Raising teachers' salaries: The key to retaining talent

Adjusting teachers' salaries and allowances is not only an economic policy but also a message honoring the teaching profession, expressing the gratitude of the Party and State; it is the "key" to retaining talent and arousing passion for dedication in the teaching staff.

Increasing teachers' salaries is a step that demonstrates strategic vision in national education development. (Photo: Vu Minh Hien)

In the context of the country promoting industrialization, modernization and deep international integration, the position of teachers - the subject directly determining the quality of human resources - becomes increasingly important.

Therefore, adjusting salaries and allowances for teachers is not only a simple social security policy but also a deep gratitude of the Party and State for the silent dedication of those who do the most noble of all noble professions.

To no longer worry about "bread and butter"

Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in education and training development sets out many breakthrough policies and guidelines, demonstrating a long-term vision and strong political determination to bring Vietnamese education to steady progress, meeting the requirements of the knowledge era and global digital transformation.

One of the tasks and solutions stated in Resolution 71 that many teachers are interested in is to have special and outstanding preferential policies for the teaching staff; increase the preferential allowance for preschool and general education institutions to at least 70% for teachers, at least 30% for staff, and 100% for teachers in especially difficult areas, border areas, islands, and ethnic minority areas.

This is not just a technical adjustment in income, but a deeply humane policy, demonstrating the Party and State's understanding and sharing with the hardships and sacrifices of teachers across the country.

Over the years, despite modest salaries, millions of teachers have persisted in their classes and schools, tirelessly dedicating themselves to the cause of “cultivating people”. However, reality also shows that low income has caused many teachers, especially young teachers, to struggle to maintain their lives, and some have even been forced to leave the profession.

Therefore, information about increasing basic salary and increasing professional allowance is considered a great source of encouragement, helping teachers to firmly stick with the profession. Many teachers believe that "adequate treatment is the best way to retain teachers". When a stable life is guaranteed, teachers will have more conditions to invest in their expertise, innovate teaching methods, and be creative in each lesson.

"Increasing salaries and allowances for teachers is an affirmation that education is the foundation, teachers are the center, and investing in teachers is investing in the future of the nation."

In Resolution 71, the Politburo clearly stated: Developing education is the top national policy, developing the teaching staff is the key. From that perspective, increasing salaries and allowances is not just "budgetary spending" but is essentially a strategic investment in human development, for the future of the country.

Many education experts believe that the intrinsic motivation of the education sector begins with the teacher. If teachers are respected and treated properly, they will inspire and arouse the desire to learn and be creative in each student.

In fact, every policy to support teachers is not only an economic solution but also a social message about respecting knowledge. Once teachers are satisfied with their jobs, we will have happy classrooms and students who grow up both in knowledge and personality.

Increasing salaries and allowances will only be truly effective when implemented synchronously, transparently and to the right subjects. It is important that all levels and sectors quickly concretize the policy in Resolution 71 with detailed guidance documents, ensuring that all teachers, especially those in remote areas, benefit from the correct and adequate policies.

In addition to income adjustment, it is necessary to promote salary reform according to job position and work efficiency, create a healthy competitive environment, encourage creativity and improve teaching quality. At the same time, supporting policies such as public housing, training support, digital capacity building, and education program innovation also need to be integrated and implemented substantially, avoiding formality.

A worthy treatment policy is the key to retaining talent in the education sector. (Photo: Vu Minh Hien)

For a humane, creative and sustainable education

In recent years, many young, talented teachers have moved to the private sector or other professions where incomes are higher and working conditions are better. This is a major challenge for the sustainable development of the public education system. Therefore, a worthy remuneration policy is not only a temporary solution, but also the "key" to retaining talent and arousing passion for dedication in the teaching staff. When teachers' incomes improve, society will view the teaching profession with respect; at the same time, it will create a positive effect, attracting talented, dedicated young people to the profession.

Increasing teachers’ salaries and allowances seems to be an economic policy but in fact has profound cultural and social significance. As an affirmation, education is the foundation, teachers are the center and investing in teachers is investing in the future of the nation.

When the burden of “making a living” is no longer felt, teachers will have more opportunities to be creative in teaching, researching and spreading humanistic values. This is also the way for us to move towards an open, creative, humane and integrated education, where each child is nurtured with knowledge and love.

In a recent sharing, Dr. Nguyen Tung Lam, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Educational Psychology, Chairman of the Education Council of Dinh Tien Hoang High School (Hanoi) commented that in the long term, the policy of increasing teachers' salaries is not only an improvement in income, but also a step that demonstrates a long-term vision in developing national education. When teachers are respected and treated fairly, the quality of education will certainly be improved for a humane, creative and sustainable education.

The policy of adjusting salaries and allowances for teachers in Resolution 71 is not only good news about income, but also a message of gratitude and honor for the teaching profession, a step that demonstrates a strategic vision in developing national education. When teachers are respected and treated appropriately, the quality of education will certainly be improved. At that time, teachers will be confident in their profession.

The Ministry of Education and Training said that teachers' salaries are being paid according to the Government's regulations in Decree 204/2004/ND-CP and are applied according to the Professional and Technical Salary Table for officials and civil servants in State-owned enterprises, with starting salaries corresponding to the regulations on training levels (type B for intermediate level, type A0 for college level, types A1, A2, A3 for university level and above).

In addition to salary, teachers are also entitled to a number of allowances including: Seniority allowance; preferential allowances according to the profession for teachers directly teaching at all levels, subjects, teaching objects and working regions with levels from 25-70%... However, according to the Ministry of Education and Training, the implementation of salary policy, allowance regime, and preferential policies for teachers still has some shortcomings.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training in the 3 school years, from August 2020 to August 2023, the whole country had over 40,000 teachers quitting or changing jobs; teachers under 35 years old quitting their jobs accounted for 60% of the total number of quitting their jobs. From August 2023 to April 2024, 7,215 teachers quit their jobs, of which the number of teachers quitting their jobs at preschool level accounted for a high proportion (about 1,600 teachers, accounting for about 22%) and gradually decreased according to the levels of education from low to high.

Income that is not enough to live on is also part of the reason why the number of teachers quitting their jobs has increased in recent years, especially among young teachers under 35 years old.

The Ministry of Education and Training believes that the issuance of a Decree regulating salary and allowance policies for teachers is necessary to overcome existing shortcomings, ensure stable quantity, and improve the quality of the teaching staff.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tang-luong-giao-vien-chia-khoa-giu-chan-nguoi-tai-333278.html