In the context of Vietnam's efforts to build the Law on Teachers, for the first time, the National Consultation Workshop in the form of direct and online forms on the Policy and Legal Framework for Teachers in the Context of Globalization: International Experience and Recommendations for Vietnam was held.
The workshop attracted the attention and contributions of more than 150 policy makers, legislators, education managers, teachers, representatives of education unions, and more than 10 international organizations, United Nations organizations and non-governmental organizations in Vietnam.
 |
| National consultation workshop in physical and online format. (Source: UNESCO Office in Hanoi) |
Experts from UNESCO Hanoi, UNESCO Headquarters, UNESCO Teacher Development Department and Representatives of the UNESCO-led International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030 and representatives from Shanghai Normal University participated and contributed expertise to the Workshop.
With the goal of ensuring quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all to ensure national competitiveness, people's happiness and well-being, and global integration, Vietnam has been making efforts in the process of amending and strengthening policies for teachers through the proposal to develop the Law on Teachers.
Currently, the Law on Teachers has been submitted by the Vietnamese Government to the National Assembly for consideration and first comments at the 18th Session of the 15th National Assembly (taking place in October-November 2024), and is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for approval at the 9th Session of the 15th National Assembly (June 2025).
If passed by the Vietnamese National Assembly, the Law on Teachers is expected to create a legal corridor and a favorable environment for teachers to maximize their potential and effectively contribute to the national educational reform in this rapidly changing country.
During this process, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) consulted with UNESCO - the United Nations specialized agency for education - and the UNESCO-led International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030 on the global and regional context of teacher transformation. The expert consultation documents included relevant international guidelines, research and experiences in developing teacher policies from member countries and research centers.
 |
| Delegates also proposed solutions and recommendations related to teachers to meet national needs, while being consistent with trends, visions and forecasts at the global level. (Source: UNESCO Office in Hanoi) |
Through presentations by UNESCO experts, attendees gained an overview of the role of teachers today.
In a new social contract for education, teachers must be placed at the center and their profession must be re-evaluated and re-imagined as a collaborative effort, highlighting new knowledge, bringing about educational and social transformation.
Delegates were also introduced to the Guidelines for Developing Teacher Policy, a useful and practical tool to guide the development or review of national teacher policies by addressing the different elements of teacher policy; how these elements interact with each other, contributing to the development of national teacher policy in particular and national development strategy in general.
More practical issues facing teachers around the world in general and in some countries in particular are also raised and discussed in the Global Report on Teachers initiated by UNESCO and the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030. The specific case of China's Teachers Law was also shared by Professor Li Tingzhou, Shanghai Normal University.
Each group discussion concluded with a lively discussion on the relevance of international experiences to the development of a policy and legal framework for teachers in Vietnam.
Delegates also proposed solutions and recommendations related to teachers to meet national needs, while being consistent with trends, visions and forecasts at the global level.
Discussing the process of drafting the Law on Teachers and asking for comments, Mr. Vu Minh Duc, Director of the Department of Teachers and Educational Managers shared:
“The Law on Teachers has been carefully drafted through extensive research and consultation to ensure that it motivates and strengthens all teachers to become qualified, dedicated, responsible and competent in the profession, wherever they are. We appreciate such dialogues with national and international participants through today’s workshop.”
 |
| Conference scene. (Source: UNESCO Office in Hanoi) |
Discussing the Workshop program, Ms. Miki Nozawa, Head of Education, UNESCO Vietnam said: "The Workshop is a vivid demonstration of the joint commitment of UNESCO and the Ministry of Education and Training in promoting the role and status of teachers through the policy and legal framework in Vietnam - a rapidly changing country.
Ms. Valerie Djioze-Gallet, representative of the Department for Teacher Development (UNESCO Headquarters) affirmed that UNESCO welcomes the Vietnamese Government's top agenda in strengthening policies and laws for teachers; is ready to coordinate with the UNESCO Office in Hanoi to continue providing technical assistance to Vietnam to address challenges, such as data- and evidence-based decision-making related to teachers, teacher shortages and professional development.
Source
Comment (0)