According to reports, after teachers received bonuses according to Decree 73 of the Government by bank transfer, the school principal requested everyone to return 4.4 million VND/person in cash.
This amount of money is explained to be for "teacher visits" and spending on some "sensitive" and external content of the school.
Notably, when teachers expressed concern about the high and unreasonable collection, they did not receive listening, but were also loudly criticized, even accused of being "greedy", considering the legal bonus of the State as money "falling from the sky".
From a legal perspective, bonuses according to Decree 73 are legal income, paid directly to employees by the State to recognize and encourage work efforts.
Therefore, no individual or organization has the right to force beneficiaries to pay back, and it is even more impossible to collect in cash, outside the books, which is not transparent.
This act is not only contrary to financial management regulations, but also shows signs of abuse of power, infringing on the legitimate rights of teachers.
But what is more noteworthy is the aspect of morality and pedagogical standards.
Preschool teachers are a group of low-income workers, whose lives are still difficult. For them, a few million VND bonus is not "excess money", but a precious sharing from the State, especially at the time when Tet Nguyen Dan is approaching.
Many people have been waiting for this amount of money to take care of their families and children, to have a less difficult Tet. Being forced to return almost the entire bonus amount is no different from taking away the joy and spiritual encouragement that are very rare for preschool teachers.
The principal, the head of the educational institution, must be a support, a person who understands and protects the legitimate rights of teachers.
When the head underestimates teachers' salaries and bonuses, when disrespectful and imposing words are used in meetings, lessons about love will become cliché.
One thing to discuss is that the pedagogical environment cannot have financial "vague zones", and it is even more impossible to take the sacrifice of teachers as a source to serve relationships and external forms.
Collecting bonuses from teachers is an act that is both illegal and unethical, unacceptable in the pedagogical environment.
Returning money is only a step to overcome immediate consequences; what is more necessary is to restore trust and rectify discipline in the educational environment, a place that nurtures kindness, fairness and humanity.
