Low salary, high pressure, and what else?

The hardships of a preschool teacher, working tirelessly from morning till night, holding, comforting, and soothing young children.

The above figures were provided by Mr. Vu Minh Duc, Director of the Department of Teachers and Educational Management Staff (Ministry of Education and Training). Of the 7,215 teachers who resigned, the number of teachers leaving the profession was highest at the preschool level and decreased gradually across all educational levels.

Previously, statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training showed that in the three school years from August 2020 to August 2023, over 40,000 teachers nationwide resigned or changed jobs. Teachers under the age of 35 accounted for 60% of the total number of resigning teachers. Meanwhile, the shortage of teachers remains severe nationwide, at all educational levels, especially for preschool teachers and teachers of new subjects.

What are the reasons behind the high number of preschool teachers quitting their jobs recently?

Working tirelessly from morning till evening.

By directly visiting preschools and classrooms, observing and experiencing the work of preschool teachers, one truly understands the hardships they face.

Working tirelessly from morning till evening, constantly busy with teaching, caring for children, cleaning the classroom, not to mention the time spent making teaching aids, toys, preparing lesson plans… when they return home in the evening, many preschool teachers confide that they have to “collapse in the middle of the house to catch their breath, unable to lift a finger to do anything.”

A typical workday for a preschool teacher is usually packed from 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM, or even later. In the morning, they clean the classroom, prepare the learning environment, and get ready to welcome the children. Then they organize activities for the children to participate in – learning, playing, feeding, and changing their clothes. From 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM, the children change their clothes, lay out their mattresses for nap time, and the preschool teachers take turns supervising their nap.

Once the children are sound asleep, the teachers each have their own tasks. Some monitor the children's sleep, others quickly prepare paperwork and learning materials, get lesson plans ready, and walk around the classroom to check if the children are sleeping well. Preschool teachers say that when the children are sleeping, they need to pay the most attention to their safety, preventing risks such as choking, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. Only when the children are sound asleep do the teachers open their lunch and take turns monitoring the children's nap time, so they only dare to lie down; if they hear a child whimpering, they have to jump up immediately.

Besides caring for, teaching, and raising children, preschool teachers also take on the responsibilities of cleaning classrooms, wiping down toilets, sanitizing the classrooms, and washing the children's dirty clothes.

Preschool children are at an age that requires caregivers and educators to be highly focused throughout the children's time at school to ensure their safety. Teachers must always be attentive, caring for children in one area while also observing many other areas to ensure their safety. For example, when children are out in the garden watering plants, if a child runs quickly, the teachers must follow them quickly. There are times when a child is about to fall, and the teacher must rush to catch them.

For preschool teachers in charge of nursery classes, especially those with formula-fed babies (6-12 months old), the difficulties are multiplied many times over. Six-month-old babies are very young, and they cry a lot when they come to school. Some babies cry continuously for a month or two, crying all day long. Preschool teachers have to take turns holding and cuddling them so that the babies feel the trust and warmth of their caregivers.

Not only are preschool teachers responsible for caring for, educating, and nurturing children, but they also take on the tasks of cleaning classrooms, wiping down toilets, sanitizing the classrooms, and washing the children's dirty clothes... to ensure the safest possible learning environment for the children. Preschool teachers confide that without a love for children, patience, and compassion, it would be difficult to persevere for so long in this demanding job, which requires a deep understanding and love for children.

Low wages, not commensurate with the hard work.

In an interview with Thanh Nien newspaper, a preschool teacher with 12 years of experience working at a private preschool in Ho Chi Minh City shared her reasons for quitting her job, stating that the main reason was "low salary." After taking two years off to have a child, her salary was recalculated from scratch upon her return. Before quitting, her salary and allowances, after deducting social insurance contributions, amounted to approximately 6 million VND.

This amount is insufficient for her to cover living expenses, rent, and the cost of raising and caring for her children (she has two young children). The preschool teacher shared, "Being at school all day, and then starting the cycle of housework at home, I feel exhausted on some days, with no time left for my children or to help them with their homework."

The pressure is too great.

Besides the hard work and low pay, one of the reasons many preschool teachers quit is the immense pressure from parents, students' families, and the preschools where they work.

Preschool teachers work hard all day, one hand holding and comforting crying children, the other hand feeding them.

A female preschool teacher confided that every day she goes to work, she faces pressure from the classroom cameras. Her preschool is a private school with online cameras for parents to view. Some parents spend all day "monitoring" the cameras and calling preschool teachers to ask questions, give reminders, and complain about the teachers. There are also situations where parents find every possible fault to "find fault" with the teachers. If a child accidentally gets a scratch on their hand or leg while playing at school, and the teacher has explained, some parents still stubbornly accuse the teachers of abuse and neglect. Some preschool teachers say they still receive phone calls from parents complaining and scolding them at 11 or 12 at night. Or, even before the truth of the matter is clear, parents still go online to "denounce" preschool teachers and the preschool.

Recently, the Ministry of Education and Training, in coordination with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, has been considering classifying preschool teachers as a strenuous and hazardous occupation. If this is approved, preschool teachers, as belonging to the group of strenuous, hazardous, and dangerous jobs, will be entitled to benefits such as strenuous occupation allowances, a lower retirement age, and many other benefits and policies.

There are currently about 16,000 independent preschool groups nationwide, many of which employ teachers who are not covered by social insurance. These teachers are in great need of support from society.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/1600-giao-vien-mam-non-nghi-viec-luong-thap-ap-luc-cao-va-con-gi-nua-185240509181312374.htm