Proposal to exempt tuition fees for teachers' children: Support but avoid privileges and benefits

Students of Le Thanh Ton High School, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City congratulate their teachers on Vietnamese Teachers' Day - Photo: NH

Presenting the report on acceptance and explanation, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son stated that the Government has reviewed and completed the policy contents.

With many different opinions on policy contents, the Government has removed them from the draft (regulations on the application of the law on teachers, on the professional social organization of teachers, on standards for heads ofeducational institutions...).

Some policy contents (regulations on salary, allowance and support policies for teachers) are carefully reviewed to ensure both breakthroughs and suitability with the context of salary reform implementation in the coming time.

Plan to spend tens of thousands of billions more

The Government 's report has calculated the state budget that will be spent on salaries and professional allowances for teachers. Specifically, according to the proposed detailed regulations in the draft decree, the salary scale of public preschool and primary school teachers will be adjusted to suit the nature and complexity of teachers' work at all levels. At the same time, teachers' preferential allowances are expected to be adjusted for preschool (increased by 10%) and primary school (increased by 5%).

The additional cost to pay teachers' salaries will be about 1,068 billion VND/month, meaning the budget must add 12,816 billion VND each year.

If the plan is implemented according to the plan for teachers to be recruited and their first salary is increased by 1 salary level in the administrative career salary scale system, the additional cost to pay teachers' salaries will be about 22 billion VND/month, meaning that the budget must add 264 billion VND annually.

In addition, the draft law also proposes to exempt tuition fees for biological and legally adopted children of teachers while they are working. The Government report said that if the tuition exemption policy for children of teachers and lecturers is added, the state budget will have to pay an additional VND9,212.1 billion annually.

Chairman of the Committee for Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh said that the standing committee basically agrees with the regulations on salary and allowance policies for teachers. However, there are opinions in the review agency suggesting clearly defining the scope and beneficiaries, thoroughly and fully assessing the impact on resources to ensure the implementation of policies to support and attract teachers, especially the policy of exempting tuition fees for teachers' children.

Avoid "privileges"

Giving his opinion on the discussion, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Khac Dinh said that the bill stipulating tuition exemption for biological and legally adopted children of teachers while working is humane. However, he was concerned that this regulation could exempt tuition fees in public schools but not in private schools, and that if applied to public schools, it would also be "sensitive".

From there, he suggested that the Government consider appropriate regulations. "Preferences and special regimes are acceptable, but special privileges are not recommended," Mr. Dinh stated.

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

He cited that according to the Government's report, the tuition exemption policy for teachers' children alone requires more than VND9,200 billion each year. "Where does this source come from, where does it come from to allocate annual spending? We must evaluate more carefully to ensure feasibility, and ensure fairness in relation to other priority subjects," said Mr. Man.

Mr. Man pointed out that this is a law that the education sector is interested in, but it is a difficult law with a large and complicated impact. Therefore, he suggested that the Government and the Ministry of Education and Training pay close attention and need to be urgent, cautious and thorough.

He noted that the content that has been adjusted in other specialized laws is not specified in this law. At the same time, it only regulates the content under the authority of the National Assembly. At the same time, it is necessary to change the mindset of not specifying specific and detailed regulations, not legalizing decrees and circulars, but assigning authority to the Government, ministries and branches as prescribed in guiding documents.

Prohibit public disclosure of violations until official conclusion

The draft Law on Teachers clearly stipulates what organizations and individuals are not allowed to do to teachers. Specifically, information about teachers' violations must not be made public until there is an official conclusion from a competent authority during the process of considering discipline or prosecuting legal responsibility for teachers.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre, delegate Pham Van Hoa, a member of the National Assembly's Law Committee, said that the provisions in the draft law are not really clear and can be considered "blurred points". He acknowledged that waiting for the official conclusion of the authorities on the violations of an individual in general, and teachers in particular, is correct, but more specific and clear regulations are needed.

"The drafting committee should study and re-evaluate this regulation. It should be clearly specified to avoid creating unclear points so that after the law comes into effect, agencies can use it to make it difficult for people and the press to participate in monitoring and reporting," Mr. Hoa suggested.

Also speaking with Tuoi Tre, a member of the Culture and Education Committee (the reviewing agency) said that they had received concerns about this provision in the draft and would discuss it with the drafting agency to clarify it.

Must narrow and consolidate allowances

Chairman of the Law Committee Hoang Thanh Tung basically agreed with the policies stipulated in the draft law but suggested that the Government should explain more fully and make more convincing arguments.

For example, the draft law is proposing to retain many allowances for teachers, while Resolution 27 of the Party Central Committee on salary reform raises the issue of narrowing or merging some types of allowances, especially allowances by profession, attraction allowances...

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/de-xuat-mien-hoc-phi-cho-con-giao-vien-ung-ho-nhung-tranh-dac-quyen-dac-loi-20241009080425416.htm