Circular No. 04/2026/TT-BGDĐT stipulates the working regime for teachers at regular education institutions.

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON WORKING REGIME FOR TEACHERS AT CONTINUOUS EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Pursuant to the Education Law No. 43/2019/QH14 amended and supplemented by Law No. 123/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Teachers Law No. 73/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Labor Code No. 45/2019/QH14;

Pursuant to the Government Decree No. 37/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 26, 2025 stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Teachers and Educational Management Staff;

The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular regulating the working regime for teachers at continuous education institutions.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular regulates the working regime for teachers at continuous education centers, vocational education and training centers, and other educational institutions implementing continuous education programs (hereinafter referred to collectively as continuous education institutions), including: working hours, annual leave, teaching load standards, reduction in teaching load standards, and conversion of professional activities into teaching hours.

Article 2. Applicability

1. This Circular applies to teachers teaching continuous education programs and teachers teaching primary level training programs at continuous education institutions.

2. The subjects specified in Clause 1 of this Article include teachers performing teaching and educational duties; teachers assigned responsibilities as department heads, deputy department heads, team leaders, deputy team leaders of functional, professional, and technical departments as prescribed; teachers holding positions as directors, deputy directors.

3. Teachers teaching primary level training programs shall implement regulations on working hours and standard teaching hours for primary level teachers in vocational education institutions and other provisions regarding the working regime for teachers teaching continuous education programs as stipulated in this Circular.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms are understood as follows:

1. Working Hours refers to the time teachers perform occupational activities during the academic year, excluding annual leave as stipulated in Article 6 of this Circular.

2. Teaching Load in one academic year is the total number of theoretical or practical lessons or both, direct teaching or online teaching that each teacher must undertake in one academic year.

3. Average Weekly Teaching Load in one week is the total number of theoretical or practical lessons or both, direct teaching or online teaching that each teacher performs in one week.

4. Teaching Load stipulated in this Circular is determined as the teaching load for teachers teaching continuous education programs and the standard teaching hours for teachers teaching primary level training programs.

5. Reduction in Teaching Load refers to the situation where teachers are granted a reduction in some teaching hours to carry out stable and continuous professional tasks assigned by competent authorities or in specific cases related to probationary period (if applicable), childcare time, medical examination and treatment as prescribed.

6. Conversion of Professional Activities into Teaching Hours refers to the situation where teachers, when assigned to perform certain professional tasks (other than those already reduced from their teaching load), are counted as teaching hours.

Article 4. Principles for Determining the Working Regime

1. The assignment and arrangement of tasks for teachers must comply with regulations on teaching load, working hours, annual leave, and other rest periods as prescribed by law; ensure transparency and fairness among teachers within the same continuous education institution; be consistent with training programs, capacity building activities, and educational activities of the continuous education institution.

In cases where it is necessary to assign teachers to兼任任务，校长应优先考虑分配给那些每周平均授课时数不足的教师，并确保教师能够满足分配的任务要求。

在必须分配教师超出每周平均授课时数（包括兼任任务的课时转换）的情况下，实际超出的周授课时数不得超过每周平均授课时数的50%，实际超出的学年授课时数不得超过教育部规定的额外授课时数的最大支付额度。

教师在学年内因兼任任务而获得减少的课时和转换为课时的数量不得超过该学年总课时的50%（不包括兼任团委书记或青年助理、团支部书记等职务的教师所获得的减少课时数）。

对于已经领取了报酬或补贴的任务，不得减少课时或转换为课时，除非符合本通则第九条第二款、第三款、第四款的规定。

对于本通则未规定减少课时或转换为课时的课程班人数少于或超过规定的情况以及未规定减少课时或转换为课时的任务，由连续教育机构校长以书面形式决定。此类转换须经全体教师会议通过并报告市教育和培训局。

第二章

工作时间、年假和课时标准

第五条 工作时间

1. 连续教育教师的工作时间包括：

a) 37周的教学时间（包括35周的实际教学时间和2周的预备时间）；

b) 3周的学习和提高专业水平的时间；

c) 根据职业活动要求执行其他任务的周数。

2. 连续教育教师的工作时间可以转换成课时，包括一个学年的课时数和根据本通则第七条规定的每周平均课时数。

3. 被分配担任部门主任、副主任、团队领导、副团队领导等职务的教师（以下简称被分配担任部门主任、副主任的教师）的工作时间保证每周40小时，其中包括根据本通则第七条规定教师的课时数。

