Many localities collect back the wrongly spent allowances. The Central agencies have provided guidance for the period from May 2021 onwards, Dak Lak province has 184 communes, wards and towns in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. From June 4, 2021 onwards, according to Decision No. 861, period 2021 - 2025, Dak Lak province has 130/184 communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas (reduced by 54 communes). For example, in Buon Ho town, 8/12 communes are in ethnic minority and mountainous areas (reduced by 4 communes). However, in reality, from June 2021 to December 31, 2023, the People's Committee of Buon Ho town still paid preferential allowances at the level in mountainous areas to all teachers teaching at schools located in the area, which is not in accordance with regulations. The incorrect payment caused a loss of more than 5.6 billion VND to the state budget.
In addition to Buon Ho town, through a survey at some district-level units, the payment of allowances at the preferential level for mountainous areas to all teachers teaching at schools is not in accordance with regulations.
From there, the Dak Lak Provincial Inspectorate reported and requested the Chairman of the Dak Lak Provincial People's Committee to agree to recover the amount of money spent incorrectly in localities to submit to the State budget. Currently, many localities in Dak Lak province have developed plans to recover the amount of money spent incorrectly. In M'Drak district, there are 4 communes and towns that must collect preferential allowances. In Ea Kar district, the Finance - Planning Department has also requested schools in 4 communes and towns to estimate the recovery...
Need for a harmonious collection plan
In the context of rising prices, the increase in basic salary from July 1, 2024 has helped teachers in Dak Lak province feel excited because they have more income to cover their living expenses. However, the joy of salary increase has just come, many teachers in this locality are having to accept the sadness of having their previously received preferential allowances revoked.
Specifically, at the end of August 2024, many authorities in Dak Lak province issued notices to collect the incorrect payment of preferential allowances for teachers. The period of incorrect payment to be recovered is from the effective date of Decision (No. 861/QD-TTg) dated June 4, 2021 of the Prime Minister until August 2024.
Ms. Thuy (character's name has been changed), a teacher working at a kindergarten in a remote area of Krong Nang district. In previous years, when working in the education sector, Ms. Thuy received regional preferential allowances. According to Ms. Thuy, in early July 2024, Ms. Thuy, like many other teachers, was happy to receive a salary increase, with a total income of more than 10 million VND/month. But the joy did not last long, as in early September, Ms. Thuy had nearly 1 million VND deducted from the preferential allowances she received in previous years.
“This collection process will last until all the allowances are deducted. Previously, I thought the allowances were mine so I spent them all to take care of my life. Who would have thought that today, I would have to collect the income that I was receiving. This has affected the calculations in life that my family had planned. The person who made the wrong payment needs to be held responsible,” said Ms. Thuy.
The principal of the school where Ms. Thuy works is also being charged the above amount. The highest deduction is up to 1.8 million VND/month, this amount is deducted from the actual salary.
Similarly, Ms. Dung (name changed), a primary school teacher in Krong Pak district, has been teaching for nearly 20 years. Although she completed her degree in 2012, she still receives an intermediate salary, so her monthly income is only over 9 million VND. With this salary, Ms. Dung can only cover her family's daily expenses and has no surplus. After the news of her allowance being withdrawn, Ms. Dung and her husband were worried about where to get the money to pay while the cost of living is getting more and more expensive, and the family had already spent the money they received for previous wrongful payments on their daily expenses.
Mr. Tran Vo Toan - Head of the Department of Education and Training of Krong Nang district - shared: “The district has a total of 4 communes with teachers who are subject to the collection of allowances. Personally, I see many people in difficult circumstances, remote areas, difficult to travel, mainly living on salary, without additional income. The lowest-ranking teacher is also subject to collection of about 30 million VND received from 2021 to 2023. Considering that, the Department of Education and Training and the People's Committee of Dak Lak province need to have a roadmap and plan to collect the wrongly spent allowances in a harmonious and reasonable manner so that teachers have the conditions to balance their finances and spending. Because if the authorities collect in a hurry, it will be very difficult for many cases to cope because their families are in difficulty and lacking in all aspects."
