TEACHERS LAW

CHAPTER II RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

CHAPTER IV CULTIVATION AND TRAINING

CHAPTER VI MATERIAL BENEFITS

CHAPTER VIII LEGAL LIABILITY

   Article 1 This Law is formulated for the purpose of safeguarding teachers’ legitimate rights and interests, building up a contingent of teachers
who are sound in moral character and good in professional competence, and promoting the development of socialist education.

   Article 2 This Law shall apply to teachers specially engaged in education and teaching at schools of various levels and categories or other
institutions of education.

   Article 3 Teachers are professionals who exercise the functions of education and teaching and are charged with the duty of imparting knowledge
and educating people, training builders and successors for the socialist cause and enhancing the quality of the nation. Teachers
shall devote themselves to the educational cause of the people.

   Article 4 People’s governments at various levels shall adopt measures to strengthen ideological and political education and professional training
of teachers, improve their working and living conditions, safeguard their legitimate rights and interests and raise their social
status.

Teachers shall be respected in the whole society.

   Article 5 The administrative department of education under the State Council shall be in charge of the work concerning teachers in the whole
country.

The departments concerned under the State Council shall, within the scope of their functions and powers, be responsible for the relevant
work concerning teachers.

Schools and other institutions of education shall administer the affairs of teachers on their own according to the relevant provisions
of the State.

   Article 6 September 10 of each year is designated as Teachers’ Day.

   Article 7 Teachers shall enjoy the following rights:

(1) to conduct educational and teaching activities and carry out reform and experiment in education and teaching;

(2) to engage in scientific research and academic exchanges, join professional academic societies and fully express their views in
academic activities;

(3) to give guidance to students in their studies and development and evaluate students’ conduct and academic achievements;

(4) to obtain salaries and remunerations on schedule and enjoy the welfare benefits prescribed by the State and the leave with pay
in winter and summer vacations;

(5) to put forward opinions and suggestions regarding education, teaching, management of schools and the work of the administrative
departments of education; and to participate in the democratic management of schools through congresses of teachers, staff and workers,
or through other forms; and

(6) to take refresher courses or other forms of training.

   Article 8 Teachers shall perform the following obligations:

(1) to abide by the Constitution, laws and professional ethics, and be paragons of virtue and learning;

(2) to implement the educational policies of the State, observe relevant rules and regulations, carry out schools’ teaching plans,
fulfil teaching contracts and accomplish educational and teaching tasks;

(3) to conduct education among students in the basic principles defined in the Constitution, education in patriotism, national unity
and the legal system, and education in ideology, morality, culture, science and technology, and to organize and lead students to
engage in beneficial social activities;

(4) to concern themselves with all students, love them, respect their dignity and promote their all-round development in such aspects
as morality, intelligence and physique;

(5) to stop acts that are harmful to students and other acts that encroach upon students’ legitimate rights and interests, criticise
and combat the phenomena that impair the sound growth of students; and

(6) to ceaselessly raise their ideological level and political consciousness and improve their professional competence in education
and teaching.

   Article 9 To guarantee that teachers complete their educational and teaching tasks, people’s governments at various levels, administrative
departments of education, relevant departments, schools and other institutions of education shall perform the following functions
and duties;

(1) to provide educational and teaching facilities and equipment that are up to the safety standards set by the State;

(2) to provide necessary books, reference materials and other articles for education and teaching;

(3) to encourage and help teachers in their creative work in education, teaching and scientific research; and

(4) to back up teachers in their efforts to stop acts that are harmful to students and other acts that encroach upon students’ legitimate
rights and interests.

   Article 10 The State shall institute a system of qualifications for teachers.

All Chinese citizens, who abide by the Constitution and laws, take a keen interest in education, have sound ideological and moral
character, possess a record of formal schooling as stipulated in this Law or have passed the national teachers’ qualification examinations,
have educational and teaching ability may, after being evaluated as qualified, obtain qualifications for teachers.

   Article 11 To obtain qualifications for teachers, corresponding records of formal schooling are required as follows:

(1) to obtain qualifications for a teacher in a kindergarten, one shall be a graduate of an infant normal school or upwards;

(2) to obtain qualifications for a teacher in a primary school, one shall be a graduate of a secondary normal school or upwards;

(3) to obtain qualifications for a teacher in a junior middle school, or a teacher for general knowledge courses and specialized courses
in a primary vocational school, one shall be a graduate of a specialized higher normal school, or other colleges or universities
with two or three years’ schooling or upwards;

(4) to obtain qualifications for a teacher in a senior middle school, or a teacher for general knowledge courses and specialized courses
in a secondary vocational school, technical school or a vocational high school, one shall be a graduate of a normal college or other
colleges or universities with four years’ schooling or upwards; the corresponding record of formal schooling for the qualifications
of instructors who give guidance to students’ fieldwork at secondary vocational schools, technical schools or vocational high schools
shall be prescribed by the administrative department of education under the State Council;

(5) to obtain qualifications for a teacher in an institution of higher learning, one shall be a postgraduate or university graduate;
and

(6) to obtain qualifications for a teacher for adult education, one shall be a graduate respectively of an institution of higher learning,
a secondary school or upwards depending on the level and category of the adult education.

