Quantifying 'nobility'!

Honoring achievements through special salary coefficients.

November arrives, reminding us of the tradition of "respecting teachers and valuing education," but also highlighting a long-standing problem: We honor teachers with the most beautiful words, yet leave them struggling with the task of making ends meet. This "nobility," therefore, sometimes becomes fragile... It causes many teachers to leave the classroom, makes many of the most優秀 students hesitant to choose education, and inadvertently creates a negative aspect within the educational environment.

Therefore, when the Ministry of Education and Training announced the draft Decree regulating new salary policies and allowances for teachers, just before the Vietnamese Teachers' Charter Day on November 20th, it was not simply news about policy. Many viewed it as an important cultural signal. For the first time, it seems we are making a systematic and decisive effort to "quantify" the nobility of the profession through specific legal regulations. This policy proposal is a pivotal step to bring the status of teachers from a spiritual symbol back to a commensurate material value, in line with the principle that "teachers' salaries should be ranked highest in the administrative and public service salary scale."

For a long time, we have been accustomed to using the standards of a typical administrative civil servant to measure a profession with the highest degree of specialization – the profession of "nurturing people." This is because the work of educators doesn't end when the school bell rings; after working hours, they are responsible for preparing lesson plans until late at night, facing the invisible pressure of hundreds of parents' eyes and the expectations of society. This draft decree dares to confront this reality and offers a groundbreaking solution: applying a "special salary coefficient." According to the draft, all educators will receive this coefficient. Specifically, preschool teachers – those who face the greatest work pressure, taking on roles ranging from teacher and mother to support staff – will receive a coefficient of 1.25 compared to their current salary. Other teaching positions will receive a coefficient of 1.15.

The proposed new salary calculation formula will be:Salary = Base salary x Current salary coefficient x Special salary coefficient.Mathematically, this is a significant increase. But from a cultural perspective, its meaning is much greater. The figure of 1.15 or 1.25 is not just money; it represents the official recognition by the State and society as a whole that the work of teachers is a unique type of labor and deserves special treatment.

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The new salary calculation formula, according to the draft, will be: Salary = Base salary x Current salary coefficient x Special salary coefficient.

This is a necessary balance. We cannot demand absolute dedication from a teacher while paying them a salary insufficient to replenish their energy and provide for their family. Only when teachers are "freed" from financial worries can they fully dedicate themselves to upholding the "nobility" of their profession. When they can live on their salary, negative practices such as widespread private tutoring or the pressure of bribery will naturally be pushed back. In other words, verbal praise is certainly important, but praise through policies that ensure they can live comfortably is the most sustainable material foundation for the teacher's position in modern society.

Restoring academic prestige and honoring sacrifices.

While the "special coefficient" solves the problem of "survival" for the vast majority of teachers, two other regulations in the draft address the deeper aspects of the culture of "respect for tradition" and "gratitude." Firstly, it redefines the status of professors. For a long time, leading professors, those who guide expertise and discover new knowledge, could be treated equally within the administrative salary scale. This draft clearly stipulates that educators appointed to the title of professor will be subject to the senior expert salary scale, with three significantly higher salary levels (8.8 - 9.4 - 10.0). As the Ministry of Education and Training explains, professors are similar to senior experts. This is not only a financial decision but also an academic boost. It restores the "leading" status to elite intellectuals, affirming their status as national assets, with roles on par with the most senior experts in the system. This is the highest manifestation of the culture of "valuing and utilizing talent," creating a genuine motivation for scientists to strive, contribute, and serve the country.

Secondly, there is the humane "retention" policy. The image of the teacher is not only associated with the classroom in urban areas, but also symbolizes silent sacrifice in remote areas, border regions, and islands. They are the ones who "carry knowledge to the mountains," accepting separation from their families and living in difficult conditions to sow the seeds of knowledge. However, ironically, when they complete their nhiệm vụ and are reassigned or transferred between institutions, they immediately have their special allowances cut, causing a sudden drop in income. The draft Decree has thoroughly addressed this "bottleneck." When teachers are transferred between educational institutions where the destination has lower allowances, they will retain their allowances from the previous institution for a maximum of 36 months. Similarly, if transferred from a school to an educational management agency, the retention period is 12 months. The numbers 12 months, and especially 36 months, are not just dry figures. It is a thoughtful "buffer," a practical expression of gratitude, showing appreciation for contributions, helping teachers feel secure in their work, and readily accepting rotations to align with the overall mission without suffering any disadvantages. This is how the policy demonstrates "humanity" and sharing, a beautiful aspect of the organization's culture in its interactions with individuals.

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In November, the most meaningful and lasting gift for teachers is policy assurance, ensuring their "noble" status is built on a solid material foundation. This draft decree is a major step forward in that journey, demonstrating an effort to harmonize the traditional cultural value of "respecting teachers and valuing education" with the fair and practical demands of today's society. When teachers are secure in their livelihoods, they will have the mental and intellectual capacity to fulfill their responsibilities, and that is the most sustainable investment in the country's future.