Circular No. 20/2023/TT-BGDĐT guiding positions, staffing structure according to occupational titles and staffing norms for public general education institutions and specialized schools.

CIRCULAR

HGuidelines on job positions, organizational structure of civil servants according to occupational titles

and staffing norms for the number of employees in general education schools and public special schools

general education and public special schools

 

Decree No. 86/2022/Decree-CP dated February 24 the 10 Pursuant to Decree No. 32/2019/NĐ-CP dated April 10, 2019 of the Government on assigning tasks, procurement or tendering for the supply of products and services using state budget from regular operating expenses;22 of the Government This Circular stipulates standards and conditions for promotion to higher ranks of teaching positions for staff members in public universities and teacher training colleges, including public college teacher training institutions that offer Early Childhood Education at the college level (hereinafter referred to collectively as teacher training colleges).

Pursuant to Decree No. 106/2020/NĐ-CP dated September 10, 2020 of the Government on job positions and staffing levels in public service units;

Pursuant to Decree No. 120/2020/NĐ-CP dated October 7, 2020 of the Government stipulating the establishment, restructuring, and dissolution of public service organizations;

Decree No. 111/2022/NĐ-CP December 30, 2022 regarding contracts for certain types of work in administrative agencies and public service units;

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

The Minister of Education and Training issues this Circular to provide guidelines on job positions, organizational structure of civil servants according to occupational titles and staffing norms for the number of employees in general education schools and public special schools.

 

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Article 1. This Circular provides guidelines on job positions, organizational structure of civil servants according to occupational titles and staffing norms for the number of employees in general education schools and public special schools, including:

a) Primary schools;

b) Secondary schools;

c) High schools;

d) General education schools with multiple levels;

e) Special schools, including: High schools specializing in certain fields; boarding schools for ethnic minorities; semi-residential schools for ethnic minorities; schools and classes for persons with disabilities;

f) The general education schools mentioned in points a, b, c, d, and e of Clause 1 of this Article shall hereinafter be collectively referred to as public general education schools.

Article 2. The application of this Circular includes:

a) Private general education schools and general education schools self-financing recurrent and investment expenses;

b) Continuing education centers, vocational training and continuing education centers (applicable to classes teaching the same level of general education program), preparatory universities;

c) Other educational institutions (applicable to classes teaching the same level of general education program).

Article 2. Principles for determining job positions and staffing norms for the number of employees in public general education schools

1. Determining job positions and staffing norms for the number of employees in public general education schools shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of Decree No. 106/2020/NĐ-CP dated September 10, 2020 of the Government on job positions and staffing norms for the number of employees in public service units (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 106/2020/NĐ-CP).

2. Job positions and staffing norms for the number of employees in public general education schools must ensure:

a) Sufficient number of employees according to the staffing norms prescribed in this Circular to carry out teaching all subjects and educational activities in the General Education Program issued by the Ministry of Education and Training and to perform common professional tasks, supporting and serving tasks of public general education schools;

b) Positions that do not have enough workload to be performed by one employee within the prescribed time shall be assigned to兼任的任务。尚未安排编制的职位，应签订劳动合同或兼任。被安排兼任的人员必须接受培训和培养，以满足兼任职位的专业能力和业务要求。

3. The number of teachers in public general education schools includes teachers recruited as civil servants and teachers under labor contracts. If a public general education school currently arranges fewer civil servant teachers than the maximum staffing norm prescribed in this Circular (due to insufficient allocated staffing or failure to recruit), it shall determine the number of teachers to sign labor contracts in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. 111/2022/NĐ-CP dated December 30, 2022 of the Government on contracts for certain types of work in administrative agencies and public service units based on the maximum staffing norm prescribed in this Circular.

4. The staffing norms and job positions prescribed in this Circular are determined based on the class size of each general education school.

