Teachers wait for increased income mechanism
In May 2026, Hanoi teachers were once happy when the Hanoi Department of Education and Training (GDĐT) issued Document No. 2461/SGDĐT-TCCB on researching and advising on building additional income standards for officials of the capital's education sector.
Sharing with Lao Dong at that time, Ms. Ho Thi Xuan Thu - a teacher at Khuong Ha Primary, Secondary and High School - did not hide her joy, nervousness and even hope. For more than a year, she and more than 9,000 Hanoi teachers have persistently sent petitions to many places hoping for a fair policy, so that teachers can be paid additional income like other civil servants and public employees of the Capital.
However, until now we are still waiting. The prolonged waiting makes teachers feel sorry for themselves" - Ms. Thu shared with reporters on September 9. But she said she would continue to petition because she still has hope: "Respectfully, I hope leaders at all levels will decide to allow capital teachers to enjoy additional income like other civil servants".
Hoping for a clear roadmap
Sharing the same feeling, teacher Tran Viet Hong - Xuan Mai High School (Hanoi) - said that in nearly 30 years in the profession, she has gone through many opening seasons, witnessing many generations of students grow up and the changes of the Education sector.
I still love my profession, still teach, still be dedicated to students. But after the opening day, besides the joy of the new school year, I cannot help but feel sad when the policies that the teaching staff expects have not yet had a clear answer," Ms. Hong said.
According to Ms. Hong, teachers understand that for a policy to go into life, there needs to be a process and time. However, what the team wants at this time is not only to continue waiting but also to have official information and a clear roadmap.
We do not expect to be favored more than any other civil servant. We only hope that those who stand on the podium every day, directly performing the task of education - a field identified as a'top national policy' - will also be concerned and recognized by the city as worthy," she said.
Also related to the preparation for the additional income policy, Ms. Bui Thi Viet Anh - Yen Lang High School - said that in July 2026, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training has trained all schools' accountants to prepare for spending to increase income for teachers.
The teaching staff is very happy and excited to prepare for a new school year with many innovations. But the joy is'short-lived', the opening ceremony has passed but the teaching staff has not yet received an answer. We respectfully hope that city leaders will really pay attention to the lives of the teaching staff so that we have more motivation to contribute to the cause of education" - Ms. Viet Anh proposed.
Regarding the issue of spending on additional income regimes in Hanoi, in the past year, Lao Dong Newspaper has had many articles reflecting the reality that the income of teachers in the Capital still faces many difficulties compared to job requirements and living expenses are increasing. In particular, teachers are not paid additional income like other civil servants and public employees in the capital.
The articles also point out that, while the city is implementing a mechanism to pay additional income to officials, civil servants, and public employees according to specific policies permitted by the National Assembly, the teaching staff - the force directly performing the task of education innovation - has not been considered to enjoy appropriate policies, ensuring fairness and creating motivation for dedication.
After the series of articles, Hanoi has proposed amending the Capital Law to have a mechanism to consider expanding the subjects eligible for the policy of paying additional income.
Following that, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training officially assigned specialized units to advise on building norms for increased income expenditures. This is considered a positive signal, meeting the expectations of many teachers.
However, more than 3 months have passed since the implementation began, and teachers are still waiting.
