Circular No. 11/2026/TT-BGDĐT stipulates the working conditions for preschool teachers.

CIRCULAR

REGULATIONS ON WORKING CONDITIONS FOR PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS

BASED ON THE EDUCATION AND TEACHING LAW NO. 73/2025/QH15;

BASED ON THE LABOR LAW NO. 45/2019/QH14;

BASED ON DECREE NO. 37/2025/NĐ-CP DATED FEBRUARY 26, 2025 OF THE GOVERNMENT REGULATING THE FUNCTION, MISSIONS, POWERS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING;

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE TEACHERS AND EDUCATION MANAGEMENT OFFICE;

THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING ISSUES THIS CIRCULAR REGULATING WORKING CONDITIONS FOR PRE-SCHOOL TEACHERS.

CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Application

This Circular regulates the working conditions for pre-school teachers, including: working hours, annual leave, teaching load, reduction in teaching load, and conversion of professional activities into teaching hours.

Article 2. Applicability

1. This Circular applies to pre-school teachers and pre-school teachers holding management positions (including principals and deputy principals) who teach at public preschool educational institutions.

2. Public preschool educational institutions include: kindergartens, nursery schools, public crèches; classes for preschool children, classes for young children, public kindergarten classes.

3. Non-public preschool educational institutions shall formulate working conditions for pre-school teachers in accordance with the organizational and operational regulations of their institution to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Circular and labor laws.

4. This Circular does not apply to pre-school teachers under the management authority of the Ministry of Public Security or the Ministry of National Defense.

Article 3. Interpretation of Terms

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

1. Working hours refers to the time during which a pre-school teacher performs their professional activities, including teaching time, preparation for class, time spent picking up and dropping off children, time for learning and training, preparation for the new academic year, end-of-year summary, and performance of other professional tasks as required by their profession.

2. Teaching refers to nurturing, caring for, and educating children according to the Preschool Education Curriculum. Teaching is carried out through organizing educational activities, play activities, labor activities, outdoor activities, and daily life activities at preschool institutions.

3. Teaching load is the total teaching time, measured in hours of teaching by pre-school teachers, principals, and deputy principals. The teaching load does not include preparation for class, picking up and dropping off children, or performing other professional tasks. The teaching load for pre-school teachers is calculated on a daily basis. The teaching load for principals and deputy principals is calculated on a weekly basis.

4. Reduction in teaching load refers to the reduction of some teaching hours by pre-school teachers to perform stable, regular, continuous professional tasks assigned by competent authorities or under specific circumstances related to internship (if applicable), childcare, medical treatment according to regulations.

5. Conversion of professional activities into teaching hours refers to a situation where a pre-school teacher, upon being assigned by competent authorities to perform certain professional tasks (different from those already reduced in teaching load), is credited with teaching hours.

Article 4. Principles for Determining Working Conditions

1. The working hours of preschool teachers shall be implemented according to the academic year and converted into teaching hours, ensuring a total of 40 hours per week, including the number of teaching hours in one day as stipulated in Clause 7 of this Circular.

2. The working hours of principals and deputy principals are guaranteed at 40 hours per week, including teaching time according to the standards specified in Clause 8 of this Circular, to ensure an understanding of the content and objectives of preschool education programs for enhanced leadership and management effectiveness.

3. Assignments and task allocation for preschool teachers must comply with the provisions on teaching hour quotas, working hours, and annual leave as prescribed by law; ensuring transparency and fairness among preschool teachers within the same preschool institution.

Preschool teachers assigned to childcare duties such as picking up or dropping off children or supervising lunchtime activities must ensure that these tasks are appropriate for the actual staff composition of the preschool institution.

4. Each preschool teacher shall not undertake more than two tasks specified in Clauses 9 and 10 of this Circular.

5. For tasks where remuneration or allowances have been received, the teaching hour quota may not be reduced or converted to teaching hours except for the additional duties as stipulated in Clause 9, paragraph 1, Clause 10, and paragraph 4 of this Circular.