Citizens who, without the records of formal schooling for teachers’ qualifications as stipulated in this Law, apply for teachers’
qualifications must pass the national teachers’ qualification examinations. The national teachers’ qualifications examination system
shall be prescribed by the State Council.

   Article 12 The administrative department of education under the State Council shall work out transition measures on qualifications for teachers
who, before the enforcement of this Law, have been teaching at schools or other institutions of education, but do not have the record
of formal schooling as stipulated in this Law.

   Article 13 The qualifications for teachers in primary and middle schools shall be evaluated and approved by the administrative departments of
education under the local people’s governments at or above the county level. The qualifications for teachers in secondary vocational
schools and technical schools shall be evaluated and approved by the relevant competent departments, under the auspices of the administrative
departments of education under the local people’s governments at or above the county level. The qualifications for teachers of regular
institutions of higher education shall be evaluated and approved by the administrative departments of education under the State Council,
or of provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government, or by schools authorized by such departments.

If a citizen who possesses a record of formal schooling as stipulated in this Law, or who has passed the national teachers’ qualification
examinations, requests the departments concerned to evaluate and approve his qualifications for teachers, the departments concerned
shall give evaluation and approval in accordance with the requirements provided for in this Law.

Those with qualifications for teachers who are for the first time appointed as teachers shall undergo a probation period.

   Article 14 Those who have been deprived of political rights or subjected to fixed-term imprisonment or even more severe punishment for intentional
crime shall not be allowed to obtain qualifications for teachers; and those who have already obtained qualifications for teachers
shall forfeit such qualifications.

   Article 15 Graduates of normal schools at various levels shall be engaged in education and teaching in accordance with the relevant provisions
of the State.

The State shall encourage graduates of non-normal schools of higher learning to teach at primary and secondary schools or vocational
schools.

   Article 16 The State shall institute a system of professional post_titles for teachers. The specific measures shall be worked out by the State Council.

   Article 17 Schools and other institutions of education shall gradually institute a system of appointment for teachers. Appointment of teachers
shall be based on the principle of equality between both parties. The school and the teacher shall sign an appointment contract
defining each other’s rights, obligations and responsibilities.

Steps and measures for implementing the appointment system for teachers shall be formulated by the administrative department of education
under the State Council.

   Article 18 People’s governments at various levels and the departments concerned shall make a success of normal school education and adopt measures
to encourage outstanding youth to study at normal schools at various levels. Schools for teachers’ advanced studies at different
levels shall undertake the task of training teachers for primary and secondary schools.

Non-normal schools shall undertake the task of cultivating and training primary and secondary school teachers.

Students of normal schools at various levels shall enjoy professional scholarships.

   Article 19 The administrative departments of education under the people’s governments at various levels, the departments in charge of school
affairs and the schools shall work out teachers’ training programmes and conduct various forms of ideological, political and professional
training among teachers.

   Article 20 State organs, enterprises, institutions and other social organizations shall provide convenience and assistance to teachers in their
social investigation and social practice.

   Article 21 People’s governments at various levels shall adopt measures to cultivate and train teachers for regions inhabited by national minorities
and for outlying and poverty-stricken areas.

   Article 22 Schools or other institutions of education shall conduct assessment of teachers’ political awareness and ideological level, professional
qualifications, attitude towards work and their performances.

The administrative departments of education shall guide and supervise the assessment work for teachers.

   Article 23 Assessment shall be conducted in an objective, fair and accurate manner and in the process of assessment, opinions from teachers
themselves, their colleagues and students shall be taken into full consideration.

   Article 24 The assessment results shall be the basis for teachers’ appointment and pay rise as well as rewards and punishments.

   Article 25 Teachers’ average salary shall not be lower or shall be higher than that of State public servants and shall be gradually raised.
A regular system for promotion and pay rise shall be established, and the specific measures therefor shall be formulated by the
State Council.

   Article 26 Teachers of primary and secondary schools and vocational schools shall enjoy allowances commensurate with the length of their teaching
and other allowances, and the specific measures therefor shall be formulated by the administrative department of education under
the State Council in conjunction with the departments concerned.

   Article 27 Local people’s governments at various levels shall grant subsidies to teachers and graduates from secondary vocational schools or
from schools at higher levels who engage themselves in education and teaching in regions inhabited by national minorities or in outlying
and poverty-stricken areas.

   Article 28 Local people’s governments at various levels and the departments concerned under the State Council shall give priority and preferential
treatment to the construction, renting and sale of houses for teachers in urban areas.

People’s governments at the county and township levels shall provide conveniences for primary and secondary school teachers in rural
areas in solving the housing problems.

   Article 29 Teachers shall enjoy equal treatment in medical care as the State public servants in the localities. They shall be given regular
health check-ups and shall enjoy rest and recuperation holidays arranged in the light of local conditions.

