The 15th National Assembly (NA) continued its ninth session on May 6 by considering four draft laws, including the draft Law on Teachers.
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| An overview of the 15th National Assembly's 9th session. Photo: VNA |
The updated version of the Law on Teachers, as reviewed by the NA Standing Committee in its 42nd session, has been streamlined to nine chapters and 46 articles - four articles fewer than the version presented at the parliament's previous session.
Among the key revisions is the removal of a provision that automatically grants newly recruited teachers a one-step salary increase within the civil service pay scale. Instead, the draft proposes positioning teachers’ salaries at the highest level within the public sector framework. Broader salary reform across the civil service is expected to align remuneration more closely with specific job roles.
One of the most debated issues concerned retirement age. Some deputies underlined the need for more clearly defined criteria for allowing teachers to work beyond the standard retirement threshold, with particular concern expressed about its suitability in the pre-school and general education levels.
The verification agency supported the proposal to extend the retirement age for highly qualified educators, especially those working in specialised fields. The aim, it said, is to better utilise experienced professionals and address the shortfall of high-level teaching staff in critical areas of national development.
The bill also clarifies specific criteria for the extension, including education institutions' demand, the teacher’s health, and voluntary agreement.
In the afternoon, legislators will discuss in groups the draft Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, the draft law on supplementations and amendments to a number of articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality, and the draft revised Law on Atomic Energy.