5. For general education schools with multiple levels:

a) The number of deputy principals shall be implemented in accordance with the regulations on the number of deputies in Decree No. 120/2020/NĐ-CP dated October 7, 2020 of the Government on the establishment, restructuring, and dissolution of public service units (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 120/2020/NĐ-CP);

b) The number of teachers shall be implemented in accordance with the regulations of this Circular for each level;

c) The list of job positions, staffing norms for the number of employees in job positions of specialized occupational titles (excluding teachers, teachers responsible for the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and support for disabled education), common professional job positions, and supporting and serving job positions in general education schools with multiple levels shall be implemented in accordance with the regulations for the highest level. In which, the number of classes or students used as the basis for calculating the number of employees according to the regulations for the highest level is the total number of classes or the total number of students of all levels;

d) Supporting education positions for persons with disabilities in general education schools with multiple levels that have students with disabilities integrated into regular classes: Schools with less than 20 integrated students with disabilities may arrange for 1 person; schools with 20 or more integrated students with disabilities may arrange for up to 2 people;

e) Each school shall arrange for 1 teacher (primary or secondary school teacher) to be responsible for the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

Article 3. Provisions on dividing regions for determining teacher quotas

1. The provisions on dividing regions for determining teacher quotas are as follows:

a) Region 1: Communes in Zone II and Zone III according to current regulations located in areas with ethnic minority groups and mountainous regions; communes in particularly difficult coastal areas; communes with extremely difficult socio-economic conditions; island communes, border communes, safe area communes as defined by the Government;

b) Region 2: Communes in Zone I (excluding wards and towns) according to current regulations located in areas with ethnic minority groups and mountainous regions;

c) Region 3: Wards and towns in Zone I according to current regulations located in areas with ethnic minority groups and mountainous regions, and remaining communes, wards, and towns.

2. The number of students per class by region to serve as the basis for allocating or approving the number of staff in general education institutions is as follows:

a) Region 1: An average of 25 students per class for primary school level; an average of 35 students per class for lower secondary and upper secondary school levels;

b) Region 2: An average of 30 students per class for primary school level; an average of 40 students per class for lower secondary and upper secondary school levels;

c) Region 3: An average of 35 students per class for primary school level; an average of 45 students per class for lower secondary and upper secondary school levels;

d) The number of students per class for boarding schools for ethnic minorities and specialized upper secondary schools shall be implemented in accordance with the regulations stipulated in the organizational and operational rules.

3. The determination of the number of students per class is calculated specifically for each educational institution, not determined based on administrative units at commune, district, or provincial levels.

4. Based on the provisions on dividing regions under Clause 1 of this Article, the Provincial People's Committee directs relevant agencies to determine commune-level units according to each region as a basis for calculating teacher quotas for general education institutions. In cases where the number of students per class must be arranged lower or higher than the average number specified by region under Clause 2 of this Article, the Provincial People's Committee decides on the appropriate student-to-class ratio in line with actual conditions.

Article 4. Staff Structure According to Professional Titles

The determination of the staff structure according to professional titles is carried out in accordance with the provisions of Clause 5, Article 3, and Clause 3, Article 4 of Decree No. 106/2020/NĐ-CP.

Chapter II

LIST OF POSITIONS, QUOTAS FOR THE NUMBER OF STAFF IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Article 5. List of positions, guidelines for describing positions in primary schools, primary schools for ethnic minorities, and primary schools for persons with disabilities (hereinafter referred to collectively as primary schools)

1. The list of leadership and management positions, and professional titles in primary schools is stipulated in Appendix I attached hereto.

2. The list of common and support service positions in primary schools is stipulated in Appendix II attached hereto.

3. Guidelines for describing positions:

a) The description of leadership and management positions is guided in Appendix III attached hereto;

b) The description of professional title positions in primary schools is guided in Appendix IV attached hereto;

c) The description of common and support service positions in primary schools shall be implemented in accordance with the guidelines set forth in Circular No. 12/2022/TT-BNV dated December 30, 2022, issued by the Minister of Home Affairs guiding positions for leadership and management civil servants; common professional tasks; support and service positions in administrative agencies and organizations, and common professional tasks; support and service positions in public service units (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 12/2022/TT-BNV).

4. Based on the guidelines for describing leadership and management positions, professional title positions, and common and support service positions stipulated in Clause 3 of this Article, primary schools shall develop specific and suitable position descriptions for each position within their unit and submit them for approval by the competent authority in accordance with regulations.

