Should we pay the class monitor a salary?

(Baonghean) - Following the 24-hour news report by Vietnam Television about Long Binh High School in Tien Giang province paying salaries to class leaders, this issue has received nationwide attention. Some opinions agree, while others disagree, because it is a solution that some localities are implementing with the sole aim of achieving higher educational effectiveness.

In education, the class president plays the role of a link, a bridge between the homeroom teacher and the class. Therefore, the class president must be enthusiastic, energetic, have a mature demeanor, good moral character, and especially have above-average academic performance to build credibility within the group. In addition, one of the indispensable skills that a class president needs to excel in is organizational ability, public speaking skills, and dynamism…

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a class president compared to those who aren't? First, let's talk about the disadvantages: Class presidents are the ones who "eat at home but carry the burden of the whole community," always busy with group work and working harder than other students. However, this doesn't mean that class presidents are inferior to others in terms of academic results; on the contrary, they know how to balance their studies and group work. What about the advantages of being a class president? It's the joy, the carefree and innocent nature of school life, the respect of their classmates, and the affection of their teachers. Another significant advantage is the opportunity to hone life skills, the ability to unite, the ability to organize—in short, the skills of a future leader or manager. Therefore, many class presidents go on to succeed in their careers; the "capital" gained from their time as class president will benefit them later on.

So, is it appropriate to "pay" class leaders, as the media has recently reported?

From an organizational and implementation standpoint, schools in Tien Giang, and possibly many other places across the country, have done nothing wrong. They have achieved consensus between the school and the parent association, received widespread support, the amount of money spent is not large, there are no signs of corruption or waste, and they have achieved certain positive results. However, the issue we want to discuss is the educational impact of this solution.

Besides providing timely encouragement and showing the school's recognition of the class leader's contributions, the "salary" solution also has limitations. The biggest limitation is that a person who works selflessly and responsibly might be accused of working for a salary! This can lead to resentment, jealousy, and even envy, eroding trust and the innocence of student life. In reality, not paying salaries to the class leader and other class officers doesn't necessarily mean that school activities will decline.

Everyone understands and sympathizes with the difficulties faced by class leaders and recognizes that they deserve some kind of reward. Perhaps this could be gifts on special occasions like Teachers' Day (November 20th), or International Women's Day (March 26th); for female students, perhaps International Women's Day (March 8th). For class leaders facing difficult circumstances who still perform their duties well, there should be a system in place for underprivileged students who overcome hardship, such as a 100% tuition waiver, while still ensuring the quality of education.

I believe that the role of a class leader or Youth Union secretary in a classroom is different from that of a village head, block leader, or Party branch secretary at the grassroots level; because these students are in the process of developing their character, we shouldn't approach the issue in an overly pragmatic way, and I believe they themselves wouldn't demand anything from being a class leader.

Tran Huu Vinh