Circular No. 20/2017/TT-BGDĐT stipulates the criteria, conditions, content, and form of the examination for promotion of job title qualifications for kindergarten and primary-secondary school teachers in public institutions.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on standards, conditions, content, and form of promotion examination for the rank and title of kindergarten and public primary and secondary school teachers

occupational title of kindergarten and public primary and secondary school teachers

Pursuant to Decree No. 123/2016/NĐ-CP dated September 1, 2016 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Decree No. 69/2017/NĐ-CP dated May 25, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Decree No. 29/2012/NĐ-CP dated April 12, 2012 of the Government on recruitment, utilization, and management of civil servants;

After receiving the unified opinion of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Circular No. 3474/BNV-CCVC dated July 3, 2017 regarding the issuance of Circulars regulating standards, conditions, content, and form of examinations/ratings and regulations on promotion of the rank and title of kindergarten and public primary and secondary school teachers;

Considering the proposal of the Director of the General Department of Teachers and Educational Management,

The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular to regulate standards, conditions, content, and form of promotion examination for the rank and title of kindergarten and public primary and secondary school teachers.

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular regulates standards, conditions, content, and form of promotion examination for the rank and title of kindergarten and public primary and secondary school teachers (hereinafter referred to collectively as the promotion examination for the rank and title of teachers).

Article 2. This Circular applies to teachers and educational managers (hereinafter referred to collectively as teachers) who are currently performing teaching and educational duties at public kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, special education institutions, or teaching regular education programs at provincial or district-level continuing education centers, vocational training and continuing education centers at the district level (hereinafter referred to collectively as educational institutions) and have been classified according to the standards of the teacher's rank and title; and related organizations and individuals.

Teachers preparing for university can apply this Circular to participate in the promotion examination for the rank and title of teachers after being reclassified according to the code number and standards of the teacher's rank and title for teachers preparing for university.

Article 3. Principles of promotion examination for the rank and title of teachers

Clause 1. The selection of teachers to participate in the promotion examination must be based on job positions, the structure of the rank and title, the needs of public educational institutions, and the actual situation of the locality.

Clause 2. Teachers may participate in the promotion examination from a lower rank to the next higher rank within the same rank and title they hold.

Clause 3. Teachers participating in the promotion examination must have complete files and evidence as prescribed. For standards and criteria that do not have evidence in the form of certificates or certifications, the evidence shall be confirmation by the employing agency regarding the teacher's competence meeting those standards and criteria.

Clause 4. The organization of the promotion examination for the rank and title must be equal, transparent, fair, and in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 4. Standards and Conditions for Registering to Participate in Promotion Examination for the Rank and Title of Teachers

Teachers participating in the promotion examination for the rank and title must meet the following standards and conditions:

Clause 1. The educational institution has a need for the job position of the rank and title at the registered rank and is authorized to send them to participate in the examination.

Clause 2. They must be evaluated by the competent authority as having satisfactorily completed their tasks for three consecutive years up to the deadline for submitting the application file; they must possess the necessary moral and professional ethics; they must not be under disciplinary action or have received notice of disciplinary review from the competent authority.

Clause 3. They must have the required level of education, training, and professional capacity for the rank and title at the registered rank as stipulated in Joint Circular No. 20/2015/TTLT-BGDĐT-BNV dated September 14, 2015 of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Home Affairs on the code number and standards of the rank and title of kindergarten teachers; Joint Circular No. 21/2015/TTLT-BGDĐT-BNV dated September 16, 2015 of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Home Affairs on the code number and standards of the rank and title of public primary school teachers; Joint Circular No. 22/2015/TTLT-BGDĐT-BNV dated September 16, 2015 of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Home Affairs on the code number and standards of the rank and title of public middle school teachers; Joint Circular No. 23/2015/TTLT-BGDĐT-BNV dated September 16, 2015 of the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Home Affairs on the code number and standards of the rank and title of public high school teachers.