6. The conversion of tasks not specified in this Circular regarding reductions in teaching hour quotas or their conversion to teaching hours shall be decided by the principal in writing, ensuring that it is appropriate for the complexity and volume of work assigned. Such conversions must be approved by a collective meeting of preschool teachers at the institution and reported to the competent authority.

Chapter II

WORKING HOURS AND ANNUAL LEAVE

Article 5. Working Hours of Principals, Deputy Principals, and Preschool Teachers

1. The working hours for principals, deputy principals, and preschool teachers during the academic year are 42 weeks, including:

a) Teaching weeks: 35 weeks;

b) Training and advanced training weeks: 4 weeks;

c) Preparation for new school year and end-of-year summary: 3 weeks.

2. In cases of emergency to prevent or respond to natural disasters, epidemics, or urgent situations requiring adjustment of the academic year schedule, the number of teaching weeks shall be implemented according to the regulations set by the competent authority.

Article 6. Annual Leave for Principals, Deputy Principals, and Preschool Teachers

1. The annual leave of preschool teachers includes:

a) Summer vacation in accordance with government regulations;

b) Public holidays, festivals, and other days off as prescribed by the Labor Law and Social Insurance Law;

c) Based on the school year plan, specific characteristics, and conditions of each institution, the principal shall arrange the annual leave for preschool teachers appropriately and in accordance with regulations.

2. In cases where the summer vacation period and maternity leave overlap for female teachers, in addition to the time off as specified in paragraph 1, point b, the annual leave of preschool teachers includes:

a) Maternity leave according to regulations;

b) Summer vacation outside the maternity leave period (before or after the maternity leave);

c) Additional days of leave where the summer vacation time specified in paragraph 1, point b is less than the annual leave as prescribed by the Labor Law. The total number of additional days and the number of days off specified in paragraph 1, point b shall equal the annual leave as prescribed by the Labor Law. Additional leave times are to be arranged flexibly according to agreement between the principal and the teacher.

3. The annual leave for principals and deputy principals includes:

a) Summer vacation as per government regulations.

The summer vacation of principals and deputy principals shall be flexibly scheduled within the academic year and during the preschool teachers' summer vacation to ensure normal operations at the preschool institution and completion of tasks assigned by higher-level management authorities (if any). The schedule for the summer vacation of principals and deputy principals must be reported to the competent authority or according to hierarchical division.

b) Public holidays, festivals, and other days off as prescribed by the Labor Law and Social Insurance Law.

Article 7. Teaching Hours for Kindergarten Teachers

1. For kindergarten teachers teaching groups of young children in classes that attend two sessions per day: Teach five hours and thirty minutes per day.

2. For kindergarten teachers teaching groups of young children in classes that attend one session per day: Teach four hours per day.

Article 8. Teaching Hours for Principals, Deputy Principals

1. The weekly teaching hours are determined as follows:

a) Principal teaches two hours per week;

b) Deputy principal teaches four hours per week.

2. Principals and deputy principals shall not convert the reduced teaching hours regime or use converted teaching hours from professional activities to substitute for the prescribed teaching hours.

3. When teaching hours are fully met as prescribed, principals and deputy principals may be credited with professional activities in accordance with the provisions of Article 12 of this Circular when calculating total teaching hours (if any).

Chapter III

REGIME FOR REDUCING TEACHING HOURS AND CONVERSION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES INTO TEACHING HOURS

Article 9. Regime for Reducing Teaching Hours for Part-time Kindergarten Teachers Engaged in Professional Activities

1. Subject matter team leader may have three hours of teaching reduced per week.

2. Subject matter team deputy may have one hour of teaching reduced per week.

Article 10. Regime for Reducing Teaching Hours for Kindergarten Teachers Engaged in Other Positions

1. A kindergarten teacher who is concurrently serving as the Youth League Secretary shall be granted a reduction not exceeding two hours of teaching per week. The principal shall decide in writing the number of hours to be reduced from the duties assigned to the kindergarten teacher, ensuring that it aligns with the workload assigned. Conversion in this case must be approved by a collective meeting of kindergarten teachers at the preschool facility.

