On June 16, the 15th National Assembly officially passed the Law on Teachers - the first specialized law that comprehensively defines the legal status, rights, responsibilities, and policies for educators in Vietnam.

The law consists of 9 chapters and 42 articles and will come into effect on January 1, 2026.

Reaffirming the status and dignity of educators

The Law on Teachers establishes a comprehensive legal framework for educators in both public and private institutions. For the first time, teachers at non-public institutions are recognized as professional practitioners with equivalent standards, rights, and responsibilities - not merely contract-based workers.

The law clearly affirms teachers’ right to respect and protection of their honor and dignity. It introduces strict measures against acts that insult teachers, including a ban on individuals and organizations disseminating accusatory information without official conclusions from competent authorities. This provision aims to shield educators from undue social pressure and foster a respectful, safe teaching environment.

Highest salary bracket in the public service pay scale

A groundbreaking feature of the law is the provision that "teachers’ salaries shall be classified at the highest level in the administrative and public service pay scale," with the government tasked with issuing detailed regulations on salary policies for educators.

This serves as a legal foundation for adjusting the salary system in favor of teachers. According to the Ministry of Education and Training’s draft decree, the proposal includes reclassifying salary grades for several teaching positions - such as preschool, general education, and vocational educators - to ensure consistency with professional standards across sectors and improve educators’ living standards.

In addition to salaries, the law grants teachers various allowances, including hardship allowances, responsibility bonuses, preferential treatment, inclusion education support, seniority, and mobility stipends - collectively enhancing their overall income.

Policies to protect, support, and attract high-quality talent

The law unifies and expands support policies, highlighting key benefits such as housing allowances or state-provided accommodation for teachers in remote areas, regular health check subsidies, professional training for all teachers regardless of their institution type, and priority recruitment for those serving in border, island, and disadvantaged areas.

To attract top-tier talent, the law encourages individuals with advanced qualifications or vocational expertise to join the teaching profession, especially in strategic fields such as science, technology, digital transformation, and vocational education.

Preschool teachers may opt for early retirement up to five years ahead of schedule without pension reduction, provided they have contributed to social insurance for at least 15 years. Conversely, professors, associate professors, PhDs, or teachers in specialized fields may continue working beyond the standard retirement age to retain talent.

Improving teacher quality and professional standards

The law consolidates two previous systems - professional titles and teaching standards - into a unified competency-based framework that applies across public and private sectors. This aims to ensure a consistent quality standard nationwide, promote fairness in education access, and improve transparency in recruitment and evaluation.

It also mandates that teacher recruitment must be linked to practical training, ensuring quality candidates suited to each education level.

Professional ethics and protection mechanisms

For the first time, the law codifies teaching ethics, including conduct standards in relations with students, colleagues, parents, and society. It emphasizes the teacher’s role as a moral exemplar, marked by integrity, professionalism, and dedication.

To protect teacher reputation, the law bans the spread of defamatory information on social media without verified conclusions. Violations will be prosecuted under applicable laws.

Teachers are also expected to uphold these ethical standards. Violations will be handled firmly, helping safeguard the noble status of the profession.

Granting more autonomy to the education sector

The law empowers the education sector to manage teacher recruitment and utilization. University and vocational school leaders are authorized to recruit independently. The Ministry of Education and Training will regulate recruitment authority for preschool, general, and continuing education institutions.

This marks a strategic adjustment to address persistent issues such as staffing imbalances and to facilitate better planning and development of the teaching workforce at all levels.

The Ministry of Education and Training is tasked with coordinating national strategies, planning, and teacher workforce targets in cooperation with other ministries and provincial authorities. It will also submit staffing proposals for approval by relevant authorities.

Following the law’s passage, the ministry has been urgently drafting two decrees and nearly 20 circulars to be implemented alongside the law’s enforcement on January 1, 2026.

Thanh Hung