Proposal to rank teachers' salaries at the highest level in the salary scale system

On September 25, continuing the 37th session, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on the draft Law on Teachers.

Preschool teachers get 5 years early retirement

Presenting the report, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong said that, compared to current regulations, the subjects and scope of application of the Law on Teachers are teachers in educational institutions in the national education system, including teachers in public educational institutions, teachers in non-public educational institutions and foreign teachers.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong presented the report. Photo: National Assembly Media

Regulations on recruiting teachers require pedagogical practice to assess qualities and abilities according to teacher standards. The draft Law on Teachers also decentralizes the recruitment of teachers to educational institutions to increase the initiative of educational institutions in recruiting teachers, promptly resolving problems related to surplus/shortage of teachers.

Regulations on the probationary regime for those who are selected to become teachers are as follows: The probationary regime is mandatory; the probationary period is 6 months for preschool teachers, 9 months for other teachers; in cases where, before recruitment, there was time for direct teaching and education in educational institutions suitable for the recruited job position, or if recruited with special conditions, the probationary period will be considered for exemption or reduction.

Regulations on teaching contracts include indefinite-term contracts and fixed-term contracts. Regulations on salary policies for teachers are ranked highest in the administrative career salary scale system and are entitled to preferential allowances and other allowances depending on the nature of the job and the region as prescribed by law.

Regarding retirement and extended working time for teachers, the draft Law stipulates that preschool teachers and teachers in schools for the disabled are allowed to retire 5 years earlier than the retirement age regulations to ensure compliance with the requirements of implementing the preschool education program and the current working conditions of preschool teachers.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh. Photo: National Assembly Media

In his report on the review of the draft Law, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh said that regarding the recruitment, use and evaluation of teachers, there were concerns about the feasibility of this regulation for some types of small-scale preschool and general education institutions; changing the authority and method of recruiting teachers compared to the provisions of the Law on Civil Servants would make it difficult to mobilize and appoint teachers to other professional positions.

The Standing Committee of the Culture and Education Committee agreed that there should be a salary policy for teachers to motivate teachers to work with peace of mind and attract good students to the teaching profession. However, the institutionalization of this policy needs to be consistent with the context of salary reform; avoiding the understanding that there will be a separate salary scale and table for teachers.

Regulations on teacher evaluation are difficult and sensitive issues.

Discussing the draft Law on retirement age, the majority of members of the National Assembly Standing Committee expressed agreement with the regulation that preschool teachers and teachers in schools for the disabled can retire 5 years earlier than the retirement age regulations.

The Draft Law on Teachers stipulates that teacher evaluation is carried out on the basis of assessing the level of task completion of teachers, the process of teachers training their qualities, improving their professional capacity associated with professional criteria according to teacher standards combined with learning and training results, which is the formation of the qualities and capacity of learners and is carried out periodically every year according to the school year or at any time to serve the work of teacher management according to regulations.

Secretary General of the National Assembly, Head of the National Assembly Office Bui Van Cuong discussed the draft Law. Photo: National Assembly Media

Regarding this issue, Secretary General of the National Assembly and Head of the National Assembly Office Bui Van Cuong said that regulations on teacher evaluation are difficult and sensitive issues.

"Most importantly, the methods, methods, and principles of re-evaluation have not been specified in the draft Law. There needs to be unified regulations applied nationwide," said Mr. Bui Van Cuong, adding that students are the ones who best evaluate the quality of teachers.

Head of the Delegation Affairs Committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee Nguyen Thanh Hai suggested considering the inclusion of this new, sensitive provision in the draft Law.

"Will this regulation put too much pressure on teachers? Personally, I do not agree with this regulation. If teachers are good at teaching and have good morals, students will respect them," said Ms. Nguyen Thanh Hai.

Also concerned about the issue of teacher evaluation in terms of the synchronization of the legal system, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh said that the draft Law stipulates that "if teachers do not agree with the results of the classification and evaluation of the school board and leaders, they can file a complaint according to the Law on Complaints".

"The Law on Complaints only regulates complaints about administrative decisions and administrative acts, not complaints about the list of cadres evaluated," said the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the meeting. Photo: National Assembly Media

Commenting on this content, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized that this is a completely new law, and it is necessary to ensure that the provisions of the draft Law do not overlap with other legal provisions.

Considering that the provisions of the draft Law may encounter many difficulties in the application process as stated by members of the National Assembly Standing Committee, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man requested the drafting agency to research and calculate carefully, ensuring policy breakthroughs and not breaking the current legal structure.

"For regulations that are not mature, unclear, have not been tested or proven in practice, or do not meet the conditions, the Education Law and decrees and circulars can be amended to ensure feasibility, focus, and key points," National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man stated.

Source: https://danviet.vn/de-xuat-luong-nha-giao-duoc-xep-cao-nhat-trong-he-thong-thang-bac-luong-20240925150057923.htm