In 2025, kindergarten teachers in Vietnam will not see any salary increases, a decision that has raised concerns among educators and advocates for better compensation. The National Assembly has confirmed that there will be no adjustments to public sector wages, including those for kindergarten teachers, as outlined in Resolution 159/2024/QH15. This means that the base salary for calculating the wages of kindergarten teachers will remain at 2.34 million VND per month.
The salary calculation for kindergarten teachers is straightforward: it follows the formula Salary = Base Salary x Salary Coefficient. For 2025, the salary coefficients for different grades of kindergarten teachers are as follows:
For Kindergarten Teacher Grade III (code V.07.02.26):
- Salary Coefficient: 2.10 to 4.89
For Kindergarten Teacher Grade II (code V.07.02.25):
- Salary Coefficient: 2.34 to 4.98
For Kindergarten Teacher Grade I (code V.07.02.24):
- Salary Coefficient: 4.0 to 6.38
As a result, the highest salary for kindergarten teachers in 2025, calculated with a salary coefficient of 6.38 (for Grade I teachers), will be nearly 15 million VND. Specifically, the salary breakdown for Grade I teachers is as follows:
Grade I Salary Breakdown:
Meanwhile, the salary for Grade II teachers ranges from 5,475,600 VND to 11,653,200 VND, depending on their level, while Grade III teachers earn between 4,914,000 VND and 11,442,600 VND. Despite the lack of increases, the current salary structure is seen as a crucial step in acknowledging the importance of early childhood education.
In a related development, the draft Law on Teachers is currently under consideration, which proposes to rank teachers' salaries as the highest in the administrative and professional system. This proposal has sparked a heated discussion among lawmakers, particularly about whether teachers' salaries would be classified as A3. Delegate Nguyen Tam Hung has expressed concerns regarding the lack of clarity in setting the starting salary grade for newly recruited teachers and suggested that it should be higher than that of administrative civil servants with similar qualifications.
Delegate To Van Tam has also weighed in, appreciating the idea of ranking teachers' salaries at the top but questioning how this would be practically implemented within the existing salary scale. He raised a significant point: if teachers were classified under A3 with a starting coefficient of 6.2 and a final grade of 8.0, their salaries would align with those of professors and senior lecturers.
As per the current regulations, teachers' salaries are divided into three grades: Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III, corresponding to the salary coefficients of civil servants of type A2 and A1. The civil servants of type A3, which includes groups A3.1 and A3.2, have salary coefficients ranging from 6.2 to 8.0 for group 1 and 5.75 to 7.55 for group 2.
With the base salary fixed at 2.34 million VND per month, the salary levels for civil servants of type A3 can be calculated, leading to a higher salary range than currently available for teachers. The highest salary for teachers is approximately 16 million VND per month, while civil servants in group A3 can earn between 13,455,000 VND and 18,720,000 VND per month, not including additional allowances and subsidies.
The ongoing discussions around the draft Law on Teachers and the current salary situation for kindergarten teachers highlight the urgent need for reform in the education sector. Advocates argue that better compensation for teachers is essential to attract and retain qualified educators in a system that is foundational to the country's future.
As the National Assembly continues to deliberate on these issues, the outcome will undoubtedly shape the landscape of education in Vietnam for years to come. The proposed changes, if implemented effectively, could lead to a significant shift in how teachers are valued and compensated, ultimately benefiting the entire education system.