Article 6. Staffing Standards for Leadership and Management Positions

1. Principal: Each school shall be allocated 01 principal.

2. Deputy Principal: The number of deputy principals shall be implemented according to the regulations on the number of deputies stipulated in Decree No. 120/2020/NĐ-CP.

Article 7. Staffing Standards for Professional Position Roles in Specialized Fields

1. Primary School Teacher Positions:

a) For primary schools operating with a two-session-per-day schedule, the maximum allocation is 1.5 teachers per class; for a single-session-per-day schedule, the maximum allocation is 1.2 teachers per class;

b) After calculating the number of students per class according to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 3 of this Circular or according to the provisions of Clause 4, Article 3 of this Circular, if there is a surplus of students, then for schools in Region 1, every 12 students will be allocated an additional teacher; for schools in Region 2, every 15 students will be allocated an additional teacher; for schools in Region 3, every 17 students will be allocated an additional teacher;

c) In addition to the staffing standards specified in Point a and Point b of Clause 1 of this Article, each primary school shall be allocated 01 teacher for the role of overall responsibility for the Ho Chi Minh Youth League.

2. Administrative Assistant Positions:

a) For primary schools for persons with disabilities, the maximum allocation is 02 persons;

b) Other primary schools shall be allocated 01 person;

c) In cases where it is not possible to allocate a permanent position, labor contracts may be signed or teachers or staff members may take on兼任职务。

d) In addition to the staffing standards specified in Point a and Point b of Clause 2 of this Article, primary boarding schools for ethnic minorities may sign additional labor contracts to fulfill student management tasks; based on their scale, nature, and actual conditions, these schools shall determine the number of labor contracts and submit them for approval by the competent authority.

3. Student Counseling Positions: Each primary school shall be allocated 01 person. In cases where it is not possible to allocate a permanent position, labor contracts may be signed or teachers may take on兼任职务。

4. Positions Supporting Education for Persons with Disabilities:

a) For primary schools for persons with disabilities: For every 15 disabled students, 01 person shall be allocated;

b) For primary schools with integrated disabled students: If there are fewer than 20 integrated disabled students, 01 person shall be allocated; if there are 20 or more integrated disabled students, the maximum allocation is 02 persons;

c) In cases where it is not possible to allocate a permanent position, labor contracts may be signed or teachers may take on兼任职务。

Article 8. Staffing Standards for Common Professional Positions

1. Library and Office Administration Positions:

a) For primary schools with 28 classes or more in Region 3, 19 classes or more in Regions 1 and 2; primary boarding schools and primary schools for persons with disabilities shall be allocated a maximum of 02 persons;

b) For primary schools with 27 classes or fewer in Region 3, 18 classes or fewer in Regions 1 and 2, 01 person shall be allocated.

2. Clerical, Cashier, and Accounting Positions:

a) For primary schools for persons with disabilities, a maximum of 03 persons shall be allocated to perform clerical, cashier, and accounting duties;

b) For other primary schools, a maximum of 02 persons shall be allocated to perform clerical, cashier, and accounting duties;

3. For positions that cannot be allocated a permanent position, labor contracts may be signed or teachers or staff members may take on兼任职务。Primary schools shall base their determination of positions, staffing levels for each position, and兼任职务tasks on the nature, workload, and actual conditions.

Article 9. Positions for support and service work

1. Based on the provisions of the law; the scale of students, nature, volume of work, and actual conditions, primary schools determine the number of contractual laborers for each position for support and service work.

2. The signing of labor contracts shall be carried out in accordance with the current provisions of the law.

Chapter III

LIST OF POSITIONS AND QUOTA OF PERSONNEL IN LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Article 10. List of positions and guidelines for describing positions in lower secondary schools, general secondary boarding schools for ethnic minorities, general secondary semi-boarding schools for ethnic minorities, and schools for persons with disabilities (hereinafter referred to collectively as lower secondary schools)

1. The list of leadership and management positions and specialized vocational titles in lower secondary schools is specified in Appendix I attached hereto.

2. The list of common professional positions and support and service positions in lower secondary schools is specified in Appendix II attached hereto.

