concerns about fairness

There can't be too many "privileges and special advantages."

At the 38th session of the National Assembly , in response to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly's opinions and the preliminary review by the National Assembly's committees on the draft Law on Teachers, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son stated: The draft Law on Teachers is expected to create breakthrough policies to develop the teaching staff in the context of globalization and the rapid development of information technology.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son reports to the National Assembly.

One of the controversial policies in the Draft Law on Teachers is the proposal that the State will pay tuition fees for the biological and legally adopted children of teachers currently working, from preschool to university. Based on the age of the teachers and the estimated age of their children, the additional tuition fee to be paid annually is approximately 9,200 billion VND/year.

In his remarks during the discussion, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh said that the draft law stipulating tuition fee exemption for biological and legally adopted children of teachers who are still working is very humane, but its implementation will not be easy.

"This should be regulated in some way, or the government should regulate it in a way that provides support policies for teachers facing difficulties, without including it in the law. Preferential treatment and special regimes are acceptable, but privileges and special advantages should be avoided," Mr. Dinh suggested.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man also pointed out that the exemption of tuition fees for children of teachers who are still working can only be applied to public schools and is very difficult to apply to private institutions. Therefore, he suggested that the drafting agency carefully consider this. In addition, it is necessary to clarify the conditions ensuring policies on salaries, allowances, and support for teachers.

The Chairman of the National Assembly cited a government report stating that the policy of waiving tuition fees for children of teachers alone requires more than 9,200 billion VND annually. "Where will this funding come from, and where will it be allocated annually? A more thorough assessment is needed to ensure feasibility and fairness in relation to other priority groups," said Mr. Tran Thanh Man.

The Speaker of the National Assembly pointed out that this law is of great interest to the education sector, but it is also a difficult law with significant and complex impacts. Therefore, he requested the Government and the Ministry of Education and Training to pay close attention and to proceed urgently, cautiously, and thoroughly.

Speaking to the press, National Assembly Deputy Pham Van Hoa (Dong Thap delegation) disagreed with the proposal. According to him, teachers are civil servants and should not have too many "privileges and special benefits" compared to other civil servants. Due to difficult living conditions, teachers' salaries are being proposed to be the highest in the administrative and public service salary scale. Teachers also receive more professional allowances than other civil servants. If they have to teach far away, teachers may even be entitled to housing provided by the government.

“Increasing teachers’ salaries, even significantly, is right, but nothing should be free, including tuition for teachers’ children. We cannot transform one injustice into another. In any society, every legitimate profession deserves equal respect and priority…,” Representative Pham Van Hoa expressed.

Expressing their views on the Ministry of Education and Training's proposal, many in the public voiced their disagreement. Reader Tran Hanh stated: "In the near future, teachers will be ranked at the highest salary level in the administrative and public service salary scale. This shows special appreciation and respect for the teaching profession, therefore, a policy of waiving tuition fees for teachers' children should not be applied. Teaching is also a livelihood like other professions and generates income. Therefore, if children of other professions have to pay tuition fees, then the children of teachers should also do the same."

"If teachers' children are exempt from tuition fees, then doctors' and nurses' children should also be exempt from hospital fees and medical services; children of those in the electricity sector shouldn't have to pay for electricity... Suppose every profession makes proposals for internal benefits, it will negatively impact social stability," reader Nguyen Dang Dung frankly stated.

Reader Truong Kim Ngan shared: "Everyone has a profession, and all professions are equally demanding. Everyone has to work to live, so policies like these should not be implemented to ensure fairness."

Careful consideration is needed.

Teaching is a profession with unique characteristics.

Associate Professor Tran Xuan Nhi, former Deputy Minister of Education and Training, believes that if a teacher truly practices their profession—that is, dedicating their whole heart and soul to teaching, closely monitoring students' development, maintaining contact and communication with students' families, and actively pursuing professional development—then the State's preferential treatment of teachers' contributions by waiving tuition fees for their children is a worthwhile endeavor.

"Waiving tuition fees for teachers' children demonstrates society's concern, gratitude, and respect for the teaching profession, and also creates conditions for teachers to focus on teaching well and improving the quality of education. Therefore, waiving tuition fees for teachers' children is well-deserved," former Deputy Minister of Education and Training Tran Xuan Nhi expressed.

"I support the proposal to waive tuition fees for teachers' children because it has great significance in motivating teachers and attracting talent to the education sector. However, careful research and consideration are still needed on how to implement it reasonably, without causing budget imbalances and ensuring social equity," stated an administrator at a junior high school in Cau Giay district.

“If the above proposal is implemented, it would be a very good thing; it would demonstrate the humanity and concern of the Party and the State for those working in teaching. Currently, the police and military sectors have special mechanisms for awarding bonus points to children of police and military personnel in entrance exams and some related policies. If the education sector has a special preferential policy for the children of teachers, it would be very valuable and have social significance,” shared Hoang Chi Sy, Principal of Luu Hoang High School (Ung Hoa district).

As a teacher with over 10 years of experience, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nga (Dong Da District, Hanoi) is moved and grateful for the contents of the Draft Law on Teachers because it contains many humane policies, showing sharing, understanding, and respect for the teaching profession and helping to raise the status of teachers. However, Ms. Nga understands that the country's economy is still facing difficulties; moreover, having interacted with many student families, she sees that every profession is challenging, so the children of teachers should also fulfill the obligation of paying tuition fees like other students.

"For me, teaching is a unique profession; but it's also one of hundreds, even thousands, of professions in society. Education officials should be treated as ordinary civil servants and shouldn't be separated from the general occupational system," teacher Nguyen Phuong Nga expressed.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/de-xuat-mien-hoc-phi-cho-con-giao-vien-ban-khoan-ve-tinh-cong-bang.html