Series of Resolutions to create momentum for education in mountainous areas of Quang Nam

This policy is assessed by the Ministry of Education and Training as necessary and appropriate, in the context that the National Assembly is considering promulgating the Law on Teachers, with the hope that after the law is promulgated, the image and standards of teachers will be respected and honored by society, worthy of the mission of educating people; and the State needs to have appropriate policies and incentives to attract talented and dedicated people to participate in the career of educating people.

Solving the problem of teacher shortage in mountainous areas

According to the People's Committee of Quang Nam province, from 2019 to now, the mountainous education sector of the province has had more than 530 officials transferred to other jobs, more than 90 officials have resigned. The rate of education officials recruited to work in mountainous districts, on average, is only over 50%.

In the 2024-2025 school year, the Quang Nam education sector still has 2,387 unused positions and must fill the gap with contract teachers.

For many years, the mountainous district of Nam Tra My has always been struggling to find teachers because the school system is scattered in remote villages and hamlets, transportation is difficult, socio-economic conditions are limited, and teachers who are recruited for a while then ask to return to the plains, so there is a constant shortage.

“Improving the treatment of teachers in mountainous areas is very necessary to retain them in the long term, especially for young teachers who have just graduated from school, whose salaries are still very low. In addition, I think it is necessary to focus on building local resources.

Recently, Nam Tra My district has sent 33 students to study at the selection level to fundamentally solve the problem of teacher shortage in mountainous areas" - said Mr. Nguyen Dang Thuan - Head of the Department of Education and Training of Nam Tra My district.

Director of the Quang Nam Department of Education and Training, Thai Viet Tuong, said that the Department has recently organized a recruitment exam for local human resources in mountainous areas to gradually increase the number of local teachers. This helps limit the rotation of teachers from the plains to the mountains.

Many preferential policies for mountainous areas

On November 20, Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee Le Van Dung said that he had just signed an official dispatch to register 36 lists of contents to be submitted to the 10th Provincial People's Council at the regular meeting at the end of 2024.

Notably, the draft Resolution stipulates support policies for teachers and civil servants working in mountainous districts for the period 2025-2026.

The draft proposes an initial support level of 50 - 100 million VND to attract teachers to work in mountainous areas and monthly living allowance of 1.2 - 1.8 million VND, applicable in the following areas: Bac Tra My, Nam Tra My, Dong Giang, Nam Giang, Tay Giang, Phuoc Son.

Previously, the People's Council of Quang Nam province also passed two important resolutions: Resolution 17/2022, allocating about 151 billion VND from the budget to support school milk for more than 145,000 preschool and primary school students in communes of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas (DTTS - MN), for 4 years from 2022 - 2026; and Resolution 26/2024 on 100% exemption of tuition fees for preschool children and primary school students, for the 2 school years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, totaling more than 158 billion VND.

Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee Le Van Dung assessed that these are very humane policies, in line with the people's wishes, aiming to share difficulties, create momentum for education in ethnic minority and mountainous areas to develop sustainably, ensure social security, and narrow the gap with the plains.