On the morning of February 7, at the 42nd session, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on explaining, accepting, and revising the draft Law on Teachers. Head of the Delegation Affairs Committee Nguyen Thanh Hai proposed to clarify the act of forcing people to participate in extra classes in any form. If they voluntarily take extra classes, they should not be charged money to avoid disguised situations.
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| Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh presented a report on a number of major issues regarding the reception and revision of the draft Law on Teachers. (Source: Quochoi.vn) |
Eliminate the regulation of increasing 1 salary level
Presenting a report on a number of major issues regarding the reception, explanation, and revision of the draft Law on Teachers, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh said that in order to remove limitations and shortcomings in the management and operation of enterprises belonging to higher education institutions, the examining agency and the drafting agency agreed to propose adding the right of teachers to participate in the management and operation of enterprises established by higher education institutions operating in the fields of scientific development, application, and technology transfer.
Regarding teacher recruitment, the draft Law is adjusted in the direction that, for public educational institutions that are granted autonomy, the head of the educational institution shall carry out recruitment and be responsible for his/her decisions; for public educational institutions that are not granted autonomy, the competent authority managing the educational institution shall carry out teacher recruitment or decentralize to the educational management agency, the head of the educational institution shall carry out recruitment.
Regarding the salary and benefits policy for teachers, Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh said that some opinions agreed with the regulation of increasing 1 salary level in the administrative salary scale system for teachers recruited and paid for the first time; some opinions were still concerned and did not agree with this regulation and suggested that it was necessary to assess the impact of the policy in general relation to the team of cadres, civil servants and public employees of the political system.
In response to the opinions of National Assembly deputies, the draft law was revised in the direction of removing the specific provision on increasing 1 salary level in the administrative career salary scale system for teachers recruited and receiving salary for the first time.
Mr. Nguyen Dac Vinh stated his opinion: "Teachers' salaries are ranked highest in the administrative career salary scale system; improving salary policies for civil servants and public employees needs to be researched and calculated synchronously in the process of building salary policies according to job positions".
According to the Draft Law, teachers are entitled to policies on renting public housing according to the provisions of the Housing Law or are guaranteed collective accommodation when working in ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, border areas, islands and areas with especially difficult socio-economic conditions.
The draft Law has revised and supplemented the regulation that teachers in preschools, if they wish, can retire at an age lower than the retirement age of employees under normal conditions, but not more than 5 years, and the percentage of pension benefits due to early retirement will not be reduced if they have paid social insurance for 20 years or more.
The draft Law also clearly stipulates the conditions for implementing the retirement policy at a higher age for teachers when the educational institution has a need, the teacher is healthy enough and voluntarily extends his/her working time; at the same time, it adds the criterion of "meeting the standards and conditions of the educational institution". During the period of extended retirement age, teachers in public educational institutions shall not hold leadership or management positions and shall not be allowed to retain leadership or management position allowances.
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| Head of the Delegation Affairs Committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee Nguyen Thanh Hai discusses at the meeting. (Source: Quochoi.vn) |
Voluntary extra classes are not charged.
Discussing at the meeting, Head of the Delegation Affairs Committee of the National Assembly Standing Committee Nguyen Thanh Hai said that the regulation on the right of teachers to participate in the management and operation of technology enterprises of higher education institutions is a "revolutionary" regulation, contributing to the implementation of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation.
“The formation of technology enterprises in higher education institutions will create a technology ‘incubator’, actively contributing to the development of science and technology, while at the same time ‘unleashing’ technologists, who are also teachers in major universities,” said Ms. Nguyen Thanh Hai.
Citing Circular No. 29/2024/TT-BGDDT dated December 30, 2024 of the Ministry of Education and Training regulating extra teaching and learning, which is attracting public attention, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Hai requested to clarify and detail the regulation prohibiting "forcing students to participate in extra classes in any form" and to avoid disguising it by writing a "voluntary extra study" application by parents.
Expressing concern about the provisions on “things that cannot be done” related to teachers’ ethics, Ms. Hai said that the draft law has listed things that cannot be done. However, these behaviors are always varied. “Should we add a provision assigning the Government to regulate in detail so that when new behaviors arise, it will be easier to handle,” said the Head of the Delegation Affairs Committee.
Regarding the act of forcing students to participate in extra classes in any form, forcing students to pay money or material items outside of the law, Ms. Hai expressed her desire for more clear regulations.
“Currently, the Ministry of Education and Training has regulations on extra teaching and learning that are of public interest, which are also based on this law. I want the regulations to be clearer. Forcing students to participate in extra classes is prohibited, but if they do it voluntarily, it is still allowed,” Ms. Hai wondered.
Ms. Hai suggested that even if extra classes are voluntary, they should not be charged for this to avoid disguised situations. “Because it is difficult to determine whether it is forced or not. In cases where it is not forced, there must be a voluntary application and parents must also write a voluntary application,” Ms. Hai stated the reality.
The educational environment is very different, students may not want to go to school but if they do not go to school, they will be discriminated against, especially primary or high school students. Therefore, Ms. Hai proposed to clarify the prohibition of forced participation in extra classes in any form, and if they volunteer, they should not be charged.
Ms. Hai emphasized: “If you teach extra classes while teaching your regular students, it is very good because teachers know the quality of their students’ learning, and nurture them so that they can progress equally with their peers. In case students want to learn more, they can go to study at centers. Teachers can register to teach there.”
Thus, students and parents can fulfill their financial obligations and learners also have equal choice in centers.
Explaining later, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said that the current spirit of law-making is not to go into details. "The guiding law should mainly include a few principles, but going into details would be lengthy and sometimes not cover everything," said Mr. Son.
Accepting the opinions of delegates, the Minister of Education and Training promised to review but more detailed contents will be included in Government regulations.
Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh requested relevant agencies to absorb opinions, update legal regulations being amended, and continue to perfect the Draft Law to submit to the National Assembly for consideration and approval at the 9th Session of the 15th tenure.
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