A newly-released Government decree designed to provide favourable
treatment for teachers and educational officials in deprived areas is
expected to encourage them to become more devoted to their careers.
According to Decree 19, if teachers or educational officials take
their families with them to work in deprived areas, they will be offered
a subsidy worth 12 times the minimum regional salary regulated by the
State (between VND1.65-2.35 million) instead of the current subsidy of
only VND6.5 million (US$312).
The decree, which offers amendments to the old 2006 decree on
favourable treatment towards teachers in poor areas, will take effect
from April 15.
The decree also states that teachers who work in deprived areas will
enjoy an initial subsidy worth 10 times the minimum salary upon his or
her relocation.
Plus, those whose working tenure in deprived areas already ended but
have not been relocated will continue to enjoy an incentive subsidy
equivalent to 70 per cent of their current salary.
Vu Van Su, deputy director of the Education and Training Department
in northern mountain Ha Giang Province, said the adjustment showed
flexibility from the Government.
“The new policy is not only meaningful in material terms but also
shows the State’s appreciation for teachers’ devotion to their careers
in deprived areas.”
Su added that this was the most suitable method of compensation.
Dinh Chuong, a teacher at the Son Dong Ethnic Boarding School in
northern Bac Giang Province, said with excitement: “Our expectations
have finally been met. This incentive will motivate us to dedicate
ourselves even more towards our work.”
Chuong added that many teachers whose working tenures had ended
continued to work in deprived areas throughout the country, so a policy
that subsidised their work was very necessary.
Quach Van Tuyen, a teacher in northern mountain Son La Province, said
many teachers were unwilling to commit to long-term contracts in
deprived areas because they were only offered subsidies during the first
five years.
“With the new decree, teachers are more likely to stay on and give help in these poor parts of the country,” Tuyen said.
Luu Tuan Anh, who has worked in an especially disadvantaged area in
central Thanh Hoa Province for over 15 years, said he led a difficult
life.
Tuan Anh said he had left his children and elderly parents behind in his home town to move to Thanh Hoa.
“With a salary of only 35 per cent more than in normal areas and high
travelling costs, I can only afford to return home once every two or
three months.”
With the new support policy, Tuan Anh said he felt reassured that he would have additional money to take care of his family.
Nguyen Hong Lieu, head of the Social – Cultural Section of the
People’s Council of central Ninh Thuan Province and former director of
the provincial Department of Education and Training, said the policy
would encourage teachers to become more committed to their work,
especially those who decided to stay in deprived areas for a long time.
VNS