The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has just issued Circular No. 28/2026/TT-BGDDT regulating professional standards for preschool teachers (Circular No. 28). The Circular takes effect from the date of signing (April 9, 2026).
The Circular is issued to detail and concretize the provisions of the Law on Teachers, while ensuring consistency and synchronization with the current legal system and meeting the requirements of preschool education innovation.
The Circular is also an important basis for recruiting, using, evaluating, training, fostering and developing the team of preschool teachers; and at the same time helping teachers self-assess, improve professional capacity, towards building a safe and happy educational environment, putting children at the center.
Participate in professional development depending on title rank
Circular No. 28 applies to the title of preschool teacher in preschool education institutions, including teachers performing the task of nurturing, caring for, and educating children and teachers holding the positions of principal and vice principal in preschool education institutions.
The Circular does not apply to teachers under the management authority of the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of National Defense.
The Circular clearly stipulates the tasks and professional standards according to 3 grades of preschool teacher titles including grade III, grade II, grade I; ensuring differentiation according to the level of capacity and professional role.
In which, teachers not only perform the task of caring for and educating children but also participate in professional development, fostering the teaching staff, participating in editing or compiling content materials for preschool teachers, supporting colleagues, advising and leading educational activities depending on the title rank.
Strengthening the requirement for practical capacity, putting children at the center
According to Circular No. 28, preschool teacher professional standards are designed according to 3 groups of standards including: Professional ethics, training level, fostering and professional and nghiệp vụ competence. In which, ethics requirements emphasize love for the profession, fair treatment, respect for children, protection of children's rights, emotional management, solidarity, cooperation and help for colleagues.
The Circular details the core competencies of preschool teachers such as nurturing, caring for, ensuring safety for children; building and organizing educational activities; assessing children's development; building an educational environment; communication, coordination with family and community.
Along with that, the first professional standard clearly stipulates a number of new competencies such as digital competence, foreign language competence, self-learning competence and career development.
Accordingly, teachers must have the ability to apply information technology and digital technology in professional activities; have the ability to use foreign languages or ethnic minority languages according to job requirements. At the same time, teachers must have the ability to self-study, adapt and continuously develop their careers. This is considered an important step forward to meet the requirements of digital transformation and integration in education.
The requirements are designed in the direction of gradual development from grade III to grade I, which emphasizes the personalization of educational activities and comprehensive development of children.
Circular No. 28 also stipulates that grade I and grade II preschool teachers are assigned more leadership tasks such as guiding and supporting colleagues; participating in building programs, materials, and policies; presiding over professional activities, research, and innovation of education methods; building and spreading advanced education models. This new point contributes to forming a core teaching staff, improving the quality of the entire preschool education system.
Flexible regulations on transition, avoiding disruption in the team
The Circular has clear transitional regulations, ensuring stability and avoiding disruption of the preschool teaching staff.
Accordingly, training certificates according to professional title standards issued before December 31, 2026 are determined to be equivalent to professional standard training certificates specified in this Circular.
Preschool teachers who are recruited, received, or changed positions before the effective date of this Circular are not required to meet the standards of having a certificate of professional development for preschool teachers.
Circular No. 28 also stipulates that the head of a preschool education institution is assigned the responsibility of assigning and evaluating teachers according to professional standards, developing training and fostering plans for the team, and proactively developing the team in accordance with reality. This approach contributes to improving autonomy, flexibility and management efficiency in preschool education institutions.