3. Guidelines for describing positions:

a) The description of leadership and management positions in lower secondary schools is guided in Appendix III attached hereto;

b) The description of specialized vocational title positions in lower secondary schools is guided in Appendix V attached hereto;

c) The description of common professional positions and support and service positions in lower secondary schools shall be implemented according to the guidelines set forth in Circular No. 12/2022/TT-BNV.

4. Based on the guidelines for describing leadership and management positions, specialized vocational titles, and common professional positions and support and service positions as stipulated in Clause 3 of this Article, lower secondary schools shall develop specific and appropriate position descriptions for each position within their units and submit them for approval by the competent authority in accordance with the regulations.

Article 11. Quota of personnel for leadership and management positions

1. Principal: Each school shall be allocated 01 principal.

2. Deputy Principal: The number of deputy principals shall be implemented according to the regulations on the number of deputies stipulated in Decree No. 120/2020/NĐ-CP.

Article 12. Quota of personnel for specialized vocational title positions

1. Position of lower secondary school teacher:

a) Lower secondary schools may arrange up to 1.9 teachers per class;

b) General secondary boarding schools for ethnic minorities, general secondary semi-boarding schools for ethnic minorities, and schools for persons with disabilities at the lower secondary level may arrange up to 2.20 teachers per class;

c) Lower secondary schools, after calculating the number of students per class in accordance with Clause 2 of Article 3 of this Circular or in accordance with Clause 4 of Article 3 of this Circular, if there is any surplus of students, then for every 17 students in schools located in Zone 1 or 20 students in schools located in Zone 2 or 22 students in schools located in Zone 3, one additional teacher will be arranged;

d) In addition to the quota prescribed above, each lower secondary school, general secondary boarding school, general secondary semi-boarding school for ethnic minorities, and schools for persons with disabilities at the lower secondary level may arrange one teacher to serve as the Head of the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union.

2. Position of equipment and laboratory technician: Each lower secondary school may arrange one person.

3. Position of administrative clerk:

a) General secondary boarding schools and schools for persons with disabilities at the lower secondary level may arrange up to two people;

b) Other lower secondary schools may arrange one person;

c) In cases where it is not possible to allocate a permanent position, labor contracts may be signed or teachers or staff members may take on兼任职务。

d) In addition to the quota prescribed in point a and point b of Clause 3 of this Article, general secondary boarding schools and general secondary semi-boarding schools for ethnic minorities may contract additional personnel to perform student management tasks; based on the scale, nature, and actual conditions, the schools shall determine the number of contractual laborers and submit them for approval by the competent authority.

4. Position of student counselor: Each lower secondary school may arrange one person. In cases where it is not possible to allocate a permanent staff position, a contractual laborer or a teacher on兼任职务可以安排。特殊情况无法编制时，可以安排合同工或教师兼管。

5. Position of support for education of persons with disabilities:

a) For schools for persons with disabilities at the lower secondary level: For every 15 disabled students, one person will be arranged;

b) For lower secondary schools with disabled students integrated into regular classes: If there are fewer than 20 integrated disabled students, one person will be arranged; if there are 20 or more integrated disabled students, up to two people can be arranged;

c) In cases where it is not possible to allocate a permanent staff position, a contractual laborer or a teacher or staff member on兼任职务可以安排。

Article 13. Standard staffing levels for general technical positions

1. Library and Office Administration Positions:

a) Secondary schools with 28 classes or more in Region 3, 19 classes or more in Regions 1 and 2; boarding secondary schools for ethnic minorities shall be allocated up to 2 persons;

b) Secondary schools with 27 classes or fewer in Region 3, 18 classes or fewer in Regions 1 and 2 shall be allocated 1 person;

c) Boarding secondary schools for ethnic minorities shall base their allocation on the number of classes and actual conditions, applying the standards set out in points a and b of Clause 1 of this Article;

d) Secondary schools for persons with disabilities shall be allocated 1 person.