Teachers preparing for university, when applying this Circular to participate in the promotion examination, must have the required level of education, training, and professional capacity for the rank and title at the registered rank as stipulated in the standards of the rank and title of teachers preparing for university issued by the Ministry of Education and Training.

PART II
CONTENT AND FORM OF PROMOTION EXAMINATION FOR THE RANK AND TITLE OF TEACHERS
TEACHER OCCUPATION

- Prime Minister;4For the promotion examination for the rank and title of teachers from Rank II to Rank I

Clause 1. Common knowledge subject

a) Form of examination:

The head of the competent authority organizing the promotion examination decides to choose one of the three forms: Essay or multiple choice or a combination of essay and multiple choice.

b) Duration of examination: Essay examination lasts 150 minutes; Multiple choice examination lasts 45 minutes; Combined essay and multiple choice examination lasts 120 minutes.

c) Content of examination: Testing the knowledge and understanding of teachers about the Law on Civil Servants, specialized laws, viewpoints, policies, and strategies of the Party and State on general education and specific education levels currently teaching; international trends and strategic development directions of the sector and education development strategies and policies of the current education level. Applying the knowledge and understanding of the above issues to propose solutions to emerging issues in practice at the current education level in accordance with the standards of the rank and title of teachers at Rank I.

The volume of knowledge in the examination questions and content on the Law on Civil Servants is 30%; on education and training is 70%.

Clause 2. Professional subject

a) Form of examination: Presentation and direct interview

b) Duration of examination

- Preparation: Candidates prepare a report according to the guidance on the examination content at point c of this clause.

- Presentation: Maximum 15 minutes per candidate.

- Direct interview: maximum 15 minutes/teacher candidate.

c) Examination content: Teacher candidates present an overview report on teaching and learning outcomes and student education results, management and leadership outcomes (for teachers engaged in management work) from the time they were appointed to their current rank until the examination registration date; interview questions cover professional issues within their field of responsibility, solutions to practical educational problems currently facing them, linked to the professional qualifications and competence standards for Grade I teacher positions.

3. Foreign Language Subject

a) Examination format: Multiple choice

b) Examination duration: 45 minutes

c) Examination content: Assess reading comprehension and writing skills at level 3 of the foreign language proficiency framework as stipulated in Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT dated January 24, 2014, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training on the six-level foreign language proficiency framework for Vietnam (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT).

d) Foreign language examination: teacher candidates register to take one of the following foreign languages: English, Russian, French, German, Chinese.

For teachers teaching one of the above-mentioned foreign languages, they must also take a second foreign language examination at level 3 as stipulated in Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT.

4. Computer Science subject

a) Form of examination:

The head of the authority organizing the examination for promotion decides to choose one of the two formats: multiple choice or computer-based practical test.

b) Examination duration: 45 minutes

c) Examination content: Basic information technology usage skills as prescribed by the professional qualification standards for Grade I teacher positions.

Article 5. Regarding the examination for promotion from Grade III to Grade II teacher positions

Clause 1. Common knowledge subject

a) Form of examination:

The head of the competent authority organizing the promotion examination decides to choose one of the three forms: Essay or multiple choice or a combination of essay and multiple choice.

b) Examination duration: Essay examination 120 minutes, multiple choice examination 45 minutes, combined essay and multiple choice examination 90 minutes.

c) Examination content: Assess teachers' knowledge and understanding of the Law on Public Servants, specialized laws, viewpoints, policies, and directives of the sector regarding the current grade being taught. Apply this knowledge and understanding to propose solutions to emerging issues in the practical implementation of the current grade, consistent with the professional qualification standards for Grade II teacher positions.

The volume of knowledge in the examination questions and content on the Law on Civil Servants is 30%; on education and training is 70%.

