Raising teachers’ salary a challenging quest

In a draft proposal for the amendment of the Law on Education, the education ministry suggested that teachers’ salaries should be increased.

According to statistics from the ministry, currently, the average monthly income for a teacher with 15 to 25 years of experience ranges from VND7.2 million (US$320) for kindergarten teachers to VND8.5 million (US$370) for university lecturers.

For new teachers who have worked less than five years, the figure is only half of that at VND3.2 million (US$142) to VND3.9 million (US$173).

Reform for teachers’ salary actually was discussed several years ago when a study announced in 2012 by Nguyen Thi Binh, former Vice President, and her team, revealed that 50% of teachers earn less than the education field’s average income which is between VND3 and 3.5 million (US$140-164) per month, including allowances.

The salaries and allowances are not enough for teachers to support themselves and their families, especially those who live in urban areas, the study concluded.

The study also found that on average, teachers worked 13 years before making more than the average wage.

The study’s authors proposed that the Government adjust its policies so teachers can rely on their salaries to make ends meet and don’t have to wait too long for raises.

Nguyen Khac Thanh, principal of Dan Hoa Secondary School in Thanh Oai district, Hanoi, said he supported the reforms.

“If the salary is increased, teachers will be able to focus better on their teaching quality and do not have to worry too much about how to make ends meet,” Thanh said.

Tran Xuan Nhi, Chairman of Vietnam’s Association for Universities and Colleges, agreed.

“Teachers have to be able to cover their expenses by their salary to be devoted to teaching. I think teachers deserve to have the highest place in the salary rankings,” he said.

Although the need to make such reform was mentioned in 2013’s Resolution 29 on education and training reform, the situation was not made much better, according to Dao Trong Thi, former head of the National Assembly’s Committee on Culture, Education, Youth and Children.

Thi, however, admitted that such reforms would be challenging.

“The number of teachers in the country is large, if we raise teachers’ salaries it means we have to cut the State budget for other fields. People are willing to say: yes, let’s raise teachers’ salaries, but I’m not sure if they would agree for their salaries to be cut to make up for the raise,” Thi said.

He also emphasised that support for teachers was critical to improve education quality.

“If everyone in the society would think this through – they would not hesitate to make the sacrifice,” he said.

Bui Thi An, former NA deputy from Hanoi, said the reforms could only be made when Government agencies are streamlined and work effectively.

According to a report from the education ministry, Vietnam has more than 1.2 million teachers, 272,000 education staff, and 154,000 education managers.

However, Do Hong Cuong, Vice Principal of the Hanoi University, said salary would not be a fix all for the education sector.

“Other measures need to be conducted along with salary reform, like improving education facilities,” he said.

The proposal by the education ministry also suggested that more students be exempt from public secondary school tuition fees.

“It’s not sufficient and does not make sense if Vietnam tries to universalise secondary education without providing free secondary education to every child,” Dao Trong Thi said.