One of the new points of the draft Law on Teachers (3rd edition) that is receiving attention is the Ministry of Education and Training's proposal of a number of regulations on standards for teachers holding the positions of principals and directors of educational institutions.
In Article 16 of the draft Law on Teachers, the standards for teachers holding the positions of principals and directors of educational institutions are as follows:
The principal or director of an educational institution (hereinafter referred to as the principal) must ensure the standards of a main teacher or main lecturer and meet the standards of administration and management of the educational institution.
The principal of a university must have a doctorate degree.
Standards on administration and management of educational institutions are stipulated as follows:
- Develop mission, vision, strategy, project and development plan for the school;
- Administration and management of education, training and scientific research activities;
- Administration, human resource management;
- Administration, organizational management, administration;
- Administration, financial management;
- Administration, management of facilities and technology;
- Building an educational environment;
- Implement regulations on grassroots democracy and internal inspection and examination.
The standards for teachers holding the position of principal are the basis for competent agencies and organizations to evaluate the level of task completion of the principal, consider and decide on planning, appointment, dismissal, recognition, or non-recognition of the position of principal;
Educational institutions develop programs, plans and organize training and development for principals, people in the planning stage to hold the position of principal, and people in need of training and development to become principals;
Principals and those in the planning for the position of principal must self-evaluate and implement a plan for self-training and development of their own capacity.
The Minister of Education and Training, the Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, within the scope of their assigned duties and powers, shall issue and guide the use of principal standards.
According to current regulations, principals in public general education institutions need the following training qualifications: Have a bachelor's degree in teacher training or higher for primary, secondary and high school teachers, or have a bachelor's degree in a relevant major and a certificate of pedagogical training; Be trained and fostered in school management; be trained and fostered to improve professional and technical capacity.
Have a certificate of training in professional title standards for teachers corresponding to the assigned level of education (according to regulations). Have taught for at least 05 years (or 04 years for mountainous areas, islands, highlands, remote areas, ethnic minority areas, areas with especially difficult socio-economic conditions); Meet the standards for professional title of teachers corresponding to the assigned level of education.
As planned, the draft Law on Teachers will be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and first comments at the 8th session (October 2024) and considered and approved at the 9th session (May 2025).
The Draft Law on Teachers has many new points related to the rights and obligations of teachers such as: Preschool teachers and teachers of schools for children with disabilities are allowed to retire 5 years earlier than prescribed; teachers still receive seniority allowances, preferential allowances and are ranked at the highest salary in the administrative career salary table. Teachers working in difficult areas and young teachers are supported with housing, training and fostering regimes in some cases; the I, II, III rankings for teachers will be abolished and will be divided into the following categories: teachers, main teachers, senior teachers...
