LookAtVietnam – An additional allowance of 50 per cent of the minimum wage will be offered to kindergarten teachers working in disadvantaged areas from the beginning of November.

Salaries for each teacher will increase by VND325,000 a month.

The announcement was made in Government’s Decision No 113/2009/QD-TTg on policies and mechanisms to support socio-economic development in four regions; the northern-central and central coastal region, the Central Highlands, the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region and the northern midland mountainous region.

“Currently teachers receive an allowance of 70 per cent of their monthly salary as an incentive for working in the most deprived areas,” said the Ministry of Education and Training’s Personnel and Organisation Department Nguyen Ngoc Chau.

Chau said allowances of 30 and 35 per cent already apply to teachers at universities and secondary and high schools respectively.

He added that the decision would be applied to every pre-school teacher in the areas outlined regardless of whether they were working in the State sector or not.

In his view, the teacher salaries is already quite sufficient.

“However, the wage can only retain local teachers but will not attract those from other localities, especially those in comparatively better-off lowland areas,” he said.

According to Chau, poor education infrastructure is the main hindrance in attracting teachers to difficult regions despite favourable salaries.

He argued that the decision should be carried out immediately following the announcement.

According to the decision, students graduating from ethnic boarding high schools will be enrolled at universities without having to sit for entrance exams and work will be found in their place of origin.

In addition, the State will provide capital for successful existing vocational training centres.

The decision also states that the Government will contribute a portion of the medical fees for patients living in disadvantaged areas when they receive treatment in provincial or national hospitals.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News