2. A kindergarten teacher who is concurrently serving as an educational support staff for disabled children shall have two hours of teaching reduced per week.

3. A kindergarten teacher who is concurrently serving as a clerk shall have two hours of teaching reduced per week.

4. A kindergarten teacher who is concurrently serving as the librarian (responsible for the library) shall have two hours of teaching reduced per week.

Article 11. Regime for Reducing Teaching Hours for Other Individuals

1. Kindergarten teachers during their probationary period (if applicable) may be granted a reduction of five hours of teaching per week.

2. Female kindergarten teachers with children under twelve months old may be granted a reduction of five hours of teaching per week.

3. Kindergarten teachers who are undergoing medical examination or treatment (not exceeding the prescribed period) and have the principal's approval and confirmation from an authorized healthcare facility shall not need to make up for missed teaching days, and their teaching hours for that day will be considered fully met.

4. A kindergarten teacher teaching a class with children with disabilities attending mainstream classes, when teaching hours are fully met as prescribed in Article 7 of this Circular, each kindergarten teacher may have thirty minutes reduced per day for every child with disabilities in the class.

Article 12. Conversion of Other Professional Activities into Teaching Hours

1. Kindergarten teachers who are mobilized to serve as lecturers at training classes or professional development sessions for kindergarten teachers organized by the principal or competent authority (including core teachers) shall have one teaching period (or one hour of teaching) counted as one hour of teaching.

2. Kindergarten teachers assigned to demonstrate lessons during a professional activity session according to the schedule shall have one teaching period (or one hour of teaching) counted as one hour of teaching.

3. Kindergarten teachers who are dispatched by competent authorities to teach at other preschool facilities shall be credited with full teaching hours per day in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 of this Circular.

4. Kindergarten teachers participating in afternoon child care shall have no more than two hours of teaching counted per session. The principal shall decide in writing the number of hours to be converted for kindergarten teachers assigned to afternoon child care, ensuring it aligns with the number of children staying at preschool on a half-day basis and the duration of aftercare. Conversion in this case must be approved by a collective meeting of kindergarten teachers at the preschool facility.

5. Kindergarten teachers who are assigned as judges for school-level teacher competitions or contests (competitions or contests stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training) shall have one period (or one hour) of direct marking counted as one hour of teaching.

Chapter IV

ORGANIZATION OF IMPLEMENTATION

Article 13. Organization of Implementation

1. The People's Committee of the province or centrally administered city shall direct the Department of Education and Training, the People's Committee at the commune level, and relevant agencies within their respective jurisdictions to guide and inspect the implementation of the working conditions for kindergarten teachers as provided in this Circular.

2. The Department of Education and Training, the People's Committee at the commune level shall be responsible for directing inspections and supervision of the implementation of the working conditions for kindergarten teachers as provided in this Circular.

3. The principal of a kindergarten institution shall be responsible for organizing the implementation of the working conditions for kindergarten teachers as provided in this Circular.

Article 14. Effectiveness and Enforcement Responsibilities

1. This Circular shall take effect from March 4, 2026.

2. This Circular replaces Circular No. 48/2011/TT-BGDĐT dated October 25, 2011, by the Minister of Education and Training, which stipulates working conditions for kindergarten teachers.

3. The phrase "teaching children" shall be replaced with the phrase "lecturing to children" in Point b, Clause 2, Article 4 of Circular No. 21/2025/TT-BGDĐT dated September 23, 2025, by the Minister of Education and Training, which stipulates remuneration for overtime teaching at public educational institutions.

4. The phrase "or teaching children" shall be abolished in Point a, Clause 1, Article 5, and Clause 2, Article 6 of Circular No. 21/2025/TT-BGDĐT dated September 23, 2025, by the Minister of Education and Training, which stipulates remuneration for overtime teaching at public educational institutions.

5. The Director of the Office, Directors of the Department of Teacher and Educational Management, heads of relevant units under the Ministry of Education and Training, chairpersons of people's committees at all levels, directors of departments of education and training, principals of kindergarten institutions, organizations, units, and individuals concerned shall be responsible for enforcing this Circular./.