Handling responsibility for wrongly spending 125 billion VND in allowances, teachers worry about where to get money to pay

Many teachers in remote areas have received preferential allowances for many years, but now they are facing arrears and are worried about where to get the money to pay - Photo: TRUNG TAN

On May 3, a leader of the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee confirmed that the province had directed the handling of violations in the payment of improper preferential allowances to teachers from 2021 to 2024, and requested a review of relevant individuals and units.

Wrongly paid preferential allowances to teachers due to failure to update regional classification

According to the inspection conclusion, the main reason is that the units have not updated Decision 861 (issued in June 2021) of the Prime Minister on classifying disadvantaged areas.

This leads to the incorrect application of allowance levels according to Decision 244 of 2005 of the Prime Minister: preschool and primary school teachers in mountainous areas receive 50%, while in plains and towns it is 35%; secondary and high school teachers receive 35% and 30% respectively.

Due to not adjusting the region according to Decision 861, many localities in Dak Lak still pay allowances at the old level, causing a total incorrect payment of more than 125 billion VND in more than 3 years.

There were 13 units identified for violations, of which the Department of Education and Training spent more than 12.3 billion VND incorrectly; the People's Committees of Krong Pak district spent more than 21.8 billion VND incorrectly, Krong Nang spent more than 16 billion VND, Krong Bong spent more than 14.4 billion VND, Ea Kar spent more than 10 billion VND incorrectly...

The Provincial Inspectorate recommended that the Provincial People's Committee criticize and request lessons from the leaders of the Department of Finance and the Chairmen of the People's Committees of related districts and towns.

At the same time, the Department of Finance is required to review individuals and groups responsible for the appraisal and settlement of preferential allowances in violation of regulations.

Many teachers agree to return the allowance, but hope to be paid according to the schedule - Photo: TRUNG TAN

The Provincial People's Committee has directed the People's Committee of Buon Ma Thuot City and 12 districts and towns (including Buon Ho, Cu Kuin, Cu M'gar, Ea H'leo, Ea Sup, Krong Ana, Krong Bong, Krong Buk, Krong Nang, Krong Pak, M'Drak, Ea Kar) to strictly implement the inspection conclusions.

The Department of Finance is assigned to review responsibilities in approving incorrect payment settlements.

Currently, the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee has assigned the Provincial Inspectorate to send a document asking for guidance from central ministries and branches to unify the handling and application of the policy throughout the province.

The next steps will be implemented after receiving feedback from the Central Government and consolidated reports from localities.

Urgent collection of arrears puts teachers in trouble

The hasty collection has left many teachers passive and in a difficult situation, even though the fault lies with the management agency. Many people only learned about the collection when they received notices that they had to pay back tens of millions of dong within a few months.

Many teachers said they would have difficulty paying a large sum of money at once - Photo: TRUNG TAN

For example, in Krong Nang district, 19 schools in Phu Xuan, Tam Giang, Phu Loc, and Ea Toh communes must pay back a total of more than VND16 billion before December 20, 2025. In Krong Pak district, 28 schools must complete the recovery of nearly VND22 billion before December 31.

A teacher at Nguyen Viet Xuan Primary School (Krong Nang) shared: "My husband and I are both teachers, earning about 30 million VND per month, raising three children. Now having to pay back more than 13 million VND per month for 8 months is very stressful."

Some teachers agree with the refund, but suggest a more reasonable schedule, such as dividing the arrears evenly over the incorrect benefit period (38 months), instead of concentrating them in the last few months of the year.

"We hope that the authorities will consider the teachers' circumstances to avoid causing psychological shock and disrupting their lives," said a teacher in Krong Pak district.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/xu-ly-trach-nhiem-vu-chi-sai-125-ti-dong-phu-cap-giao-vien-lo-khong-biet-lay-tien-dau-de-tra-20250503084050023.htm