Vietnam/ Improving education and building a highly qualified teaching force
The Ministry of Education and Training is currently drafting a decree on professional bonuses for public-sector teaching staff. This decree proposes a two-phase roadmap for increasing these bonuses, scheduled to come into effect on January 1, 2026, at the same time as the implementation of the Teachers Act.
The education sector is focusing on three strategic axes to improve the quality of teaching and ensure the development of a highly qualified teaching force, capable of meeting national development needs in this new era.
On the occasion of Vietnamese Teachers' Day (November 20), the Minister of Education and Training, Nguyên Kim Son, addressed the press to present the main policies for the development of the teaching profession in the coming period.
Teachers are considered a key factor in the quality of education. Resolution 71 introduced numerous breakthrough policies aimed at improving the quality of education and ensuring a sufficient number of teachers. How is the Ministry implementing teacher development in line with this resolution? ?
As part of the implementation of Resolution 71, in parallel with reforms in training, professional development, digital transformation and pedagogical methods, the Ministry of Education and Research has been implementing a number of breakthrough policies aimed at improving the quality of teaching and ensuring a sufficient number of teachers.rique transformation and pedagogical methods, the Ministry is drafting a decree on teacher remuneration and allowances. Under this draft, teachers are to receive an additional special pay coefficient, on top of their current salary and allowances.
The Ministry is also drawing up a decree on professional bonuses for public-sector education staff. It proposes a two-phase plan for the upgrading of these bonuses, due to come into effect on January 1, 2026, at the same time as the implementation of the Teachers Act.
Specifically, in the first phase (2026-2030), the Ministry proposes a 20% bonus for school staff, a 15% increase for pre-school and primary school teachers, and an additional 5% bonus for teachers in higher education and vocational schools. The second phase, starting in 2031, will apply preferential allowance rates to preschool and general education teachers, in accordance with Resolution 71-NQ/TW.
In addition to salaries and allowances, the Teachers' Act provides for various incentives, including job- and region-related allowances; support for training and professional development; periodic and occupational health care; and the provision of company housing, collective accommodation or housing subsidies for teachers working in extremely disadvantaged areas.
Additional incentives will target the highly qualified, the talented, those with exceptional skills or professional capacity, those working in extremely disadvantaged areas and teachers in strategic fields. These policies will be detailed in the implementing documents for the Teachers Act, which will come into force on January1, 2026.
Together with professional standards, teaching qualifications, recruitment, assignment, recognition and reward mechanisms, these policies form a comprehensive package enabling teachers to work with confidence, remain focused on their craft and continually develop their skills.
Teacher training students currently benefit from tuition waivers and financial support for living expenses to attract the most talented candidates. What additional measures are planned to attract more bright students?
Attracting high-achieving students to the teaching profession remains a top priority and a strategic mission for the education sector. We are reviewing and adjusting our policies to increase financial aid for studies, raise living allowances and guarantee professional integration after graduation.We are reviewing and adjusting our policies to increase financial support for studies, increase living allowances and guarantee professional integration after graduation, so that teacher training students feel secure in their studies and fully committed to the profession.
The sector will also develop merit-based scholarships for talented students, encourage the best candidates in national and international competitions to go into padagogy, raise admission and graduation criteria, and adapt training to the needs of the local job market and the requirements of the new general education curriculum.
At the same time, the education sector aims to create an attractive professional environment and enhance the social status of teachers. Priority mechanisms for recruitment, classification, remuneration, promotion and professional development are being improved to make teaching a prestigious choice for competent and dedicated individuals.
What measures will be taken to enhance the quality of teacher-researchers?
In line with Resolution 71, the Ministry is focusing its efforts on three breakthrough pillars: developing the quality of teachers, lecturers and education managers; improving institutional frameworks and policies to foster autonomy and accountability; and investing in infrastructure, digital transformation and modern training methods. Teacher development is seen as a central element of this approach.
The Ministry has published an action plan, in line with its Decision No. 2811 of October 10, 2025, which focuses on the expansion of teacher training programs, including Project No. 89 on doctoral training in Thailand and abroad. From 2026 to 2030, the aim is to support around 1,000 teachers each year in their studies or professional development abroad, with priority given to the fields of science, technology, engineering and education.
The Ministry is also working in coordination with the relevant bodies to set up specific funding mechanisms as part of the National Target Program 2026-2035 for modernizing and improving the quality of education. The aim is to guarantee stable resources for training and create competitive incentives to attract and retain the best lecturers and experts, both from Vietnam and abroad.
Resolution 71 sets the target of recruiting at least 2,000 highly qualified foreign lecturers for Vietnamese universities by 2030. What strategies will be implemented to achieve this?
Attracting at least 2,000 foreign professors and experts is a key element of Resolution 71 and the government's action plan. The Ministry plans to pursue three main avenues.
Firstly, to develop specific mechanisms for recruitment, remuneration and working conditions, enabling universitiess to sign flexible contracts, offer merit-based salaries and guarantee internationally competitive remuneration.
Secondly, simplify administrative procedures, visas, residency requirements and diploma recognition, while offering financial incentives and infrastructure investment to encourage international experts to teach and conduct long-term research in Vietnam.
Thirdly, to establish strategic cooperation programs between Vietnamese universities and leading international research centers and universities, in order to attract top-level lecturers and scientists to teach, co-supervise PhD students and transfer knowledge. The aim is not only to attract international experts to Vietnam, but also to create an open and stimulating academic environment that encourages them to settle here permanently and contribute to raising Vietnamese universities to regional and international standards.
Resolution 71 establishes a mechanism to enable dual-affiliated lecturers from public institutions to teach at universities. What impact does this have on improving the quality of training?
This mechanism enables experts, scientists, doctors, engineers and public-sector professionals working in research institutes, hospitals or public services to teach, supervise research and transfer technology at universities, while retaining their rights, obligations and social benefits.
The government will shortly publish a decree specifying the standards, rights, remuneration and recognition of their work, ensuring consistency, transparency and applicability. This is an important step towards building an elite, flexible and internationally integrated faculty, in line with Resolution 71-NQ/TW.
The overall aim is to develop a pool of high-quality human resources to meet the demands of national development in this new era. How does the education sector intend to achieve this?
The education sector fully recognizes that investing in higher education today means investing in Vietnam's intellectual strength, future competitiveness and international influence. This is not only a professional duty, but also a political responsibility and an aspiration for national development. Consequently, the sector is striving to raise the quality and prestige of Vietnamese higher education.
Training programs are aligned with international standards and closely linked to the needs of the digital economy, the green economy and strategic technologies. The higher education system is evolving towards the construction of a dynamic innovation ecosystem. Universities are encouraged to create high-performance research centers, start-up incubators and strong international partnerships in order to become national knowledge hubs. This will help train talent, disseminate new knowledge and foster sustainable development.
Higher education must not only impart knowledge, but also cultivate creativity, resilience and social responsibility. Every university campus must be a place for intellectual exploration, personal development and the fulfillment of aspirations. This is shaping a new generation of Vietnamese intellectuals who think independently, integrate confidently and remain committed to building a prosperous and happy nation.
Source: lecourrier.vn/
