This is one of the new points in the draft Law on Teachers (3rd time) just announced by the Ministry of Education and Training.
Article 49 of the draft stipulates the retirement regime for teachers as follows: The retirement age of teachers is implemented according to the provisions of the Labor Code; preschool teachers and teachers of schools for the disabled are allowed to retire 05 (five) years in advance according to the provisions on retirement age.
The Ministry of Education and Training's proposal to allow teachers to retire early in two cases is receiving the agreement of many teachers.
This is not the first time that preschool teachers have been proposed to retire earlier than the general provisions of the Labor Code. The results of a survey on the proposal for teachers to retire at the age of 55 by the Vietnam Education Trade Union in 2020 showed that up to 96% of preschool teachers agreed with this policy.
According to the Chairman of the Vietnam Education Trade Union, Nguyen Ngoc An, the current standard and actual working hours of preschool teachers are 10 hours/day, higher than some other professions. Meanwhile, the nature of preschool teachers' work is very difficult, the prolonged stress of keeping children safe causes the health of preschool teachers to decline rapidly. According to the survey, from the age of 55 onwards, most preschool teachers have more difficulty performing professional tasks such as singing, dancing and instructing physical activities for children.
In 2023, at a meeting with teachers nationwide, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son also received opinions from many teachers about their wish to retire earlier than prescribed to ensure the quality of care and education for children and the health of teachers.
Based on the wishes of many teachers, the Ministry of Education and Training has sent a document to the Ministry of Labor, War invalids and Social Affairs requesting consideration and addition of the preschool teacher profession to the list of arduous, toxic, dangerous jobs and especially arduous, toxic, dangerous jobs, as a basis for the proposal that preschool teachers can retire at the age of 55 in the draft Law on Teachers.
In the case of teachers teaching in schools for students with disabilities, the Ministry of Labor, War invalids and Social Affairs previously issued a list of additional teachers who directly intervene, teach culture, teach vocational training, and provide support to people with severe disabilities, which are included in the list of hazardous occupations, because this is a job that causes mental and psychological stress. Therefore, this teacher will be considered for early retirement.
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).
