERE. (This list is compiled and announced by the Department of Teachers and Educational Administrators to facilitate the monitoring, management, and implementation by relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals).
Partial Image of the List
As for Foreign Language certificates according to the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework, only 10 universities are authorized to test and issue certificates. Specifically, they include:
| No. | NAME OF UNIT |
|---|---|
| 1 | University of Languages and International Studies - Vietnam National University, Hanoi |
| 2 | University of Foreign Language Studies - The University of Da Nang |
| 3 | University of Foreign Languages - Hue University |
| 4 | Ho Chi Minh City University of Education |
| 5 | Hanoi National University of Education |
| 6 | Hanoi University |
| 7 | Thai Nguyen University |
| 8 | Can Tho University |
| 9 | Vinh University |
| 10 | People's Security Academy |
For Information Technology application certificates, according to Notice 538, there are 176 units eligible to organize exams and issue certificates. The specific list can be viewed HERE.
Thus, certificates issued by units not listed above will not be valid. Teachers should carefully check before taking exams to avoid the situation where money is spent, but the certificate turns out to be useless.
Moreover, recently, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Circular 20/2019/TT-BGDDT to abolish provisions on testing and issuing foreign language certificates according to continuing education programs in Decision 30/2008/QD-BGDDT. The document mentions abolishing regulations on testing and issuing foreign language certificates for language and information technology centers and continuing education centers. Hence, from January 5, 2020, these centers will not be allowed to organize exams and issue foreign language certificates (levels A, B, C) but instead will conduct general certificate exams according to Vietnam's 6-level foreign language proficiency framework.
A particularly noteworthy point for teachers intentionally taking these certificates is to register for exams directly at schools or units eligible to organize and issue certificates listed, not through certificate intermediaries. Many teachers, fearing failure, often turn to intermediaries hoping for guaranteed success and are willing to pay 5-6 times the actual fee.
Finally, to understand what certificates you need, whether you need them, teachers should clearly identify their current rank, whether they aspire to rank up, and whether there are requirements from localities or workplaces. Teachers shouldn’t follow the crowd, seeing others learning they also learn, but it turns out they don’t need it.
In the near future, it is highly likely that teachers will no longer be required to have foreign language and Information Technology certificates for ranking up professional titles. Specifically, according to the information from the Minister of Home Affairs that there are upcoming significant changes about recruitment, especially upgrading professional standards with regulations on foreign language and Information Technology certificates, Minister Nha stated, "In practice for teachers, educational public employees, perhaps foreign language and Information Technology certificates are unnecessary as they are already integrated into professional title training during the teacher standards that have been regulated. The two ministers have fundamentally agreed on this."
Simultaneously, at the National Assembly's 8th session, the 14th National Assembly on the afternoon of November 7, regarding the quality control of diplomas and certificates, the Minister also stated there are many ways such as computer-based testing for Information Technology and foreign languages; proficiency tests in English without requiring physical documents. In the future, the Ministry will apply these methods to reduce excessive administrative procedures, primarily through post-verification instead of mandatory provision of diplomas and certificates.
Thus, in the near future, teachers may no longer have to struggle to study and take exams to beautify their profiles or certificates for ranking up professional titles like currently. Foreign language and Information Technology exams will be conducted directly on computers without mandatory certificates, avoiding the formality, reducing a part of the burden on teachers, allowing them to focus more on teaching quality.
Nguyen Trinh