Clause 2. Professional subject

a) Form of examination:

The head of the authority organizing the examination for promotion decides to choose one of the two formats: oral examination or multiple choice.

b) Examination duration: Multiple choice examination 45 minutes, oral examination 30 minutes (maximum preparation time 20 minutes, maximum oral examination time 10 minutes/teacher candidate).

c) Examination content: Assess teacher candidates' understanding of the duties of Grade II teachers; their professional and vocational competence levels according to the professional qualification standards for Grade II teacher positions; their ability to propose solutions to practical issues arising in the performance of Grade II teacher duties, linked to the requirements of the professional qualification standards for Grade II teacher positions and the current educational situation at the local level.

Clause 3. Foreign language subject

a) Examination format: Multiple choice

b) Examination duration: 45 minutes

c) Examination content: Assess teacher candidates' reading comprehension and writing skills at level 2 of the foreign language proficiency framework as stipulated in Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT.

d) Foreign language examination: teacher candidates register to take one of the following foreign languages: English, Russian, French, German, Chinese.

For teachers teaching one of the above-mentioned foreign languages, they must also take a second foreign language examination at level 2 as stipulated in Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT.

4. Computer Science Subject

a) Form of examination:

The head of the authority organizing the examination for promotion decides to choose one of the two formats: multiple choice or computer-based practical test.

b) Examination duration: 45 minutes

c) Examination content: Basic information technology usage skills as prescribed by the professional qualification standards for Grade II teacher positions.

Article 6. Regarding the examination for promotion to the rank of teacher from Class IV to Class III

1. General knowledge subject

a) Examination format

The head of the competent authority organizing the promotion examination decides to choose one of the three forms: Essay or multiple choice or a combination of essay and multiple choice.

b) Examination time: Essay examination for 90 minutes, multiple-choice examination for 30 minutes, combined essay and multiple-choice examination for 60 minutes.

c) Examination content: Assessing teachers' candidates' knowledge and understanding of the Law on Public Officials, relevant laws, basic issues concerning educational institutions and teachers according to the current grade they teach. Applying this knowledge and understanding to propose solutions to emerging issues in practice at their grade level in accordance with the standards for the rank of Class III teacher.

The volume of knowledge in the examination questions and content on the Law on Civil Servants is 30%; on education and training is 70%.

2. Professional subject

a) Form of examination:

The head of the competent authority organizing the promotion examination decides to choose one of the following two formats: multiple-choice or oral examination.

b) Examination time: Multiple-choice examination for 45 minutes, oral examination for 30 minutes (maximum preparation time of 20 minutes, maximum questioning time of 10 minutes per candidate).

c) Examination content: Assessing teachers' candidates' understanding of the duties of Class III teachers; the professional and vocational competence level of teachers' candidates according to the standards for the rank of Class III teacher; the ability to analyze and evaluate issues arising in the practical implementation of duties as a Class III teacher in conjunction with the requirements of the standards for the rank of Class III teacher and the current educational situation at their local grade level.

3. Foreign language subject

a) Examination format: Multiple choice

b) Examination duration: 45 minutes

c) Content: Assessing teachers' candidates' reading comprehension and writing skills at Level 2 of foreign languages according to Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT.

d) Foreign language examination: teacher candidates register to take one of the following foreign languages: English, Russian, French, German, Chinese.

For teachers teaching one of the above-mentioned foreign languages, they must also take a second foreign language examination at level 2 as stipulated in Circular No. 01/2014/TT-BGDĐT.

4. Information Technology subject

a) Form of examination:

The head of the competent authority organizing the promotion examination decides to choose one of the following two formats: multiple-choice or practical examination on computer.

b) Time: 45 minutes

c) Examination content: Basic information technology usage skills according to the standards for the rank of Class III teacher.