Medical institutions shall provide conveniences in medical care for teachers in the localities.

   Article 30 After retirement or quitting work, teachers shall enjoy the material benefits as prescribed by the State.

Local people’s governments at or above the county level may appropriately raise the ratio of pensions for the retired primary and
secondary school teachers who have long been engaged in education and teaching.

   Article 31 People’s governments at various levels shall adopt measures to improve the material benefits of teachers who are paid, with subsidies
from the State, by the collectives, gradually making sure that such teachers receive equal pay for equal work with teachers who are
paid by the State. The specific measures therefor shall be formulated by the local people’s governments at various levels in the
light of their actual local conditions.

   Article 32 The material benefits of teachers at schools run by different sectors of the society shall be determined and guaranteed by the sponsors
themselves.

   Article 33 Teachers who have achieved excellent results in education and teaching, in the training of personnel, and in scientific research,
educational reform, school development, social services and work-study programmes shall be commended and awarded by the schools which
they belong to.

Teachers who have made outstanding contributions shall be commended and awarded by the State Council, the local people’s governments
at various levels and the relevant departments under them.

Teachers who have made major contributions shall be conferred honorary post_titles in accordance with relevant provisions of the State.

   Article 34 The State shall encourage and support social organizations and individuals to donate money to foundations established according to
law for awarding teachers.

   Article 35 Anyone who insults or assaults a teacher shall be given an administrative sanction or penalty depending on the different circumstances;
those who have caused losses or injury shall be ordered to compensate for the losses; and if the circumstances are serious enough
to constitute a crime, the offender shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to law.

   Article 36 Anyone who retaliates against the teachers who have made complaints, charges against or exposures of, any organization or individual
in accordance with the law shall be ordered by his or her unit or by the authorities at a higher level to make a rectification; if
the circumstances are serious, the offender may be given an administrative sanction in the light of the actual conditions.

State functionaries who retaliate against teachers, if the case constitutes a crime, shall be investigated for criminal responsibility
in accordance with the provisions of Article 146 of the Criminal Law.

   Article 37 Teachers involved in any of the following circumstances shall be given administrative sanctions or dismissed by their schools, other
institutions of education or administrative departments of education:

(1) intentionally not accomplishing educational and teaching tasks and thus causing losses to educational and teaching work;

(2) imposing corporal punishments on students and refusing to mend their way after being criticized;

(3) having improper conduct and insulting students, thus making very bad impressions.

Teachers who are involved in any of the circumstances specified in item (2) or (3) of the preceding paragraph, if the circumstances
are serious enough to constitute a crime, shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to law.

   Article 38 The local people’s governments shall order anyone who, in violation of the provisions of this Law, defaults on paying teachers’ salaries
or infringes upon other legitimate rights and interests of teachers, to make a rectification within a specified time limit.

Anyone who violates the State’s financial and accounting rules and regulations, misappropriates the State’s funds allocated for education,
seriously hampers the work of education and teaching, defaults on paying teachers’ salaries and impairs their legitimate rights and
interests, shall be ordered by the authorities at a higher level to return the misappropriated funds within a specified time limit,
and those who are held directly responsible shall be given administrative sanctions; and if the circumstances are serious enough
to constitute a crime, the offenders shall be investigated for criminal responsibility according to law.

   Article 39 Teachers whose legitimate rights and interests are infringed upon by schools or other institutions of education or who are not satisfied
with the settlement made by schools or other institutions of education may appeal to the administrative departments of education.
The administrative departments of education shall deal with the matter within 30 days from receipt of the appeal.

Teachers who hold that the administrative departments concerned under the local people’s governments have infringed upon the rights
they shall enjoy under this Law may appeal to the people’s governments at the corresponding levels or to the departments concerned
under the people’s governments at the next higher levels. The departments concerned under the people’s governments at the corresponding
levels or the departments concerned under the people’s governments at the next higher levels shall deal with the appeals.

   Article 40 The meanings of the following expressions as used in this Law are:

(1) “Schools of various levels and categories” refer to the schools that carry out pre-school education, regular primary education,
regular secondary education, vocational education, regular higher education, special education or adult education.

(2) “Other institutions of education” refer to children’s palaces, local teaching and research sections and institutions that conduct
audio- visual education.

(3) “Primary and secondary school teachers” refer to teachers working in kindergartens, institutions of special education, regular
primary and secondary schools, institutions of primary and secondary education for adults, secondary vocational schools and other
institutions of education.

   Article 41 The relevant provisions of this Law may be applied mutatis mutandis in the light of the actual conditions to the educational and
teaching assistants of schools or other institutions of education, as well as teachers and the educational and teaching assistants
of schools of other categories.

Relevant regulations governing the teachers and the educational and teaching assistants of colleges and schools of the Army shall
be formulated by the Central Military Commission on the basis of this Law.

   Article 42 The measures for the employment of foreign teachers shall be formulated by the administrative department of education under the State
Council.

   Article 43 This law shall come into effect as of January 1, 1994.