Increasing the reward for excellent students is appropriate and encourages talent.

Appropriate policy

Although it is still a draft and undergoing a public consultation process, the resolution stipulating reward levels for teachers, students, and trainees who achieve high results in city-level, national, and international competitions and examinations in Hanoi has received considerable attention from many parents, teachers, and schools throughout the city.

Representatives from the Hanoi Department of Education and Training and schools congratulated the Hanoi student delegation on their high achievements at the 2023 Astronomy and Astrophysics Olympiad.

Ms. Minh Pham, a parent whose child was a member of the Vietnamese team that participated in the international science competition for gifted students, authorized by the Ministry of Education and Training and sent by the Department of Education and Training, shared that after participating in the competition and winning a Silver Medal, her child was awarded a Certificate of Merit and a reward equivalent to one month's basic salary (1.8 million VND). Therefore, upon reading the information about the reward amount in the draft resolution currently being submitted for comments and consideration by the City People's Council, Ms. Minh Pham fully agrees.

“After receiving awards and prizes, both students and parents, while aware that it is an immeasurable honor and involves numerous ceremonies and accolades, cannot help but feel a pang of envy when comparing the rewards received by students in other localities for similar achievements. If the rewards for outstanding students in Hanoi were increased, it would be a great joy and a huge motivation for both students and parents,” Ms. Minh Pham expressed.

According to a parent whose child has participated in the national excellent student competition many times, for a child to reach the final round, they must spend a lot of time preparing for the exam and going through the qualifying rounds. This process requires not only the effort of the child, parents, and teachers, but also a significant financial investment from the family, and even more so when competing internationally. If Hanoi increases the prize money for excellent students at all levels, it will create encouragement for both teachers, students, and parents.

Nguyen Manh Hung, who received an honorable mention at the 2022 International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA), said: “Upon returning to Vietnam after the competition, we were warmly and respectfully welcomed at the airport by leaders from the Department of Education and Training. At the airport, we received many good wishes; recognition from the city, the school, and our teachers. Afterward, I and the team members also attended many commendation and award ceremonies, but the material rewards we received were insignificant…”

“Although I’m about to become a university student and will no longer be participating in exams as a high school student, I believe that increasing the prize money for outstanding students is very necessary. My friends and I participate in national and international competitions out of passion, responsibility, and a desire to challenge ourselves and affirm our abilities… but the prize money will be a great source of motivation for contestants. Furthermore, I know that some students, despite being studious and academically strong, don’t dare to join the team because of financial constraints. If the prize money is increased and publicly announced from the beginning, it will certainly boost the motivation of many students,” said Nguyen Manh Hung.

Hopefully it will be put into practice soon.

For many years, Hanoi has consistently been a leading locality in terms of the number and training of gifted and outstanding students. However, compared to many other localities, the rewards for gifted students in Hanoi are still very modest. Specifically, the city currently applies a reward of 20 million VND for students winning a Gold Medal at the International Olympiad; teachers with achievements in directing, organizing, and training students who win awards receive a reward equal to one time the basic salary. Similarly, for first prize in the national gifted student competition, the reward is only a few million VND.

Hanoi has always prioritized the training and nurturing of gifted students and is the leading locality in the country in terms of the number of students who have won national and international awards.

Meanwhile, some other localities offer very high rewards for outstanding students. For example, Quang Ninh province awarded the highest prize of 700 million VND to students who won a Gold Medal at the International Olympiad; followed by Hai Phong and Bac Ninh with 500 million VND; and Vinh Phuc with 400 million VND. Provinces and cities with rewards reaching hundreds of millions of VND include Thua Thien Hue, Tuyen Quang, and Thai Binh...

In national-level competitions, Kien Giang leads with a prize of 100 million VND for first place; followed by Quang Nam with 65 million VND. Many places spend 40-50 million VND, such as Vinh Phuc, Ninh Binh, Ho Chi Minh City, Bac Ninh, etc. Other localities commonly award prizes of 10-20 million VND.

In this draft resolution, the proposed reward levels for students and teachers who win high prizes in national and international competitions in Hanoi are more than 12 times the current reward levels. Specifically, the highest reward for students winning international Olympiads is 250 million VND; for students winning regional Olympiads, it is 150 million VND; for students winning national prizes, it is 50 million VND; for students winning city-level prizes, it is 15 million VND; and for students winning prizes in the "Road to Olympia" final organized by Vietnam Television, it is 50 million VND. If the winning student is disabled or from an ethnic minority, the reward increases by 1.5-2 times. Teachers directly involved in training and mentoring them will receive 70% of the student's reward...

Ms. Chu Thi Xuan Huong, Principal of Hoang Mai Secondary School (Hoang Mai District), expressed strong support for the proposed increase in the aforementioned reward amount, stating that it is appropriate, on the right track, and of great value, creating motivation not only for students and parents but also for teachers and schools. Furthermore, a higher reward amount contributes to encouraging academic achievement, improving outstanding performance and the quality of the teaching staff; retaining excellent teachers and students to teach/study at schools in Hanoi; and promoting the quality of education and human resources in the capital city.

"Hopefully, the draft resolution will be considered and approved soon, creating enthusiasm among teachers, students, and schools," teacher Chu Thi Xuan Huong expressed.

 

The level of rewards for outstanding students in Hanoi has been a long-standing concern for the Hanoi Department of Education and Training. Based on the reality and the aspirations and proposals of many students, parents, teachers, and schools, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training has submitted a resolution to the Hanoi People's Council on a special reward regulation for the education sector. The aim is to ensure that the rewards for students winning prizes in official student competitions (organized by the Ministry and Department) are more appropriate. Along with this, teachers who have guided students to win prizes will also receive commensurate rewards. This contributes positively to the discovery and nurturing of talent for the capital and the country.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/ha-noi-tang-muc-thuong-hoc-sinh-gioi-la-phu-hop-va-khuyen-khich-nhan-tai.html