Teachers are a group of workers with a special position in Vietnamese society. Accordingly, many workers can’t help but wonder that when students take a summer vacation every year, will teachers continue to work during that time? What is the regulation on the working time of teachers in Vietnam?
Clause 1, Article 3 of Circular No. 48/2011/TT-BGDĐT stipulates that the annual working time of preschool teachers is:
• 35 weeks of child rearing, care and education (teaching children);
• 04 weeks of professional learning and retraining;
• 02 weeks of preparation for the new school year;
• 01 week to summarize the school year.
Accordingly, preschool teachers will have a total working time of 42 weeks/52 weeks in a year.
For high school teachers, Clauses 1 and 2, Article 5 of Consolidated Document 03/VBHN-BGDĐT in 2017 promulgated by the Ministry of Education and Training, consolidating the Circular on promulgating Regulations on working regimes for teachers have regulated the working time of teachers in elementary, middle and high schools as follows:
The working time of primary school teachers is 42 weeks, in which:
• 35 weeks of instruction and educational activities in accordance with the school year plan;
• 05 weeks for learning and improving skills;
• 01 week for the preparation of the new school year;
• 01 week for summarizing the school year.
The working time of middle and high school teachers is 42 weeks, in which:
• 37 weeks of teaching and educational activities in accordance with the school year plan;
• 03 weeks for learning and improving skills;
• 01 week for the preparation of the new school year;
• 01 week for summarizing the school year.
Teachers’ annual leave in Vietnam
According to the provisions of Article 3 of Decree 84/2020/ND-CP guiding the Education Law 2019:
• Teachers of preschools, general education institutions, and specialized schools have an annual summer vacation of 8 weeks, including annual leave.
• Middle school and college teachers have a summer vacation of 6 weeks, including annual leave;
• Lecturers of higher education institutions take summer vacations according to the organization and operation regulations of the higher education institution.
In addition to the above summer vacation period, teachers and lecturers are still entitled to public holidays, Tet and other days off according to the provisions of the Labor Code such as New Year’s Day, 01 day off (January 1 of the solar calendar); Lunar New Year holiday 05 days off; April 30, 01 day off; International Labor Day 1 day off (May 1); National Day off 02 days off; Hung King’s death anniversary 01 day off (March 10 of the lunar calendar).
However, it should be noted that depending on the different conditions as well as the teaching and learning mechanism of each locality, the break time may change.
Based on the school year time plan promulgated by the Ministry of Education and Training and the specific conditions of the locality, the President of the People’s Committee of the province or city directly under the Central Government shall decide the time of summer vacation for teachers in preschool, general and specialized schools.
ASL LAW is the top-tier Vietnam law firm for Employment and Labor Law. If you need any advice, please contact us for further information or collaboration.