Why do teachers need to equip themselves with legal knowledge?

The two recent verdicts that shocked public opinion were both dedicated, selfless teachers, but both fell into legal trouble because of one thing in common: lack of legal knowledge.

When teachers get into trouble due to lack of legal knowledge

Mr. Tran Van Tam, Principal of Tam Giang Tay Secondary School, Ca Mau , received 7 years in prison for embezzling 10.7 million VND while making his own saving tools for the school. Mr. Le Van Hiep, teacher of Vi Thanh Specialized High School, Can Tho received 3 years in prison for stealing his own car that was pawned by the tenant.

Mr. Tran Van Tam has just taken over as principal since July 2022. Seeing that the school lacked facilities, with a sense of responsibility and welding skills, he bought materials himself, hired more people to make file shelves, TV shelves, zinc ladders... The clear purpose was to save money for the school because making them by hand is always cheaper than buying finished products. These items are still used in the school today.

But the problem was that the teacher did not have a valid invoice. To legitimize the payment procedure, he bought a fake invoice from an outside company. According to the investigation agency, the difference between the actual cost and the amount on the invoice was 10.7 million VND, which was determined to be an act of embezzlement under Article 353 of the Penal Code.

Protecting teachers is not only about increasing salaries and allowances, but also about equipping them with legal "armor" to protect themselves in their daily work.

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Mr. Le Van Hiep is a master, and has been a competitive soldier for many years. To improve his life, he started a business offering self-driving car rental services. The tragedy began when a renter did not return the car and instead pawned it for 100 million VND. When he discovered that his car had been dismantled and was at someone else's house, because he was too impatient and did not understand the law, he asked someone to pick up the car instead of reporting to the police. This act was determined by the prosecution agency as illegal trespassing and theft of property under Article 173 of the Penal Code, even though the car was his own property. After two first-instance and appeal trials, Mr. Hiep was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

Both teachers are excellent in their teaching profession. They have a good understanding of textbooks and teaching methods, but they lack understanding of basic legal regulations in life.

Mr. Tam did not know that according to the regulations on state financial management, all expenses must have valid invoices and documents. Buying fake invoices, even if the purpose is to legalize legitimate expenses, is still considered a serious violation and can constitute embezzlement when the person doing it is the person in charge of managing assets.

Mr. Hiep did not understand that even though the car was his property, when it was in the hands of a third party (even if that person possessed it illegally), taking it back without going through the authorities could still be considered as appropriation and trespassing on the home. The law requires reporting to the police so that the competent authority can handle it according to the correct procedures.

These are not specialized, complex legal knowledge, but basic regulations that anyone involved in managing public assets or doing business needs to know. However, the reality shows that the teaching staff has a large gap in legal knowledge.

Heavy losses

The Law on Dissemination and Education of Law 2012 clearly stipulates the responsibilities of agencies and organizations in disseminating and educating about law. The Law on Teachers 2025 (effective from January 1, 2026) also emphasizes the training and development of teachers. However, in reality, teacher training programs mainly focus on pedagogy and teaching methods. Meanwhile, the content of law, especially regulations on public financial management and property rights, is very limited.

Teachers are well trained in how to impart knowledge and student psychology, but they are not given specific instructions on how to properly carry out the school's purchasing process, how to create valid invoices and documents, and how to handle stolen or misappropriated assets. For teachers in management positions such as principals and vice principals, the lack of knowledge of public finance law becomes even more serious. They have to manage the budget and approve expenditures, but are not fully equipped with the knowledge to follow the correct procedures. The result is either cumbersome, difficult, or "shortcuts" and then fall into trouble with the law, like Mr. Tam's case.

It cannot be denied that both teachers have violated the law. Mr. Tam bought fake invoices, Mr. Hiep took the car without reporting, these are both wrongdoings that need to be dealt with.

But is a sentence of 7 years in prison with 10.7 million VND or 3 years in prison for retrieving one’s own property appropriate to the nature of the behavior with the motive and actual consequences? National Assembly Representative Vu Trong Kim used the phrase “innocent reason wrong” to describe these two cases where people did what was morally right but wrong legally because they did not understand the regulations.

Fortunately, the law also recognizes this. The People's Court of Ca Mau province has annulled the first instance verdict against Mr. Tam, requested a re-investigation, emphasized the need to evaluate all the products he made, and verify the purpose of using the money. Mr. Tam was released on bail after more than a year of detention. As for Mr. Hiep's case, after the National Assembly representative petitioned, it received attention from the Can Tho National Assembly Delegation to consider it in a reasonable manner. However, the losses that the two teachers had to endure, such as the time in detention, the damage to their honor, and the interruption of their careers, could not be overcome.

There should be a legal consulting department at the Department of Education and Training, ready to support teachers when they have legal problems.

Photo: TN created with AI

Teachers need to be equipped with legal "armor" to protect themselves.

The two cases of Mr. Tam and Mr. Hiep are a wake-up call that protecting teachers is not only about increasing salaries and allowances, but also about equipping them with legal "armor" to protect themselves in their daily work. When a teacher is imprisoned for 7 years because he wants to save money for the school, when a teacher is imprisoned for 3 years because he took back his car, it is clear that there is something in the current legal education system that is not enough.

Teachers are the ones who impart knowledge and guide values ​​to the younger generation. But how can they educate students about legal awareness when they themselves lack basic knowledge of the law? It is time we put legal education for teachers on par with pedagogical training as a compulsory subject that is indispensable in the professional journey of every teacher.

Some urgent solutions need to be implemented

Firstly , make legal education a compulsory subject in teacher training courses, especially for managers. The content should focus on regulations on public financial management; procedures for purchasing assets; how to create and manage invoices and documents; regulations on property rights and how to protect legal property rights.

Second , develop a set of specific legal guidance documents for teachers with easy-to-understand language, practical examples, and typical situations.

Third , establish a legal consulting department at the Department of Education and Training, ready to support teachers when they have legal problems. Many violations occur because teachers do not know who to ask or are afraid of trouble, so they handle the matter in the way they think is right.

Fourth , there needs to be close coordination between the education sector and the judiciary sector in the dissemination of legal education. This is not only the responsibility of the education sector but also requires the participation of lawyers and judicial officers to ensure accurate and up-to-date content.

Fifth , simplify administrative procedures in school financial management. Many current procedures are too cumbersome, making teachers reluctant to follow the correct procedures, leading to shortcuts. When the procedures are simple, clear, and easy to implement, the rate of violations will decrease significantly.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-sao-nha-giao-can-trang-bi-kien-thuc-phap-luat-185251204100014171.htm