What income level do teachers expect after salary reform?

According to Resolution 27 of the Central Executive Committee on salary policy reform, from July 1, the new salary structure of teachers will include: Basic salary (accounting for about 70% of the total salary fund), allowances (accounting for about 30% of the total salary fund) and additional bonuses (about 10% of the total salary fund of the year, excluding allowances).

More than 2 months to go until salary reform is implemented nationwide, but there is still no information about the proposed new salary calculation method for teachers.

From July 1, teachers' salaries will be calculated according to the salary reform policy. (Illustration photo)

Working in the education sector for nearly 25 years, Ms. Bui Thi Nhon, a teacher at Tan Thanh A Primary School ( Binh Phuoc ), was happy to receive information that teachers' salaries could be among the highest-paid groups.

“Currently, the income of teachers is still low, not enough to cover living expenses, not commensurate with the profession, leading to the situation that many teachers quit to find other jobs with better income. When I heard that teachers are in the group with the highest salary increase compared to the average of other professions, my colleagues and I were very happy,” said Ms. Nhon.

The salary increase is an important step forward, showing recognition and appreciation of the efforts of workers in the education sector. The salary increase is also a motivation for the teaching staff to feel secure in their work, stick with their profession without worrying about making a living.

Besides the joy of the salary increase, Ms. Bui Thi Nhon also worries that when the salary reform is implemented, there will be no more seniority allowance.

“I, like many other colleagues, only received information about salary reform from July 1st, but until now have not received details on the new salary calculation formula. However, if seniority allowance is eliminated, will the salaries of teachers with many years of experience in the profession like me be disadvantaged?”, Ms. Nhon wondered.

Ms. Pham Thi Nhan, a teacher at Phuc Khanh Secondary School ( Thai Binh ), is concerned that if there is no seniority allowance, she will be at a disadvantage, because this is not only an index to calculate salary but also marks the time a teacher has been with the profession.

"While many young teachers are happy that their income will increase after the salary reform, some teachers with high seniority are worried because they do not know whether their income and benefits will be guaranteed after the reform," said Ms. Nhan, adding that seniority allowance is very important, this is the motivation to help teachers stick with and strive for the profession. The teacher believes that if this allowance is abolished, teachers with many years of service will suffer many disadvantages.

“In both the lowlands and the highlands, the job of a preschool teacher is extremely hard. Teachers have to go to class from 6am to 5:30pm or until they finish their work. At this age, children cannot take care of themselves, so teachers have to teach and care for them with love, dedication and passion,” said Ms. Le Thi Toan, Principal of Hoa Mai Kindergarten (Yen Chau, Son La).

In July 2023, the basic salary increased from 1,490,000 VND to 1,800,000 VND, bringing great joy to teachers. From July 1 until the implementation of the new salary policy, teachers are looking forward to it, especially preschool teachers.

She hopes that the new salary policy will help teachers live on their salary, not having to worry too much about food and money so they can focus their time and mind on their profession.

According to Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra, currently the total income of teachers including salary according to professional title and salary allowances has improved compared to other professions. However, the Minister of Home Affairs also admitted that compared to the specific nature, teachers' salaries are still low and affirmed that in the coming time when implementing salary reform, teachers' salaries will be prioritized in the highest salary scale and table in the administrative career system.

According to information from the Ministry of Home Affairs, teachers' salaries are adjusted according to the principle that the same level of complexity of the work will have the same salary. Teachers who take on multiple positions, or undertake difficult and complicated work, will receive appropriate incentives.

The Minister also said that the Ministry of Home Affairs will coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to ensure that teachers' salaries (including allowances) increase in accordance with their job requirements and positions, ensuring an increase in line with the general salary level of cadres, civil servants, and public employees, while also showing preferential treatment for the education sector.

In addition to eliminating seniority allowances, Resolution 27 will also abolish leadership position allowances, party and socio-political organization work allowances, public service allowances, and hazardous and hazardous allowances to include them in the basic salary. At the same time, it will continue to apply concurrent allowances, seniority allowances exceeding the framework for long-time teachers, regional allowances, job responsibility allowances, and mobility allowances.
Combining occupational allowances, occupational responsibility allowances and toxic and dangerous allowances (collectively referred to as occupational allowances) applied to civil servants and public employees of occupations and jobs with higher-than-normal working conditions and appropriate preferential policies of the State, including education and training.
In particular, Resolution 27 also clearly states the viewpoint that transferring old salary to new salary must ensure that it is not lower than current salary.

Kim Nhung

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