Nghe An: Teachers express frustration over being transferred.

(Baonghean) - After receiving the list of prospective transfers, Ms. Yen submitted a petition explaining her situation and received confirmation from the school's leadership regarding her health condition. However, Hung Nguyen district still decided to transfer her to another school that is three times further away than her previous school...

On September 21st, Mr. Ho Van Thang, Deputy Director of Vinh City General Hospital, stated that patient Luu Mai Yen (43 years old, residing in Vinh Tan ward, Vinh City) is currently undergoing surgery for multiple uterine fibroids. Ms. Yen was admitted to the hospital three days prior.

Also on this day, on Ms. Yen's Facebook account, her son posted a "plea for help" to the leaders of Hung Nguyen district because his mother's teaching position was too far away. "My mother is currently undergoing surgery. I beg you, when she recovers, please transfer her to a school closer to home so she will suffer less pain...", wrote Ms. Yen's son.

Hoa Binh Primary School (Hung Phuc commune, Hung Nguyen district) - where Ms. Luu Mai Yen worked before being transferred. Photo: Tien Hung.

Ms. Luu Mai Yen is one of the teachers in Hung Nguyen district who is upset about being transferred to teach at a school too far away, while suffering from multiple illnesses. At the age of 20, Ms. Yen graduated from Nghe An Teacher Training College and was assigned to Huu Duong commune, Tuong Duong district (now Huu Khuong commune, a commune located in the Ban Ve hydroelectric reservoir) to "live in the village".

Later, she was transferred to teach in Hung Loi commune (Hung Nguyen district). Three years later (school year 1997-1998), she was transferred again to work at Hoa Binh Primary School (Hung Phuc commune) and has been teaching there until now.

In August 2017, Ms. Yen received a list of teachers slated for transfer under the district's plan. According to the list, she would be transferred to Hung Yen Nam Primary School, 22 km from her home, while her old school was only about 8 km away. After explaining her request and health condition, and receiving confirmation from the school's leadership, Ms. Yen thought her request would be considered by the district leadership.

However, on September 1st, she was shocked to receive the decision letter delivered to her home by the principal himself. “I currently suffer from many illnesses and am undergoing long-term treatment, including heart disease, goiter, multinodular goiter, and uterine fibroids. Transferring me to such a distant school would be too much for me to handle,” Ms. Yen said.

Ms. Yen stated that on September 4th, she submitted a petition to the district leaders requesting consideration of her case, along with her relevant medical records. The following day, she was invited to the District Education Department for a meeting. “In the meeting room, due to extreme distress, I suffered another bout of severe pain and fainted. I woke up at 8 PM at Vinh City General Hospital…,” Ms. Yen said. Confirming Ms. Yen's medical condition, the Principal of Hoa Binh Primary School, Phan Thi Bich Lien, said that in this case, the school leadership could only confirm the circumstances and medical condition in the hope that the district leaders would consider it. The school did not have the authority to make a decision.

Meanwhile, Mr. Phan Xuan Loi, the principal of Hung Yen Nam Primary School, expressed concern about Ms. Yen's health affecting her teaching. "Before Ms. Yen was transferred here, the school had already had 7 teachers leave and 7 teachers transfer in," Mr. Loi said, adding that Ms. Yen has been working at the school for 3 weeks but has only taught 5 sessions due to poor health. In her third week of teaching, Ms. Yen requested extended leave from the school to be hospitalized for treatment.

According to our investigation, Ms. Luu Mai Yen is not the only case in Hung Nguyen district dissatisfied with the district's teacher rotation policy. At the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year, Hung Nguyen district rotated more than 130 teachers, the majority of whom were primary school teachers.

Ms. NTH (43 years old, Trung Do ward, Vinh City) is one of them. “I’ve been teaching for over 20 years, and I’ve been transferred to schools in remote areas of Hung Yen Nam for many years. But even now, I’m still being assigned to the furthest commune in the district, Hung Trung,” Ms. H. said. Previously, the distance from her home to her old school was less than 10 km, but now, teaching in Hung Trung, the distance is 26 km.

“At Hung Trung school this year, besides me, there are three other teachers from Vinh City who have been transferred, the distance is too far. Meanwhile, the rotation plan stipulates that transfers should only be within a radius of no more than 15 km from home,” Ms. H. said.

Ms. Yen's son posted a plea for help on Facebook. (Photo: Archival image)

Mr. Ho Van Hiep, Vice Chairman of the Hung Nguyen District People's Committee and the person assigned to preside over the district's teacher rotation project, affirmed that the transfer was discussed and agreed upon by the five members of the council. “According to the project, those who have worked at a unit for 8-10 years are required to be transferred to another school. In Ms. Yen's case, she has worked at Hoa Binh Primary School for 18 years. In her application, Ms. Yen only provided one medical record, some ultrasound results, and prescriptions; she did not have a complete medical history. Meanwhile, any teacher will have health problems…,” Mr. Hiep said.

Mr. Hiep also stated that, according to the plan, those with serious illnesses would have their transfers temporarily postponed. However, the Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee could not define what constitutes a "serious illness." "There is no regulation defining what constitutes a serious illness. But in my opinion, it could also mean being bedridden," Mr. Hiep said, adding that Ms. Yen's case "does not constitute a serious illness" and therefore she should still be transferred.

According to Mr. Hiep, the rotation scheme has been developed and implemented over the past three years, and he acknowledges that emotional factors may influence the rotation decisions of council members.

Tien Hung