Teachers need special policies, not privileges or benefits.

UNDERSTANDING REGULATIONS TO PROTECT TEACHERS

Assessing the policy impact of the Teachers Law project, the Ministry of Education and Training pointed out a series of shortcomings related to current policies for teachers. According to the Ministry of Education and Training, if education is not prioritized for investment, the declaration on the position and role of teachers will not become a reality. Reality shows that many teachers are not respected by society, so there are many situations where teachers are hindered from their professional activities.

When building the Law on Teachers, it is necessary to take into account universal policies to raise the status of teachers.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

The Ministry of Education and Training also believes that current regulations only focus on prohibiting teachers from performing acts in professional activities without specific and detailed regulations on what individuals, agencies and organizations inside and outside schools are not allowed to do to teachers. There is a lack of regulations to protect teachers in professional activities, and a lack of policies to build a safe working environment for teachers to feel secure in their work, contribute and perform their professional activities effectively.

As a result, there have been cases where teachers have been hindered from teaching and educating, their honor has been insulted, and even physically abused, seriously affecting the psychology and professional activities of teachers and the dignity of the profession. This situation has led to many teachers avoiding and being afraid to handle violations by students, limiting the exchange of information with students' families...

I don't think that teachers need and society needs to give teachers special privileges, because each profession has its own difficulties and hardships... The relationship between teachers, schools, and parents needs to be harmonious, not too biased towards one side.

Dr. Nguyen Quoc Viet (Deputy Director in charge of the Institute for Economic and Policy Research)

The assessment of the Ministry of Education and Training stated: "The legal regulations on the rights and obligations of teachers are still general, have not yet reflected the specific characteristics of teachers' professional activities, have not clearly defined the rights and responsibilities of teachers in organizing the teaching and education process in accordance with the position and role of teachers, promoting autonomy, self-responsibility and increasing decentralization according to the viewpoints of the Party and State (for example, the selection of textbooks, teaching materials and application of teaching methods...).

The benefits of teachers are currently still relatively limited in terms of income and other support and incentive policies. Although this is a profession with many unique features, very different from other professions in society, the regime and policies (allowance levels) are still very low and not commensurate with the dedication of teachers. Facilities and equipment serving the work of teachers still do not really meet the needs of the job, both in terms of accommodation, offices, and rest rooms; especially for the team of teachers working in remote areas.

RESPECT AND INDEPENDENCE IN THE PROFESSION IS NEEDED

Sharing with Thanh Nien reporter, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Viet, lecturer of Public Policy, Deputy Director in charge of the Institute for Economic and Policy Research, University of Economics ( Hanoi National University), said that teachers really need special policies, but proposals such as exempting tuition fees for teachers' children can make teachers, instead of being promoted as desired by lawmakers, be lowered because of malicious comparisons and comments.

According to Dr. Viet, when building the Law on Teachers, it is necessary to consider universal policies, how to raise the status of teachers. If we do not emphasize the specific nature of the profession, only sign recruitment contracts and consider teachers as ordinary workers, it will go against the draft Law on Teachers' desire to honor teachers. When signing contracts with employees, outside businesses will depend on the revenue and evaluation of the business owner; but teachers must have relative independence.

"Currently, even for high school teachers as well as university and college lecturers, I see many complaints about the fact that they have to do work and endure pressure outside of their expertise, such as formal competitions and movements to compete for school achievements in terms of the percentage of good and excellent students...", Mr. Viet stated the reality and shared: "What I care about is how independent and autonomous teachers are in their classrooms."

Teachers' salaries must be calculated and arranged so that, whether in public or private schools, teachers can negotiate with educational institutions for a suitable salary.

PHOTO: DAO NGOC THACH

TEACHERS NEED LEGITIMATE INCOME

The Ministry of Education and Training also believes that: Currently, many people believe that education is a service industry, in which teachers are service providers; therefore, the position and role of teachers are not properly evaluated and respected, and the teaching profession is looked down upon because this profession does not have a high income like many other professions. Because the income is not guaranteed, the preferential treatment for teachers is not commensurate with professional activities, many teachers have to do other jobs, and many teachers even have to change jobs, so the teaching profession is not highly appreciated by society, and the pedagogy profession is no longer as attractive as other professions. That also shows that the position and role of teachers are declining in society, the tradition of "respecting teachers" is also affected, and the "noble profession" is gradually losing its meaning.

According to Dr. Nguyen Quoc Viet, teachers' salaries must be calculated and arranged so that whether they are in public or private schools, teachers can negotiate with educational institutions for their appropriate salaries. That income must be a total income, a package is best. Avoid the situation where teachers' income depends on whether they participate in many non-professional jobs or not. For example, if teachers want to have higher incomes, many educational institutions have to "draw an elephant" such as: taking care of boarding children, taking care of children after school hours, tutoring, teaching voluntary educational activities in school... based on agreements with parents to have more income.

"I don't think that teachers need and society needs to give teachers special, specific incentives, because each profession has its own difficulties and hardships. What teachers certainly want is for them to have a reasonable income, enough to live on their efforts; to have relative independence in their profession, in the educational institution where they teach, so that they can develop their expertise and strengths. The relationship between teachers and schools and parents needs to be harmonious, not too biased towards one side," said Dr. Viet.

What does the drafting committee say about the proposal to exempt tuition fees for teachers' children?

Explaining the addition of new policies to the draft Law on Teachers, including tuition exemptions for teachers' children, Mr. Vu Minh Duc, Director of the Department of Teachers (Ministry of Education and Training), said that the drafting committee wants teachers to feel secure in their work and stick with their profession.

However, in response to the opinion that there should be a special regime for teachers but "privileges and benefits" are not recommended, Mr. Duc said: "The drafting committee is always receptive and listens to the opinions of the teaching staff, authorities, and public opinion. On that basis, the draft Law on Teachers will be completed in the coming time to ensure feasibility as well as ensure a common ground in other professions, avoiding unreasonable comparisons between teachers and other professions."

In addition, Mr. Duc also said that the drafting committee still maintains the view that it is necessary to include in the bill a provision on teachers' salaries being ranked highest in the administrative career salary scale system, while keeping a number of preferential allowances for teachers' jobs and other allowances.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nha-giao-can-chinh-sach-dac-thu-chu-khong-phai-dac-quyen-dac-loi-185241010222212656.htm