Nghe An: Why is there a shortage of English teachers but still difficult to recruit?

My Ha• DNUM_CBZBBZCABJ 10:08

(Baonghean.vn) - For many years now, the shortage of English teachers has been occurring in many localities. However, recruiting English teachers is not easy when there are too many difficult criteria. This is the reality happening in Nam Dan district and some mountainous districts of the province.

Waiting to be hired

Hoang Tru Primary School (Kim Lien Commune, Nam Dan District) is now a level 2 standard school. However, in the past two years, every time the subject of teaching English at school is mentioned, teacher Vuong Thi Lien - the school's principal - is very worried.

Mặc dù đã là trường chuẩn quốc gia nhưng Trường Tiểu học Hoàng Trù chưa có giáo viên Tiếng Anh và phải hợp đồng thỉnh giảng. Ảnh: Mỹ Hà

Although it is a national standard school, Hoang Tru Primary School does not have an English teacher and has to hire a part-time teacher. Photo: My Ha

Last school year, although the parents of the school were very eager for their children to learn English, because the school did not have an English teacher on the payroll, and the contract teachers did not have a mechanism to collect additional money to pay for them, the school only taught English in the first two months of the year and the last two months of the year. During the remaining time, the students of the school did not learn English even though the school was fully equipped with standard English classrooms.

This school year, the school’s English teaching and learning has returned to normal after the school signed a contract with two English teachers. It is worth mentioning that although it is called a contract, in fact these two teachers are both “old” teachers of the school, one of whom has taught for 9 years, the other for 6 years, and both have been highly appreciated by the school’s Board of Directors for their abilities.

In particular, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Lien used to be a contract teacher of the district, then switched to a short-term contract (signed for one year) and now is a guest lecturer contract (paid according to the number of hours actually taught) of the school. Ms. Kim Lien was also chosen as a key teacher of the district for English.

Regarding English teachers, after more than 5 years of interruption, this year Nam Dan district has been approved by the Provincial People's Committee for 15 English quotas for primary school teachers. After receiving this information, teacher Kim Lien and nearly 10 other teachers under contract at schools were very happy. However, when looking at the conditions for submitting applications, many people did not meet the criteria set out.

Tiếng Anh luôn là tiết học đem lại sự hào hứng cho học trò. Ảnh: Mỹ Hà

English is always an exciting lesson for students. Photo: My Ha

Specifically, according to the recruitment plan that Nam Dan district has put forth this year, English teachers must have a university degree in English pedagogy, have a B2 level according to the European reference framework or equivalent; have one of the second foreign language proficiency certificates reaching level 1 according to the regulations of Circular No. 01/2014/TT - BGDĐT of the Ministry of Education and Training; have computer skills meeting the standards of technology use skills according to regulations...

“When I learned that the district had a quota, I was very happy. But compared to the criteria, I did not meet the criteria because I only graduated from the English Department of Vinh University and studied for a teaching certificate. Now the recruitment council requires me to have a university degree in education to be considered for admission, which is really too difficult because I am over 30 years old. As for my teaching qualifications and skills, I think I am qualified because I have nearly 10 years of experience and have been recognized by parents, students and teachers.”

Teacher Nguyen Thi Kim Lien - Nam Dan

Exceeding quota but "scarce" applications

The entire Nam Dan district is currently lacking about 20 English teachers in schools, mainly at the primary level. This has caused many difficulties for the sector in implementing the school year's tasks and has also significantly affected the quality of teaching and learning in schools.

As in Kim Lien commune, the commune currently has 2 primary schools. In the 2018-2019 school year, Hoang Tru Primary School taught the elective English program, while Lang Sen Primary School taught the 10-year program. Because the two student groups are different, this school year when 5th graders move up to 6th grade at Kim Lien Secondary School, the school does not know which program is appropriate to teach between the 7-year English program and the 10-year English program.

Giờ học Tiếng Anh của học sinh Trường Tiểu học Lê Mao - Thành phố Vinh. Ảnh: Mỹ Hà

English class of students at Le Mao Primary School - Vinh City. Photo: My Ha

Later, to ensure the implementation plan is correct, the school principal decided to let the students study according to the 10-year program (continuous study from grade 3 to grade 10). With the number of weaker students from Hoang Tru Primary School, the school had to assign more teachers and spend more time to tutor them in the afternoons.

This reality also occurs in many other schools because currently 100% of secondary schools in Nam Dan district teach the 10-year program. Meanwhile, the number of primary schools teaching this program is only 3 schools and the main reason is the lack of teachers. Currently, out of 45 primary school teachers, only 12 are on the payroll, the rest are on contract or guest teaching contracts.

“After more than a week of recruiting English teachers, we have only received 3 applications from candidates while the target is 15. I have also received some feedback from teachers and schools, but the criteria are based on the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training as well as related documents and we do not violate the regulations...”.

Mr. Le Sy Kiet - Head of Nam Dan District Internal Affairs Department

Regarding the recruitment of English teachers this year, in recent days, teachers in the district have had many opinions about the need for a B2 certificate or equivalent. However, the issuance of this certificate is currently carried out in two forms: International B2 certificate (tested and certified by Cambridge English) and internal B2 certificate (issued by 1 of 8 domestic universities permitted to issue according to the regulations of the Ministry).

Meanwhile, the recruitment plan of Nam Dan district is still vague and unclear. Therefore, many teachers are worried that although the district's recruitment council is still accepting applications from candidates with internal B2 certificates, they are not sure whether they will pass the preliminary round to enter the recruitment exam or not.

Previously, the recruitment of preschool teachers in Nam Dan district also encountered many difficulties surrounding the need to have sufficient English and IT certificates. And in fact, although the district had 27 preschool teacher quotas, in the end, it was only able to recruit 2 teachers because the documents did not meet the given criteria.

Only a few schools in Ky Son teach English because of a lack of teachers. Photo: My Ha

Regarding the recruitment of English teachers, through research, some districts are also facing similar difficulties due to lack of documents. For example, Ky Son district, in recent years, every year the district has had a quota for English teachers but has not been able to find teachers. In Tuong Duong district, Mr. Kha Van Lap, Head of the district's Department of Education and Training, also said: "There has never been a year when we have recruited enough English teachers because the regulation of having a B2 certificate is too difficult for many teachers. Meanwhile, young teachers are not interested in teaching in mountainous areas."

In Con Cuong district, after several years of recruitment with similar criteria, the district has asked for opinions from all levels and the Department of Home Affairs to change some regulations such as not requiring teachers to have an international B2 certificate, and teachers also do not need to have a second foreign language certificate.

The leader of the district's Department of Education and Training said: "Like this year, we have 5 quotas and only received 5 applications. The district's viewpoint in recruitment is to follow the regulations but not make it difficult for candidates. Some diplomas and certificates, if not really necessary, the district will not require because it can easily lead to negativity, even coping. The most important thing is the capacity of teachers and teaching results in schools."