Retired teachers can continue teaching under contract, visiting lecturers
Circular 59/2026/TT-BGDĐT takes effect from September 1, 2026, regulating full-time contract teachers after retirement and visiting lecturers.
The signing of the contract must ensure the principles of voluntariness, equality, publicity, and transparency; be consistent with the development needs of the teaching staff of the educational institution and not affect the recruitment and training plan for the next generation according to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 3 of Circular 59/2026/TT-BGDĐT.
To be signed a full-time contract after retirement, teachers must meet the prescribed conditions on moral qualities, health standards, training standards, and requirements of educational institutions, etc.
Applying the new National Education System Structure with 9 levels of education programs
Decision No. 38/2026/QD-TTg issued by the Prime Minister on July 23, 2026 stipulates the framework of the new national education system, officially taking effect from September 7, 2026 and replacing Decision No. 1981/QD-TTg in 2016.
According to Clause 1, Article 5 of Decision 38/2026/QD-TTg, education programs in the national education system are divided into 9 levels from level 0 to level 8, specifically:
Level 0: Preschool education program.
Level 1: Primary education program and literacy program for people who have not completed primary education.
Level 2: Secondary education program and equivalent education programs.
Level 3: High school education program, equivalent education program and elementary level training program.
Level 4: Intermediate level training program.
Level 5: College level training program.
Level 6: University-level training program.
Level 7: Master's training program.
Level 8: PhD training program.
Applying the new Vietnam National Qualifications Framework
Also from September 7, 2026, Decision 39/2026/QD-TTg regulating the Vietnam National Qualifications Framework, officially takes effect, replacing Decision 1982/QD-TTg in 2016;
Decision 39/2026/QD-TTg defines the levels of qualifications in the Vietnam National Qualifications Framework based on the academic results achieved, described through knowledge, skills, level of autonomy and personal responsibility of learners.
The Vietnamese national qualification framework is the basis for higher education institutions and vocational education institutions to build and adjust training programs and output standards; and at the same time support the articulation between levels, recognition and comparison of domestic and international diplomas and certificates.
New regulations on recognition of foreign degrees in Vietnam
Circular 65/2026/TT-BGDĐT stipulates the conditions, order, procedures and authority to recognize diplomas issued by foreign educational institutions for use in Vietnam, effective from September 26, 2026.
The Circular stipulates separate conditions for diplomas in cases such as direct study abroad, foreign educational institutions operating, joint training or opening branches in Vietnam, training at institutions located in other countries, distance learning, online training, vocational education diplomas and doctoral degrees according to different training methods.
Regarding authority, the Director of the Department of Quality Management under the Ministry of Education and Training recognizes vocational education diplomas and university education diplomas. For secondary school diplomas, high school diplomas and certificates of completion of general education programs, authority belongs to the Director of the Department of Education and Training.
The results of recognition of foreign diplomas are recorded on the Diploma Recognition Certificate in the form of paper documents, electronic documents or digital documents and have the same value. Diploma recognition data is updated to the database on diploma recognition; information to look up from the database or displayed on the VNeID application has verification value instead of the competent authority verifying in writing according to Clause 1, Clause 2, Article 6 of Circular 65/2026/TT-BGDĐT.
