Ho Chi Minh City reviews foreign teacher numbers at 194 non-public educational institutions

The review aims to strengthen state management of the recruitment and employment of foreign teachers at non-public educational institutions funded by domestic or foreign investors in the city, Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper reported.

The department said it had worked with the Department of Home Affairs to review the list of foreign workers granted work permits in the education and training sector in the city in 2026.

Following the review, the Department of Education and Training asked the institutions concerned to submit written explanations, accompanied by supporting documents, for discrepancies between the number of foreign workers granted work permits to work as teachers and the figures reported by the institutions.

According to the Department of Education and Training, several non-public educational institutions reported significantly more foreign teachers than the number of workers holding valid work permits.

For example, one center reported 33 foreign teachers, although only 23 had been granted work permits.

Some institutions reported having six or seven foreign teachers despite having no foreign teachers with work permits.

For life skills education centers, the department advised investors to ensure that teachers meet the prescribed professional qualification standards under Vietnam’s regulations.

The institutions must also sign employment contracts and ensure that workers receive social and health insurance benefits in accordance with labor, social insurance and health insurance laws, as well as other relevant regulations.

When hiring presenters or trainers, institutions must ensure that candidates are in good health and have good moral character, have not been subject to disciplinary action resulting in a reprimand or more severe penalty, are not subject to criminal prosecution, hold a certificate in pedagogical training, and have knowledge of life skills or relevant educational activities.

Institutions seeking to employ foreign workers in Vietnam must ensure that foreign employees work in accordance with the details specified in their work permits, including their workplace, job title and employment period.