Additional vocational allowances: Timely policy for school staff and teachers

GD&TĐ - According to the roadmap, in phase 1, the Ministry of Education and Training proposed to add 20% allowance for school staff; increase 15% for teachers at all levels of preschool and general education.

This proposal received attention and support from many officials, teachers and staff of schools.

Recognizing the team behind the podium

Working since 2016 as a caretaker at Tam Thuan Kindergarten (Hat Mon, Hanoi), Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong expressed that if the proposal of the Ministry of Education and Training on adding 20% ​​allowance for school staff is applied, it will bring great joy to the team, especially the kitchen staff.

“I have been in the profession for nearly 10 years but my monthly income is just a fixed salary, without any additional allowances. After deducting insurance, it is only 5.1 million VND. Meanwhile, my family has two children of school age, and my husband's parents are over 70 years old and weak, so life is very difficult, we have to save money to make ends meet. We hope the Government will pay attention so that the kitchen staff can receive additional allowances,” Ms. Phuong confided.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh - a veteran employee at Thai Hoa High School (Thai Hoa Ward, Nghe An ), simultaneously holds many jobs including librarian and treasurer. Up to now, with nearly 20 years of working experience, Ms. Thanh holds the position of office team leader but her monthly salary after deducting insurance is only over 8 million VND.

“I have been working at the school for a long time, and every time I receive my salary, I feel sad because compared to teachers, the income of school staff is much lower because there are no allowances. Therefore, recently when there was information that the Ministry of Education and Training proposed to have vocational allowances for school staff, I and many of my colleagues were very happy,” she confided.

Sharing about the school staff, Mr. Luu Cong Linh - Principal of Thai Hoa High School, compared them to the "right arm" because all activities in the school want to achieve good results with the support of this team: "Compared to many other positions in the school, the staff in charge of jobs such as medical , clerical, treasurer, library staff and equipment are at a much greater disadvantage. The proposal of the Ministry of Education and Training on vocational allowances for school staff is a worthy recognition of their efforts and dedication", said Mr. Luu Cong Linh.

Sharing from Ms. Do Thi Tuyet Minh, who has been a treasurer and secretary at Ly Nhan Tong High School (Tan Minh, Ninh Binh) for 15 years: “To outsiders, these may just be numbers on paper, but to us, it is a recognition of our persistent efforts over decades of dedication. This policy not only has material significance, but also shows respect for those who contribute to the daily operation of the school.”

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Create motivation to contribute

Ms. Pham Ngoc Dinh - Huong Tram Kindergarten (Tan Thanh, Ca Mau) said that if the allowance is increased by 15%, kindergarten teachers will receive a 50% preferential allowance. "I think the proposed allowance level is suitable for the actual situation and other professions, because this is only a proposal in phase 1 under the condition of the State budget being difficult.

The next phase, from 2031 onwards, will implement the preferential allowance level as in Resolution 71, teachers will be supported from 70 - 100%. I think with the preferential allowance level as proposed, combined with the salary regime and other allowances that teachers are enjoying, teachers' lives will improve, helping them feel secure in their work, have enough conditions to study further, and devote themselves to the cause of education. Obviously, teachers and school staff are receiving great and timely attention and support from the Party, the State and the education sector," Ms. Dinh shared.

As an English teacher at Chau Son Primary School (Co Do Commune, Hanoi), Ms. Le Thanh Huyen believes that the 15% increase in allowances will not only help improve their lives, but also create more motivation for teachers to stay committed and continue to innovate teaching methods. Supporting school staff is also reasonable because they contribute significantly to a safe and orderly educational environment, thereby contributing to improving the quality of teaching and learning.

"I hope the policy will be implemented synchronously and sustainably, to truly become a long-term source of encouragement for those who are directly involved in education," Ms. Huyen analyzed.

With nearly 40 years of working in the education sector, Associate Professor Le Thi Ha - former Principal of Yen Thuong Primary School (Phu Dong Commune, Hanoi) affirmed that the better remuneration policy is the State's recognition of the contributions of teachers and staff, contributing to improving the position and attractiveness of the teaching profession. However, everything needs to be clear in terms of volume, responsibility, and timing. Teachers and staff have a salary to feel secure in their jobs; at the same time, helping individuals who are unclear about their work and do not meet the requirements, there will be appropriate solutions for the industry to let them retire according to the streamlining requirements.