Article 7. Cases of exemption from foreign language and information technology examinations in the promotion examination for the rank of teacher

1. Exemption from foreign language examination for teachers' candidates falling under one of the following cases:

a) Teachers who, as of December 31 of the year the promotion examination is organized, are aged 55 years or older for males and 50 years or older for females.

b) Teachers working in ethnic minority areas and mountainous regions or in boarding/school-at-home schools for ethnic minorities, holding certificates of ethnic minority language training issued by training institutions within their jurisdiction.

c) Those who have studied or researched full-time abroad and obtained a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an overseas training institution using one of the languages English, Russian, French, German, or Chinese in their education; such degrees have been recognized by the competent authority according to current regulations.

d) Holders of a second bachelor's degree in one of the languages English, French, Russian, German, or Chinese.

đ) Holders of a foreign language certificate at Level 3 or higher according to the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for Vietnam (equivalent to Level B1 or higher according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) or holders of international English certificates TOEFL PBT 450 points, TOEFL CBT 133 points, TOEFL iBT 45 points, IELTS 4.5 points or higher for promotion from Class IV to Class III; Holders of a foreign language certificate at Level 3 or higher according to the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for Vietnam (equivalent to Level B1 or higher according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) or holders of international English certificates TOEFL PBT 450 points, TOEFL CBT 133 points, TOEFL iBT 45 points, IELTS 4.5 points or higher for promotion from Class III to Class II; Holders of a foreign language certificate at Level 4 or higher according to the 6-level Foreign Language Proficiency Framework for Vietnam (equivalent to Level B2 or higher according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) or holders of international English certificates TOEFL PBT 500 points, TOEFL CBT 173 points, TOEFL iBT 61 points, IELTS 5.5 points or higher for promotion from Class II to Class I.

2. For foreign language certificates with specified validity periods, the exemption provisions under Clause 1 of this Article shall be calculated based on the validity period stated on the certificate and the validity of the certificate up to the deadline for submitting application documents for the examination.

For foreign language certificates without specified validity periods, the validity of the certificate will be accepted until there is a change in the validity period regulations for such foreign language certificates by the competent authority.

3. For teachers teaching foreign languages, the exemption provisions for foreign languages under Clause 1 of this Article must be a different language from the foreign language they are currently teaching at the equivalent level.

4. Exemption from information technology examination for teachers' candidates who have graduated from a junior college majoring in information technology or information technology and communications or higher.

Chapter III
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 8. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from October 3, 2017, and replaces Circular No. 34/2010/TT-BGDĐT dated December 8, 2010, of the Ministry of Education and Training regarding the content and format of the examination for upgrading the rank of secondary school teachers.

2. In cases where the referenced documents in this Circular are amended, supplemented, or replaced (referred to as new documents), the related contents shall be implemented according to the new documents.

Article 9. Implementation Provisions

1. Teachers participating in the promotion examination for the rank of teacher organized before December 31, 2018, in educational institutions are not required to hold a certificate of training according to the standards for the rank of teacher and are not required to meet the condition of having held the immediate lower rank for at least one year.

Within a maximum period of one year from the date of announcing the results of the promotion examination, the competent authority managing and using teachers has the responsibility to send teachers who have participated in the promotion examination for the rank of teacher to attend a training course to complete the standards for the rank of teacher they are applying for.

In cases where teachers sent to attend a training course to complete the standards for the rank of teacher they are applying for do not participate in the course or fail to meet the required academic performance, the competent authority will not appoint them to the successful rank in the promotion examination and will not retain the results of the examination they have participated in.

2. Teachers participating in the rank promotion examination for occupational titles organized after December 31, 2018, at educational institutions must meet the conditions stipulated in Clause 3, Article 3 of this Circular.

Article 10. Responsibility for Implementation

1. The Minister, the Heads of Ministries equivalent to ministries, the Heads of government agencies, the Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, within their respective authorities, shall organize examinations for the promotion of occupational titles for teachers in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

2. The Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities and the Heads of educational institutions shall, based on the provisions of this Circular and within their respective authorities, nominate teachers to participate in the examination for the promotion of occupational titles for teachers and shall be responsible for the standards and conditions of teachers participating in such examinations.