LookAtVietnam – Schools in HCM City are in dire need of teachers for music, arts and computer science, city officials have said.

Children at a music lesson. The city is facing a shortage of teachers in computer science, arts and music.

Nguyen Thai Son, head of the math and computer science department of the city’s Pedagogy University, said most students who are good at computer science prefer a career in IT industry or software development.

They can earn at least VND5 million (US$281) monthly at an IT job, but only VND2 million ($112) a month if they teach computer science.

The school environment is not conducive to career growth or continued learning, according to teachers.

A computer science teacher at a high school in Tan Phu District said the curricula was outdated, and that most courses involved teaching basic programmes like Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

“Most people around the world use at least Word 2007, while teachers here are using Word 2003,” the teacher said.

Many schools are also short of computers, further curtailing student interest.

Overloaded, overbooked

Currently, each school in the city has only one or two music and arts teachers.

At Nguyen Van Troi Primary School, for example, one music teacher teaches from six to seven periods per day and is also responsible for organising arts performances at the school.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Nga, vice principal of HCM City Central Pedagogy College, said that salaries for music and art teachers were low, and that many of them take on additional jobs.

Most students who graduate from the college’s music department teach at cultural centres and sing at tearooms besides teaching at schools.

According to Do Xuan Tinh, head of Sai Gon University’s Arts Department, many music and arts teachers leave teaching after a few years to work for design, cartoon or art companies where they can earn a higher salary.

Like IT instructors, music and art teachers say they don’t have the opportunity to further their knowledge as teachers in primary and secondary schools.

These disciplines are often not appreciated, so teachers feel bored and depressed. Tinh said curricula must be updated to maintain both student and teacher interest.

Sang of the Department of Education and Training said higher salaries would help schools retain teachers, particularly in music and arts.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News