LookAtVietnam – So what do teacher’s do when faced with the “the envelope” on Teachers’ Day

In the past, when I went to school, gifts and envelopes did not exist in the relationship between teacher and student. Students did not have to ‘repay’ teachers. Meanwhile, teachers sometimes spent their own money to help poor students or gave free tutoring to students, because they thought it was their responsibility.

I think there are two kinds of ‘envelopes’. The heavy one with millions of dong inside should be seen as bribery. Students give them to teachers because they want higher grades.

The second type of envelope, with just several hundred dong inside, aims to recognize the merit of teachers. I think that we should not violently criticize the second type of envelopes. It’s the same as reporters receiving envelopes instead of lunches when they attend press conferences.

I myself have never received any kind of envelopes.

However, I would not refuse gifts from students which show the close relation between us. I always appreciate gifts my students that they have brought back as souvenirs – a small ceramic vase, interesting books, or a specialty from the countryside.

I dare not refuse gifts from students because I think this may hurt them. I don’t think that teachers should refuse gifts just to show that they are ‘pure’.

Dr Bui Tran Phuong, President of Hoa Sen University

The only gift I receive is a bouquet from the whole class. I never accept gifts or money from any individuals.

Some students feel hurt because of the refusal. They say the gifts just shows their deep gratitude on Vietnamese Teachers’ Day.

However, I think that the true relation between teachers and students is discovering new knowledge together and making progress together.

Vo Thi Minh Ha from Philosophy Faculty under the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanity

I never receive gifts from any students. Some students once brought money and gifts to my home, but I did not open the door. I know that they got angry because of this. But no students have come to my home since then.

When I was a student, we came to visit teachers on Teachers’ Day, but the gifts were very simple, just bouquets and fruit which teachers and students shared together.

Students nowadays are more pragmatic. They think that they should go to teachers’ houses with money.

I think that if students learn well and they are serious, they do not have to give money to teachers to beg for higher scores. Therefore, in my mind, I think that those students, who got to teachers’ houses with gifts and money, are bad students

Dr Nguyen Van Dung from the Journalism Academy and Communication

In modern times, money appears in all relations. Therefore, the envelope culture has appeared, which should be seen as inevitable. This is a culture phenomenon, therefore, it is very difficult to be abolished.

I think teachers need to adapt themselves to the circumstances. They need to decide what to receive. They should not receive envelopes from students looking for special assistance.

S. Khe – P.Sinh – T.Dung