Soaring advancements in educational restructuring boost optimism for educators

Vietnam's education system is set to undergo a significant transformation with the implementation of Politburo Resolution 71. This comprehensive plan aims to address the chronic shortage of teachers, modernise school infrastructure, and attract talented individuals to the profession.

One of the key aspects of the resolution is the introduction of 'dual-affiliated lecturers,' allowing academics to hold permanent positions at more than one university. This measure is expected to bolster the teaching force and bring fresh perspectives to the classroom.

The resolution commits to ensuring sufficient teacher numbers and promises to introduce exceptional preferential policies for the teaching profession. New minimum preferential allowances for teachers and support staff will be set at 70% and 30% respectively in preschools and general education institutions. For teachers working in disadvantaged areas, border regions, and ethnic minority communities, allowances will rise to 100%.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Kim Sơn stated that once implemented, all teachers will see their basic pay rise by VNĐ 2-7 million (US$75-264) per month, excluding allowances. This significant salary increase, coupled with tuition waivers and stipends for pedagogy students, has significantly boosted interest in teacher training.

In an effort to attract talent and capital, new mechanisms are being set out. These include policies to bring in experts from outside the teaching profession and schemes to attract outstanding foreign lecturers. The resolution also paves the way for a legal framework to establish education endowment funds to raise community capital and offers robust incentives for private investment.

The education system in Vietnam also aims to establish modern boarding schools in disadvantaged and border areas by 2030. The drive to build world-class universities aligns with Resolution 57 on science and technology, creating a core engine for innovation in Vietnam.

Greater institutional autonomy is promised for schools, allowing them to manage their own finances, staffing, and professional activities. Budget allocations for higher education will be based on mission, quality, and outcomes, with priority funding for three to five elite universities to be developed into world-class research institutions.

The resolution also focuses on expanding pre-university training for ethnic minority students and stipulates that teachers and lecturers in vocational education will be directly contracted and funded by the State.

The Politburo Resolution 71 emphasizes the need to mobilize social resources, including private investment, to modernize the national education system. The new rates significantly exceed the proposed allowances in a draft government decree released in June 2024, indicating a commitment to making the profession more attractive and competitive.

As of the 2025-2026 academic year, the public sector in Vietnam is still short of over 102,000 teachers. Resolution 71 is a significant step towards solving this issue, recognising teachers as the backbone of education. The resolution explicitly sets out policies for private education, recognising it as an integral part of the national system.

The implementation of Politburo Resolution 71 marks a new era for Vietnam's education system, one that promises to modernise, attract talent, and foster innovation. With its focus on teacher development, infrastructure improvement, and private investment, this resolution is poised to transform the landscape of education in Vietnam.