Is a teacher's certificate really necessary?

Public opinion raises the question: Is a teacher's practice certificate really necessary and does it create administrative procedures and increase the cost burden on teachers?

The Draft Law on Teachers devotes Section 2, Chapter III with 3 articles (Articles 15, 16, 17) to the content of "professional practice certificates for teachers". According to the draft, professional practice certificates are a condition for recruitment; creating conditions for teachers to expand their professional activities and international cooperation opportunities. This also aims to ensure the quality of guest teachers or freelance teachers, and at the same time is the basis for evaluating and adjusting teacher training programs.

Teachers who are currently teaching and educating in public, private, and non-public educational institutions who meet the teacher standards before the effective date of this law are granted a practicing certificate and do not need to pass an examination. On the contrary, those who are recruited after the effective date of this law, even those who have graduated from a teacher training college, still need to pass an examination to be granted a practicing certificate.

Along with that, retired teachers who have not been granted a practice certificate (if needed); foreign teachers who meet the conditions prescribed by the competent authority and have a need will also be granted a practice certificate for teachers.

Experts drafting the Law on Teachers stated their opinion: with the granting of practice certificates, teachers only gain and lose nothing, and this does not cause difficulties for practicing teachers because of course they are granted them.

However, public opinion believes that this is not correct and not enough because it only refers to the group of people who are practicing; for those who have graduated from pedagogy, are about to practice and will practice as teachers, there will be many losses, which are time, money, and effort. Moreover, an issue that many people are concerned about is what content will be tested in the professional certificate exam for teachers? To be tested, do you have to attend a course, what is the tuition fee, and how much is the total cost to get the certificate?...

There are still many contents related to the teacher's practice certificate that have not satisfied the team that has been, is and will be working in the field of teaching and education. Until now, many people still wonder whether the teacher's practice certificate is really necessary?

If the viewpoint of having a practice certificate is still maintained, the Drafting Committee should consider and add the provision "those who have graduated from a teacher training school will be granted a practice certificate", only testing those who have not graduated from a teacher training school; will grant practice certificates to those who are qualified, have taught in educational institutions for 5 years or more, or to those who are qualified and have a need for a certificate.

The professional activity of a teacher is a special activity, the product of which is the personality of the learner. The issue that millions of teachers are concerned about is whether teachers' salaries will be given the highest priority compared to the administrative career salary scale system or not. As for the issue of professional certificates for teachers, it still needs to be considered from the most comprehensive and humane perspective. If the issuance of certificates increases costs and causes inconvenience to teachers, it needs to be carefully considered so that teachers feel happy, comfortable, and satisfied with the profession they have studied and chosen.