On 17/7, the Department of Education and Training reported that Ho Chi Minh City needs 430 English teachers across all educational levels, from elementary to high school. The shortages for Information Technology and Arts (Music, Fine Arts) are 318 and 774 teachers, respectively. The department attributes these deficits to recruitment challenges, as there are fewer applicants than required to fill positions.

Natural Sciences, Physical Education, and Technology also each face a shortage of more than 200 educators.

To address the immediate need, the department plans to hire contract teachers and reassign existing staff to ensure adequate teaching personnel. The sector is also developing a long-term strategy to redistribute teachers from areas with a surplus to those with shortages between 2026 and 2030.

Over the past five years, the department has sponsored the training of nearly 750 prospective teachers at Saigon University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. These graduates are expected to help fill future vacancies.

Ho Chi Minh City, the nation's largest educational hub, serves nearly 2,6 million students across more than 3,400 schools. The city employs approximately 110,000 teachers at all levels.

Starting this year, the authority for teacher recruitment across all educational levels, from preschool to high school, has shifted. This responsibility now rests with the Director of the Department of Education and Training, rather than primarily with district-level authorities as before.

Le Nguyen