Teaching is a noble profession so we have to be frugal?

The story of the teaching profession gradually losing talented and capable people is certainly still troubling many people when the entrance scores to Pedagogical schools are too low.

Besides the explanations about unemployment, work pressure and negative aspects in job applications and "running for positions", perhaps a big reason is that teachers have to live with the situation of "lacking in front and lacking in back".

The teaching profession is dressed in a beautiful coat of words and polished language, it is “the most noble of all noble professions”. The teaching profession is truly noble because it is the profession of being a teacher to the world. How many famous and successful doctors, engineers, soldiers, and businessmen out there are all the results of “growing people” by teachers. How many drivers, saleswomen, and manual workers have also been taught and guided by teachers.

Illustration photo.

The career of “cultivating people” is noble, so the person who “cultivates people” also becomes extremely noble in the hearts of everyone. There was a time when the teaching profession was respected, parents and children said “respectfully” and “yes, sir”. But no matter how much time has changed, the story of teachers’ treatment has never had a positive change. The question “When will teachers be able to live on their salary?” is still an open question.

Recently, public opinion has been stirred up by the story of teacher Hoang Kim Anh in Cao Bang writing a resignation letter. Besides the pressure of taking care of preschool children and the difficulty of working in remote areas, the teacher’s explanation is that her salary of 4.3 million VND per month is not enough to cover her family’s financial needs. She has not yet started a family, has not yet taken on the responsibilities of being a mother or a daughter-in-law, but she cannot manage with that small salary.

Don’t judge teacher Kim Anh’s quitting her job by her salary of 4.3 million VND. That amount of money for personal expenses in a month, after deducting expenses, is not much left. Not to mention having to take responsibility for parents, siblings’ education… Therefore, many teachers have lamented in sadness and grief: Teachers’ salaries are even worse than… housekeepers!

Teacher Kim Anh is not an isolated case of quitting her job due to pressure and low benefits. Statistics in recent times show that in Ho Chi Minh City alone, each year about 1,000 teachers quit or change jobs. I think that no matter how stressful a job is, a desirable salary and attractive benefits will be enough to retain talented people. But when high work pressure resonates with low benefits, it is inevitable that talented people will "avoid" teaching!

The teaching profession is noble, but is society fair when it forces teachers to live in frugality? We always demand that our children learn from excellent, dedicated teachers. But who can focus on teaching, excel in knowledge, and persevere in moral education when the worry of making a living still haunts them? Who can focus on investing in their profession and enthusiastically cultivate people when they have to “cut” time for extra work outside?

Pursuing a happy and fulfilling life is a legitimate human dream. So it is also worthy of respect that teachers dream of a comfortable life with a good salary! Please do not force noble teachers to be frugal!

According to Dantri