Teachers who have never received a Tet bonus
This spring, the atmosphere at schools in the mountainous areas has become more bustling and warmer than ever. For the first time in decades of work, many teachers here have received Tet bonuses thanks to Decree No. 73 of the Government.
Joy and emotion were evident on the faces of the teachers who stayed in the villages to spread knowledge.
After nearly 20 years working in primary and secondary schools in remote areas of Quynh Nhai district, Son La province, teacher Pham Trung Thong has never heard of a Tet bonus.
The female teacher shared: "After a hard year, at the end of the year, everyone hopes to receive something to encourage them. But our school doesn't have a Tet bonus, not even a small gift package."
According to many teachers in the highlands, many of them have to borrow money to return home for Tet, because their December salary is often used to cover expenses for the entire month of January.
Not only are there no bonuses, other support such as allowances and fuel costs are also not enough to compensate for the hardships of teachers in mountainous areas. Meanwhile, prices in the highlands are often much more expensive than in the lowlands, making their lives even more difficult.
Working at a secondary school in the district, teacher Dang Thi Hai (name has been changed) confided: "I have been working here for 23 years and have been assigned to schools in the most remote areas of the district. There are even areas without roads or electricity, so it takes us 3-4 hours to get from home to the school.
There were cold days, when we were walking home from school at dusk, and unfortunately we tripped over a rock and fell in the middle of the road. It was both painful and humiliating, but we never thought of giving up.
Despite all the hard work, according to this female teacher, in all those years, they have never received a Tet bonus.
"Therefore, the issuance of Decree 73 has given teachers in remote areas hope to stick with their profession. It is also the first year we know what a Tet bonus is," said Ms. Hai.
Joy on the eve of the new year
2024 is the first year that officials, civil servants and public employees nationwide will receive a 30% salary increase, with the basic salary increasing to 2.34 million VND. In particular, teachers will still retain their allowances, including seniority allowances.
In addition, Decree 73 stipulates salary levels and bonus regimes for civil servants, public employees and military personnel, issued by the Government at the end of June 2024. In which, bonuses are calculated based on outstanding achievements and results of annual assessment and classification of task completion.
The bonus fund is equal to 10% of the total salary fund (excluding allowances). This is the first time that civil servants and public employees have this amount.
Teacher Thong said: "If calculated according to Decree 73, I expect to receive nearly 7 million VND. This is the first time we have a Tet bonus, the amount is not too much but it also helps us cover our living expenses and buy many household items."
Not only Ms. Thong, many teachers expressed their excitement about this bonus: "Previously, teachers in mountainous areas only hoped to have enough salary to cover their living expenses. Now that we receive the Tet bonus, we feel warmer, as if our efforts have been recognized by society."
Mr. Tran Van Chien - Principal of Na Khoang Ethnic Minority Boarding Secondary School (Muong Va Commune, Sop Cop District, Son La Province) - said: "Every year, when Tet comes, the school tries to balance the savings to give Tet bonuses to teachers. Although it is not much, it is still to encourage the teachers after a year of hard work. However, it is not much, only from 300,000 - 500,000 VND per teacher".
"Decree 73 has recognized the efforts of civil servants and public employees, especially teachers in mountainous areas. It is not only a material gift but also a word of gratitude and encouragement for us," said Mr. Chien.
This spring, joy seems to be more complete for teachers in the mountainous areas. Cheerful laughter echoes throughout the villages, blending with the colors of spring coming.
