Since 2021, the Quang Ninh Department of Education and Training has not organized any teacher recruitment drives. Instead, the locality has had to address the teacher shortage according to Government Decree 111, which means signing contracts with teachers.
However, this approach reveals a drawback: calendar-based contracts do not coincide with a school year that spans two years. In reality, contracts with teachers must be signed annually, and then renewed in December, causing difficulties for both teachers and schools.
Quang Ninh is short of 4,000 teachers.
PHOTO: LA NGHIA HIEU
According to Mr. Trinh Dinh Hai, Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Education and Training, this is only a temporary solution. Recently, the department has encouraged 30 former students of Ha Long University to volunteer to teach in 5 mountainous communes. However, this force is only a short-term support and cannot solve the root of the problem.
According to Mr. Hai, as of now, the entire province is short of approximately 4,000 personnel in the education sector, including about 2,700 teachers (2,200 in public schools and 500 in private schools).
The main reason is the prolonged downsizing process while demand continues to increase, especially as the new general education curriculum requires more job positions, subjects, and implementation methods compared to before.
Teachers serving in mountainous regions are "stranded" and unable to return home.
According to the leaders of the Quang Ninh Provincial Department of Education and Training, many teachers who are serving their mandatory military service are currently "stranded" in some mountainous areas. These teachers have submitted petitions to the Provincial People's Committee, and the department has since intervened to address the issue.
Teachers visit remote areas in Ky Thuong commune (Quang Ninh province).
PHOTO: LA NGHIA HIEU
According to Mr. Trinh Dinh Hai, in the past, former localities such as Ha Long, Cam Pha, Mong Cai, Ba Che, and Tien Yen had seconded and reinforced teachers to disadvantaged areas. However, the regulations varied from place to place, lacking uniformity. Now, with Quang Ninh's two-tiered government structure, the responsibility for teacher deployment falls to the Department of Education and Training. But the Department of Education and Training cannot handle the issue separately for each locality; it must develop a province-wide regulation.
Another sticking point lies in Circular 15, which stipulates that communes have the right to appoint and dismiss school principals within their jurisdiction, while teacher transfers must be handled by the Department of Education and Training or an authorized unit. This leads to localized teacher shortages and surpluses in many schools, while teacher rotation is slow.
Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Quang Ninh province, Trinh Dinh Hai, spoke about the shortage of teachers in the area.
PHOTO: LA NGHIA HIEU
Mr. Hai emphasized that when the Law on Teachers comes into effect on January 1, 2026, there will be a legal framework for the deployment and rotation of teachers. At that time, the Ministry of Education and Training will issue guiding circulars, and teachers working in disadvantaged areas will have their contributions and dedication fully recognized.
"I am confident that teacher rotation will never stop, because population changes in each locality are frequent. It's easy for a surplus to occur one day and a shortage the next," Mr. Hai said.
While waiting, the provincial education sector has to implement many temporary solutions, such as increasing short-term contract recruitment, assigning teachers to teach across schools and communes, increasing teaching hours, and encouraging teachers to transfer on a voluntary basis.
Some localities, such as Bai Chay Ward, have recruited an additional 21 contract staff for schools; Mong Duong Ward is recruiting 32 positions, including 25 teachers and 7 staff members for the 2025-2026 school year.
The Quang Ninh Provincial Department of Education and Training has also recruited 71 contract positions for high school level, including 64 teachers and 7 staff members, allocated to 30 public schools. However, this number is just a drop in the ocean compared to the actual needs.
To adapt, many schools have adopted artificial intelligence to support teaching. However, the head of the Department of Education and Training affirmed that this is only a supplementary measure and cannot replace teachers in the classroom.
"Education needs people, it needs inspiration. Technology is a tool, but it cannot fill the gap left by the shortage of teachers," Mr. Hai said.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quang-ninh-thieu-4000-giao-vien-185250910104022507.htm
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