2. Clerical, Cashier, and Accounting Positions:

a) Secondary schools and boarding secondary schools for ethnic minorities shall be allocated up to 2 persons;

b) Boarding secondary schools, secondary schools for persons with disabilities, secondary schools with 40 classes or more, and boarding secondary schools for ethnic minorities with over 200 boarders shall be allocated up to 3 persons;

3. Positions that cannot be allocated staff shall be filled through labor contracts or兼任职务。各中学应根据工作的性质、工作量和实际情况确定每个职位的工作人员数量及兼任职务的任务。

Article 14. Supporting and service positions

1. Based on legal provisions, the scale of students, the nature and workload of the work, and actual conditions, secondary schools shall determine the number of contractual workers for each supporting and service position.

2. The signing of labor contracts shall be carried out in accordance with the current provisions of the law.

Chapter IV

LIST OF POSITIONS AND STAFFING LEVELS

STAFF IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Article 15. List of positions and guidance on job descriptions in secondary schools, boarding secondary schools for ethnic minorities, and specialized secondary schools (hereinafter referred to collectively as secondary schools)

1. The list of leadership and management positions and professional titles in secondary schools is stipulated in Appendix I attached hereto.

2. The list of general technical positions and supporting and service positions in secondary schools is stipulated in Appendix II attached hereto.

3. Guidelines for describing positions:

a) Job descriptions for leadership and management positions in secondary schools are guided in Appendix III attached hereto;

b) Job descriptions for professional titles in secondary schools are guided in Appendix VI attached hereto;

c) Job descriptions for general technical positions and supporting and service positions in secondary schools shall be implemented according to the guidelines set forth in Circular No. 12/2022/TT-BNV.

4. Based on the guidance on job descriptions for leadership and management positions, professional titles, general technical positions, and supporting and service positions as provided in Clause 3 of this Article, secondary schools shall develop specific and appropriate job descriptions for each position within their units and submit them for approval by the competent authority in accordance with regulations.

Article 16. Standard for the number of staff positions in leadership and management roles

1. Principal: Each high school shall be allocated 01 principal.

2. Deputy Principal: The number of deputy principals shall be implemented according to the regulations on the number of deputies stipulated in Decree No. 120/2020/NĐ-CP.

Article 17. Standard for the number of staff positions in vocational and specialized roles

1. Teaching position at high schools:

a) High schools shall be allocated a maximum of 2.25 teachers/class;

b) Boarding schools for ethnic minorities shall be allocated a maximum of 2.4 teachers/class;

c) Specialized high schools: Specialized classes shall be allocated a maximum of 3.1 teachers/class;

d) High schools, after calculating the number of students per class according to Clause 2, Article 3 of this Circular or according to Clause 4, Article 3 of this Circular, if there are remaining students, then for every 17 students in schools located in Zone 1 or 20 students in schools located in Zone 2 or 22 students in schools located in Zone 3, an additional teacher shall be allocated.

2. Position for equipment and laboratory technicians:

a) Specialized high schools shall be allocated a maximum of 04 persons;

b) Boarding schools for ethnic minorities shall be allocated a maximum of 02 persons;

c) Other high schools shall be allocated 01 person.

3. Position of administrative clerk:

a) Boarding schools for ethnic minorities and specialized high schools shall be allocated a maximum of 02 persons. Boarding schools for ethnic minorities may enter into contracts with additional personnel for student management based on their scale, nature, and actual conditions; they must determine the number of labor contracts and submit them for approval by the competent authority based on their scale, nature, and actual conditions;

b) Other high schools shall be allocated 01 person;

c) In cases where staffing cannot be arranged, labor contracts or teachers and staff taking on additional duties shall be arranged.

4. Counseling position for students: Each high school shall be allocated 01 person. In cases where staffing cannot be arranged, teachers taking on additional duties or labor contracts shall be arranged.

5. Position of support for education of persons with disabilities:

a) For high schools for students with disabilities: For every 15 students with disabilities, 01 person shall be allocated;

b) For high schools with students with disabilities integrated into regular classes: If there are fewer than 20 students with disabilities integrated into regular classes, 01 person shall be allocated; if there are 20 or more students with disabilities integrated into regular classes, a maximum of 02 persons shall be allocated;

c) In cases where it is not possible to allocate a permanent staff position, a contractual laborer or a teacher or staff member on兼任职务可以安排。

Article 18. Standard for the number of staff positions in common professional roles

1. Library and Office Administration Positions:

a) Boarding schools for ethnic minorities shall be allocated a maximum of 03 persons;

b) Specialized high schools shall be allocated a maximum of 04 persons;

c) Other high schools shall be allocated a maximum of 02 persons.

