Starting salary is only 60,000 VND/month but the passion for the job is always burning
In August 1991, teacher Ngo Hong Giang, after graduating, started working at Song Lieu Secondary School (old Thuan Thanh District, Bac Ninh Province). At that time, the Vietnamese education system still faced many difficulties, from facilities to teachers' lives and income.
I remember as printing the first month's salary of only 60,000 VND, but the work was very hard, the entire lesson plan had to be prepared by hand, limited documents, etc. There were nights when teachers stayed up until 1-2 am to prepare lessons for many subjects, both working and studying, while exploring to improve teaching methods to make lessons more lively for students Ms. Giang recalled her old memories.
In 1993, she transferred to Thach Ban Secondary School (Hanoi city). At the new school, she is not afraid of difficulties or hardships, ready to accept all assigned tasks, from group activities to the position of Head of the Literature Professional Group.
In 2006, she won the city-level excellent teacher award and since then, has collaborated with the Hanoi Department of Education and Training in many professional tasks such as inspection, building banks for the exam.
She shared her experiences in teaching and professional initiatives with her colleagues, with the desire to improve the quality of teaching throughout the school.
Feeling that students need love and strictness
Having been in the profession for 34 years, from the position of teacher to present as an education manager, Associate Professor Ngo Hong Giang cannot fully count how many generations of students she has guided to adulthood, but she remembers most the time she worked as a homeroom teacher at Thach Ban Secondary School.
At that time, there was 1 student in the class who often violated his flaws and was assessed by many teachers as "exceptional". With her dedication and love for her students, the young Hong Giang teacher took the time to visit students' homes to learn about family circumstances and ask why the students violated their shortcomings to coordinate with the family to discipline them.
In high school, this student still violated his shortcomings and had to be sent to a reform camp. The day I left the camp, the first person I met was my old high school teacher. I met and thanked her, because during my time at the reform camp, I found her teachings in the past.
I was very touched that day. A student that many people think is difficult to approach and causes many problems for teachers, but I really appreciate it because after so many years, he has absorbed and remembered my teachings" - Ms. Giang recalled.
Ms. Giang believes that secondary school students cannot avoid their unruly and mischievous actions. But each student has lovely and precious qualities.
"For unruly students, to transform them, it is first of all through love, but if they continue to love and encourage others without being strict, they will not succeed. When students make mistakes, teachers need to tell students like a mother raising her child Ms. Giang shared.
In addition to her enthusiasm and passion to transform the miserable students, the young teacher Hong Giang also sponsored a case of a student in special circumstances who was abandoned by her family. During 4 years of junior high school, she helped him pay expenses (except for tuition supported by the school). Up to now, this student is a final year pedagogical student. Always following her student's learning journey, Ms. Giang knows that her love has motivated and inspired her to pursue a path of education.
Doing the job with all your heart and love for the job, sweet fruits will come
Having worked for many years in the education sector, going through many difficult and ups and downs, Associate Professor Ngo Hong Giang has never set goals, achievements, or certificates of merit as a destination. She always believes that doing her job, loving her job, starting from the heart, then the results will come.
Her contributions to the education sector have been recognized by the Party and the State. In 2021, she received the title of Excellent Teacher and in 2025, she was awarded a certificate of merit by the Prime Minister for her persistent contributions to the cause of education.
However, she modestly said that these achievements were not achieved by my personal efforts, but by the consensus of both the teaching staff and the students.
"These titles are both a source of pride and a reminder, I must be responsible for myself, and how to be worthy of the trust that the state has given me" - Ms. Giang expressed.
After 34 years of working in the education sector, through all ups and downs, witnessing many changes in the education sector, Ms. Giang believes that the lives of teachers today have changed a lot, the facilities and classrooms have become much more spacious.
In the context of the country's development and integration, a series of decisions have been implemented, especially Resolution 71 of the Politburo issued - clearly demonstrating the Party and State's concern for education and training. This is the motivation for millions of teachers to work with peace of mind and stick with the profession.
"I hope the decisions will be implemented soon, put into practice, and create motivation for the teaching staff. In addition, students currently have a lot of access to information technology, so there are many challenges for teachers and students. I hope society will see teachers with a more beautiful and realistic image because each teacher, with their efforts and love for the profession, will produce generations of decent and civilized citizens, contributing to the development of the country" - Ms. Giang said.
