The workshop attracted the interest and contributions of more than 150 policymakers, legislators, education managers, teachers and representatives of the education trade union, together with more than 10 international organisations, UN agencies and Vietnamese non-governmental organisations. Experts from UNESCO Ha Noi, UNESCO Headquarters, UNESCO's Teacher Development Section, the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030 hosted by UNESCO, and Shanghai Normal University took part and contributed their expertise to the workshop.
Mr Phạm Ngọc Thưởng, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, delivers the opening speech at the workshop.
With the aim of ensuring quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all, so as to secure national competitiveness, the well-being and welfare of the people, and global integration, Viet Nam has been working to revise and strengthen policies for teachers through the proposal to develop a Law on Teachers. The draft Law on Teachers has been submitted by the Government of Viet Nam to the National Assembly for initial consideration and comment at the Eighth Session of the 15th National Assembly (October–November 2024), and is expected to be submitted for adoption at the Ninth Session of the 15th National Assembly (June 2025). If adopted by the National Assembly of Viet Nam, the Law on Teachers is expected to create a legal framework and an enabling environment for teachers to realise their full potential and contribute effectively to national education reform in this rapidly changing country.
In this process, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) consulted UNESCO, the United Nations specialised agency for education, and the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030 hosted by UNESCO on the global and regional context of the transformation of teachers' work. The technical consultation materials included relevant international guidelines, research, and experience in developing teacher policies from member states and research centres.
Through presentations by UNESCO experts, participants gained an overview of the role of teachers today: in a new social contract for education, teachers must be placed at the centre, and their profession must be revalued and reimagined as a collaborative endeavour that sparks new knowledge and brings about educational and social transformation.
Delegates were also introduced to the Teacher Policy Development Guide, a useful and practical tool to guide the development and/or review of national teacher policies by addressing the different dimensions of teacher policy and how they interact, contributing to evidence-based national teacher policies as an integral part of sector-wide education plans or policies in line with overall national development plans and strategies.
More practical issues facing teachers around the world in general, and in certain countries in particular, were also raised and discussed in the Global Report on Teachers launched by UNESCO and the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030. The specific case of China's Teachers Law was also shared by Professor Li Tingzhou of Shanghai Normal University.
Each group discussion concluded with lively debate on the relevance of international experience to developing the policy and legal framework for teachers in Viet Nam, and with proposed solutions and recommendations concerning teachers that respond to national needs while aligning with global trends, visions and forecasts.
Discussing the process of drafting the Law on Teachers and gathering feedback, Mr Vũ Minh Đức, Director General of the Department of Teachers and Education Managers, said: "The Law on Teachers has been carefully drafted through research and broad consultation to ensure that it motivates and strengthens all teachers to become qualified, dedicated, responsible and proficient professionals, wherever they are. We highly value dialogues such as this with national and international participants through today's workshop."
Commenting on the workshop programme, Ms Miki Nozawa, Head of Education, UNESCO Viet Nam, said: "The workshop is vivid evidence of the shared commitment of UNESCO and MOET to promoting the role and status of teachers through the policy and legal framework in Viet Nam, a rapidly changing country. In particular, it is a meaningful activity to celebrate World Teachers' Day (5 October) and Viet Nam Teachers' Day (20 November)."
Ms Valerie Djioze-Gallet, representative of the Teacher Development Section (UNESCO Headquarters), said: "UNESCO welcomes the Government of Viet Nam's leading agenda to strengthen policies and legislation for teachers and stands ready to work with the UNESCO Office in Ha Noi to continue providing technical support to the country in addressing challenges such as data- and evidence-based decision-making on teachers, teacher shortages and professional development..."