2. Clerical, cashier, accounting positions:

a) Boarding schools for ethnic minorities and specialized high schools shall be allocated a maximum of 03 persons;

b) Other high schools shall be allocated a maximum of 02 persons;

c) Boarding schools for ethnic minorities with over 400 students and high schools with 40 or more classes shall be allocated an additional 01 person.

3. Positions that cannot be staffed shall have labor contracts arranged or teachers and staff taking on additional duties. High schools shall base their determination of positions, the number of staff, and additional duties on the nature, workload, and actual conditions.

Article 19. Positions for supporting and service work

Clause 1. Based on legal regulations, the scale of students, nature, workload, and actual conditions, secondary general high schools shall determine the number of contractual workers for each position for supporting and service work.

2. The signing of labor contracts shall be carried out in accordance with the current provisions of the law.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION

Article 20. Transitional Provisions

Clause 1. The teacher-to-class ratio for non-specialized classes (if any) in specialized secondary general high schools shall apply the teacher-to-class ratio prescribed in point a, Clause 1, Article 17 of this Circular until the end of the 2025-2026 academic year.

Clause 2. Positions for which teachers concurrently hold positions shall continue to be implemented according to the reduced teaching load ratio prescribed in Article 9 of Circular No. 16/2017/TT-BGDĐT dated July 12, 2017, issued by the Minister of Education and Training guiding the catalog of job positions and staffing norms in public general education institutions until new guidelines are provided.

Clause 3. For school health positions:

Point a. Civil servants who were recruited and assigned to school health staff positions before Circular No. 12/2022/TT-BNV took effect (before February 15, 2023) and currently receive salaries based on their rank, grade, and occupational title category shall continue to do so until new salary regulations are issued.

Point b. From the date Circular No. 12/2022/TT-BNV took effect (from February 15, 2023), school health positions fall under the category of supporting and service positions and shall be implemented through labor contracts as prescribed.

Clause 4. Current information technology positions as stipulated in Circular No. 16/2017/TT-BGDĐT shall continue to implement regulations regarding rank, grade, and occupational title category for civil servants to perform tasks at the administrative office management position as prescribed in this Circular until new guidelines are issued.

Clause 5. Common professional positions as stipulated in this Circular shall continue to implement regulations regarding job code, occupational title standards, and apply salary systems, hazardous duty allowances, and other allowances as prescribed by relevant ministries managing civil servants and professionals in specific fields.

Clause 6. Primary and lower secondary school teachers who are subject to upgrading their qualification standards as prescribed in Decree No. 71/2020/NĐ-CP dated June 30, 2020, of the Government on the roadmap for upgrading the qualification standards of kindergarten, primary, and lower secondary school teachers, or those specified in Circular No. 24/2020/TT-BGDĐT dated August 25, 2020, of the Minister of Education and Training on the use of teachers and educational management personnel in kindergartens, primary, and lower secondary schools that have not met the qualification standards, shall be determined to belong to the list and counted in the number of people working in professional occupational titles and job descriptions for these subjects, applied according to the job description for Grade III teachers corresponding to the level of education, without requiring educational qualifications.

Article 21. Effective Date

Clause 1. This Circular takes effect from December 16, 2023.

Clause 2. Circular No. 16/2017/TT-BGDĐT ceases to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect, except for the provisions on reducing teaching loads in Article 9 of Circular No. 16/2017/TT-BGDĐT, which will continue to be implemented until the Ministry of Education and Training issues new guidelines.

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

Article 22. Responsibility for enforcement

Clause 1. The Director of the Office, the Director of the General Department of Teachers and Educational Management Personnel, the Heads of units related to the Ministry of Education and Training; the Chairpersons of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities; relevant agencies, organizations, units, individuals, and heads of public general education institutions are responsible for implementing this Circular.

Clause 2. During implementation, if there are any difficulties, they should be reported to the Ministry of Education and Training for consideration and resolution./.