Eliminate education payroll: Reduce trillion-dollar projects to increase teachers' salaries

Even in the education sector, there is no proposal to spend tens of thousands of billions of dong on a new textbook compilation program.

The story of abolishing the education sector's payroll has led to a series of problems, including increasing teachers' salaries. However, where do we get the money to increase teachers' salaries? VOV.VN reporter, Prof. Dr. Pham Tat Dong, Vice President of the Vietnam Association for Promoting Education.

PV:Professor, abolishing the education system must go hand in hand with increasing teachers' salaries. While the State budget is limited, where do you think we can get the money to increase teachers' salaries?

Professor Pham Tat Dong:I do not agree with the solution of increasing tuition fees to increase teachers' salaries. In many countries in the world such as Cuba and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, tuition fees are exempted for students.

The income of the people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is only 200 USD/person and they can do that, so why can't our country do the same?

The issue here is where do we get the money to increase teachers' salaries? In my opinion, if we remove one of the projects with investment of thousands of billions of dong but operating ineffectively, we will have the money to increase teachers' salaries.

Saying that the government has invested 20% of the budget in education is a great effort, and money should be invested in other areas, but if the budget is invested in ineffective projects, it is a waste. Many localities compete to build golf courses, airports, and monuments, but few projects are effective.

If we cannot get money from other areas to pay teachers' salaries, then even in the education sector, we must calculate the amount of money spent. For example, the Ministry of Education and Training should not propose to spend tens of thousands of billions of VND on the new textbook compilation program, but should propose to spend part of that money to pay teachers' salaries.

Eliminating the education system and increasing teachers' salaries are issues attracting social attention (illustrative photo)

PV:Professor, how do you feel when the Minister of Education and Training said that there will be a pilot program to eliminate civil servants and teachers?Recruitment will be on a "in - out" contract basis.teacherwill enjoy great benefits?

Professor Pham Tat Dong:When the education system is abolished, good teachers will not be afraid, but only weak teachers, those who are vague about their qualifications and abilities, will be afraid of being paid according to the contract system.

It is true that signing a labor contract will attract many good lecturers to teach. The implementation should also be applied to those with qualifications and many years of teaching experience.

The pilot program to abolish teacher tenure is not only for teachers but also for education managers. In schools, the school leadership, the principal and vice principal, must also sign labor contracts.

This should be done at all levels of education and the employment contract should not be too long, but can be from 3-5 years. After this period, if teachers feel they cannot meet the job requirements, they can resign. Those who have just graduated can sign a probationary contract. During the probationary period, if they are found to do a good job, the school can continue to recruit them.

Should abolish the educational establishment at all levels, subjects and ages?

PV:Dear Professor, in the education sector, do you think it is necessary to extend the retirement age and to which subjects should it be applied?

Professor Pham Tat Dong:The idea that long-time employees should retire early to make room for younger people is completely wrong. If a teacher is 60 years old but still healthy, has good expertise and experience in the job, schools should continue to employ them on contract.

Should abolish the educational establishment at all levels, subjects and ages?

Young people who do not want to be unemployed must be good at everything so that schools and educational institutions will sign contracts and pay them high salaries.

In Germany, many 12th grade students have been invited to work by companies and factories because their working and practical skills are very good.

In my opinion, when the Ministry of Education and Training pilots the abolition of the education payroll, it should sign labor contracts with all levels of education, subjects and all different ages.

The pilot signing of labor contracts with teachers is not only in big cities and provinces but can be applied in all rural areas. Because teachers also have to work in private schools with strict working conditions, I think the pilot signing should be applied everywhere.

We need to have a new way of thinking about this issue so that the implementation of abolishing the educational establishment can be effective.

PV:The abolition of the education system is associated with the abolition of the examination for civil servants and teachers. What is your opinion on this issue?

Professor Pham Tat Dong:In fact, although the civil service and teacher recruitment exams are always mentioned as serious and objective, there are many negative aspects. Many agencies and units recruit only for formality but still choose relatives and acquaintances to work.

Therefore, I think that abolishing the education system must be associated with abolishing the civil servant and teacher examination system.

PV:Thank you, Professor!/.

According to VOV