Mr. Bui Nhu Toan - Principal of Ly Nhan Tong High School (Tan Minh, Ninh Binh) commented that this policy shows the industry's genuine concern for those who are directly contributing to the educational reform but whose income is still modest compared to professional requirements and social expectations.

Another good point is that this policy is not only for teachers, but also extended to school staff. However, for the policy to be effective, the Principal of Ly Nhan Tong High School hopes that along with the increase in income, there will be synchronous adjustments in staffing, labor standards and administrative procedures. When work pressure is reduced, teachers and staff will have the conditions to spend time on expertise, creativity and innovation.

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Ensure fairness and proportionality

Vien An Primary School 2 (Ca Mau) has been in a state of shortage of staff and teachers for many years. Ms. Pham Thi Quyen - Principal of the school said that the main reason is that the school is located in a remote area, the allowance is low, and the income of many teachers and staff is not attractive enough.

According to Ms. Quyen, school staff play an important and indispensable role in schools. However, currently, most school staff positions apply the salary scale of type B or A0 civil servants, which are the two lowest salary scales among the salary scales of cadres, civil servants and public employees. Basically, school staff only receive a salary according to the basic salary coefficient without additional professional incentives and seniority allowances like teachers. Particularly for primary school teachers, the current preferential allowance is 35%, which is still low.

“I find the Ministry of Education and Training’s proposal in the Draft Decree regulating salary and allowance policies for teachers very timely and meaningful, demonstrating the recognition and concern from the education sector and the State for teachers and school staff. However, in my opinion, for staff and teachers working in remote areas, the support level needs to be adjusted higher to facilitate recruitment, attract human resources, and help teachers and staff feel secure in their work,” Ms. Quyen shared.

Ms. Le Hong Tuoi, an accountant at Huong Tram Kindergarten (Tan Thanh, Ca Mau) graduated from university, has worked for more than 20 years, and currently receives a salary of 3.99, with a net income of more than 9 million VND. According to Ms. Tuoi, if we receive the preferential allowance proposed by the Ministry of Education and Training, it will create more motivation to help us stick with our jobs and strive to complete the assigned tasks well.

“I see that the preferential allowance for school staff is proposed to be divided into many different levels of support according to each job position group. According to the female accountant, the general support level should be unified at 25%, so that school staff cannot compare, because each job has its own hardships,” Ms. Le Hong Tuoi proposed.

Ms. Truong My Hoa - an accountant and secretary, equipment staff of Dien Ky Kindergarten, Nghe An, graduated from Banking Academy and now receives a salary level 3 - 2.72 with an income of more than 6 million VND/month. The female employee is very concerned because even though she graduated from university and has a regular degree, when recruited to work, she was only paid as an intermediate accountant. In addition, although she holds many jobs, she is only paid for one position without any other allowances.

Previously, from 2024, staff in many schools in Nghe An province submitted a written proposal to the Vietnam Education Trade Union. It stated that currently, staff on the payroll are entitled to receive salaries according to the salary coefficient of the regulations in Decree 204/2004/ND-CP and some additional allowances from 0.1 (accounting staff) to 0.2/month (equipment staff) or a 20% subsidy of preferential allowances (medical staff) depending on the position.

Meanwhile, there are no additional allowances for clerical staff. In addition, contract staff are only paid according to the minimum wage of region III. Nghe An school staff requested to adjust some policies because the current salary and benefits are not suitable.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Hoan - Chief of Office of Nghe An Department of Education and Training, affirmed that the proposal to supplement allowances for school staff and increase preferential allowances for teachers by the Ministry of Education and Training is good news for more than 3,000 employees and more than 45,000 officials and teachers working at schools in Nghe An.

This not only helps them increase their income, but also creates confidence and motivation for them to stick with the profession for a long time and feel secure in their work. Recently, the Department of Education and Training of Nghe An announced the recruitment of more than 800 civil servants in the education sector, including 49 school staff.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/bo-sung-phu-cap-nghe-chinh-sach-kip-thoi-cho-nhan-vien-giao-vien-truong-hoc-post757758.html