4. 担任校长、副校长职务的教师的工作时间保证每周40小时，其中包括根据本通则第八条规定校长、副校长的课时数。

5. 在突发情况下，为了防灾减灾或紧急情况需要调整学年计划框架，则第1款a项规定的实际教学周数按照有权机关的调整规定执行。

Article 6. Annual Leave Period

1. The annual leave period for teachers teaching the regular education program includes:

a) A minimum of four weeks and a maximum of eight weeks of summer vacation for teachers according to the internal regulations and rules of the regular education institution, ensuring compliance with the Government's regulations on the summer vacation period for teachers.

During the summer vacation, teachers participate in training and development activities based on job position requirements, take part in final examination work for high school students, recruitment, and teach classes under the training and development programs and educational activities of the regular education institution when called upon;

b) Time off during public holidays, Tet, and other days off as stipulated by the Labor Code and the Social Insurance Law;

c) Based on the academic year plan, scale, characteristics, and specific conditions of the regular education institution, the director arranges the annual leave time for teachers appropriately and in accordance with regulations, ensuring the academic year timeframe.

2. In cases where the summer vacation period and maternity leave of female teachers overlap, in addition to the leave time specified in point b, Clause 1, Article 6 of this Law, the leave time for teachers includes:

a) Full maternity leave as prescribed;

b) Summer vacation time outside of maternity leave (before or after maternity leave);

c) Additional leave time if the summer vacation period specified in point b of this clause is less than the annual leave days stipulated by the Labor Code. The total number of additional leave days and the number of leave days specified in point b of this clause equals the annual leave days stipulated by the Labor Code. Additional leave time is arranged flexibly through agreement between the director and the teacher.

3. In cases where male teachers are entitled to paternity leave when their wives give birth according to the provisions of the Social Insurance Law, during the paternity leave period, male teachers are credited with sufficient teaching hours as prescribed and are not required to make up for missed classes. If the paternity leave period coincides with the summer vacation period, they cannot be granted compensatory leave.

4. The annual leave period for directors and deputy directors of regular education institutions and teachers assigned responsibilities as department heads and deputy department heads includes:

a) Annual leave time as stipulated by the Labor Code;

In cases where regular education institutions can arrange summer vacation time (including annual leave time) for directors and deputy directors of regular education institutions and teachers assigned responsibilities as department heads and deputy department heads, such arrangements must be specified in the internal regulations and rules of the regular education institution and summer vacation time must be flexibly scheduled to ensure normal operations of the regular education institution and completion of tasks assigned by competent authorities.

b) Time off during public holidays, Tet, and other days off as stipulated by the Labor Code and the Social Insurance Law.

Article 7. Teaching Hour Quota for Teachers and Teachers Assigned Responsibilities as Department Heads and Deputy Department Heads

1. The average weekly teaching hour quota for teachers teaching the regular education program is 17 hours.

2. The annual teaching hour quota for teachers teaching the regular education program is calculated as follows:

Article 8. Teaching Hour Quota for Directors and Deputy Directors

1. The annual teaching hour quota for directors is 8% of the annual teaching hour quota for teachers teaching the regular education program. The annual teaching hour quota for deputy directors is 10% of the annual teaching hour quota for teachers teaching the regular education program.

2. In cases where regular education institutions do not have a director, the teaching hour quota for deputy directors responsible for the regular education institution shall be implemented according to the provisions for directors.

3. Directors and deputy directors may not use reduced or converted teaching hours to replace the teaching hour quota prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article.

4. When fulfilling the teaching hour quota prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article, directors and deputy directors may apply the provisions of Article 11 of this Circular to calculate the total number of teaching hours when calculating additional teaching hours.

Chapter III

REGIME OF REDUCED TEACHING HOUR QUOTA AND CONVERSION OF SPECIALIZED ACTIVITIES INTO TEACHING HOURS

Article 9. Regime of Reduced Teaching Hour Quota

1. Teachers who are class advisors for regular education program classes are entitled to a reduction of 4 hours per week. Teachers who are class advisors for other classes are entitled to a reduction of 1 to 4 hours per week, with the specific reduction level determined by the director. In cases where a teacher is assigned to advise multiple classes, the total number of reduced hours is the sum of the reduced hours for all advised classes, ensuring compliance with Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular.

