The Minister of Education and Training shared this perspective on the morning of 17/11 at the celebration of Vietnamese Teachers' Day and the patriotic emulation congress for the education sector. A key piece of evidence supporting his view is the Law on Teachers, which for the first time institutionalizes the teaching profession.

According to Minister Son, the teaching profession has historically been revered as noble, with "ton su trong dao" (revering teachers and respecting morality) being a traditional value. Today, the Law on Teachers formalizes the elevation of educators, fostering the development and protection of teachers, alongside clarifying their responsibilities and duties.

"Morality, culture, and customs are now codified into law, creating legitimacy, sustainability, and transparency for the teaching profession," Minister Son stated.

Consequently, Minister Son urged those working in the education sector to live up to this elevated status. Teachers should also express gratitude to society for bestowing such nobility upon their profession.

He called upon all teachers to strive for continuous self-improvement and learning, to guide and inspire, and to consistently serve as bright examples for students to emulate. This is especially important in terms of character, a spirit of inquiry and creativity, compassion, and fairness.

Minister Nguyen Kim Son speaking at the Vietnamese Teachers' Day celebration, morning of 17/11. Photo: MOET

Minister Nguyen Kim Son speaking at the Vietnamese Teachers' Day celebration, morning of 17/11. Photo: MOET

Reflecting on the sector's achievements over the past five years, Minister Son highlighted that general education has successfully implemented the new 2018 curriculum, marking a significant shift from knowledge-based education to developing learner competencies. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest results in international Olympiad competitions, with some subjects placing in the top 3-5, demonstrating the sector's efforts and the capabilities of Vietnamese students.

Higher education has also made strides, with many universities appearing in prestigious global rankings, and some entering the top 150 in Asia. Vocational education, meanwhile, has become increasingly integrated, fostering a team of national, regional, and international-level teachers, experts, and skill ambassadors.

Minister Son noted that numerous policy mechanisms have been developed, particularly the Law on Teachers, which helps the sector's workforce feel more secure, enthusiastic, and committed to their profession. This is reflected in the increased number of candidates applying to pedagogy programs, with admission scores among the highest nationwide in recent years.

The Minister of Education expressed confidence that teachers will perform even better in the coming period.

The Law on Teachers was approved by the National Assembly on 16/6. A breakthrough provision is that teachers will receive the highest salaries within the public administration and career salary scale. They are also entitled to professional preferential allowances and other allowances, depending on the nature of their work and regional conditions. Notably, preschool teachers can retire up to five years early if desired, without a reduction in their pension percentage. Additionally, the education sector gains autonomy in recruitment.

Currently, education is one of the few professions that benefits from a seniority allowance (a 1% annual increase after five years), in addition to preferential allowances ranging from 25-70%. Pedagogy students sponsored by the State are exempt from tuition fees and receive a monthly living allowance of 3,6 million VND.

Duong Tam