2. Teachers assigned additional responsibilities in functional departments, specialized departments, or equivalent positions:

a) Teachers assigned as department head or team leader are entitled to a maximum reduction of 6 hours per week, with the specific reduction level determined by the director;

b) Teachers assigned as deputy department head or deputy team leader are entitled to a maximum reduction of 4 hours per week, with the specific reduction level determined by the director;

c) Teachers assigned additional responsibilities in other positions (excluding teaching positions) are entitled to a reduction of 2 to 4 hours per week, with the specific reduction level determined by the director. In cases where a teacher holds multiple additional responsibilities, the total number of reduced hours is the sum of the reduced hours for all held positions, ensuring compliance with Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular.

3. Teachers assigned additional responsibilities in trade union work implement the reduced teaching hour quota regime as prescribed in Circular No. 08/2016/TT-BGDĐT dated March 28, 2016, issued by the Minister of Education and Training, regarding the regime of reduced teaching hours for teachers and lecturers engaged in non-professional trade union work in public educational institutions within the national education system.

4. Teachers assigned additional responsibilities in Communist Youth League secretary or youth assistant, youth counselor, or deputy secretary positions at regular education institutions implement the reduced teaching hour quota regime as prescribed in Decision No. 13/2013/QĐ-TTg dated February 6, 2013, issued by the Prime Minister, concerning the regime and policies for Communist Youth League cadres and Vietnam Student Union members in educational institutions and vocational training centers.

5. Teachers assigned additional responsibilities in student counseling (excluding cases where teachers hold positions as student counselors or student advisors): The number of hours used for student counseling work at regular education institutions is 8 hours per week. The total number of reduced hours for all teachers assigned additional responsibilities in student counseling work does not exceed 8 hours per week. The director decides in writing the number of reduced hours for each teacher assigned additional responsibilities in student counseling work, ensuring it is appropriate to the workload assigned.

Article 10. Reduction of Teaching Load for Other Categories

1. Teachers during their probation period (if applicable) shall have their teaching load reduced by two periods per week.

2. Female teachers who are nursing children under twelve months old shall have their teaching load reduced by three periods per week. Directors and deputy directors of regular education institutions who are female and nursing children under twelve months old shall implement working hours according to the Labor Code.

3. Teachers during their medical examination and treatment period (not exceeding the maximum duration of sick leave benefits as stipulated in the Social Insurance Law) with confirmation from authorized healthcare facilities shall not be required to make up for assigned teaching periods and these periods shall be counted towards their teaching quota.

Article 11. Conversion of Other Professional Activities into Teaching Periods

1. One direct or online teaching period shall be converted into one standard teaching period for the following professional activities:

a) Inter-school teaching;

b) Review classes for graduation exams.

2. One direct or online teaching period shall not exceed two standard teaching periods for the following professional activities:

a) Lecturing at training or professional development sessions organized by regular education institutions or authorized bodies for teachers;

b) Demonstrating teaching at subject-specific meetings according to schedule;

c) Reporting at extracurricular activities, experiential learning, and vocational guidance organized by regular education institutions for class groups or school-wide scale;

d) Tutoring outstanding students;

đ) Supplemental teaching for students whose final exam results in the previous semester were unsatisfactory;

e) Tutoring students participating in competitions as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training.

3. The specific number of converted teaching periods for the professional activities specified in Clause 2 of this Article shall be determined by the Director to ensure alignment with the complexity and workload of the tasks.

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 12. Implementation

1. Department of Education and Training

Shall coordinate with relevant authorities to guide and inspect the implementation of working conditions for teachers at regular education institutions as stipulated in this Circular.

2. Director of Regular Education Institutions

Based on the provisions regarding working conditions for teachers teaching regular education programs in this Circular, working conditions for junior-level teachers in vocational education institutions, and related laws, the director of regular education institutions shall provide detailed guidelines on working conditions for teachers under their management and ensure fair, transparent, and objective assignment and scheduling of tasks in accordance with regulations.

Article 13. Effective Date and Implementation

1. This Circular shall take effect from February 10, 2026.

2. In cases where referenced documents in this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced, they shall be implemented according to the new documents.

3. The Head of the Office, the Director of the General Department of Teachers and Educational Management Staff, Heads of units related to the Ministry of Education and Training, Chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees, Directors of Departments of Education and Training, Directors of regular education institutions, and related organizations, units, and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular./.