In an interview with Lao Dong newspaper on the eve of Vietnamese Teachers' Day, November 20, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son mentioned the phrase "teacher's status".
The Minister said that the Draft Law on Teachers is being submitted to the National Assembly for its first comments, and if passed, it will make an important contribution to affirming and maintaining the position and at the same time enhancing the status of teachers in society.
Minister Nguyen Kim Son’s assessment is completely correct, because the “status of teachers” is built from many factors. First of all, it is the recognition of society for the “noblest of all noble professions” and the tradition of “father’s merit, mother’s kindness, teacher’s grace” that our ancestors have taught.
However, the point worth discussing here is that the treatment and investment for teachers is still not commensurate with the heavy role and responsibility they are shouldering.
This inadequacy is expected to be resolved with the determination of the Government and the Ministry of Education and Training, as shown in the proposal in the Draft Law on Teachers that "teachers' salaries will be given the highest priority in the administrative career salary scale system".
In particular, on November 18, during a meeting with representatives of teachers and education managers on the occasion of Vietnamese Teachers' Day, General Secretary To Lam emphasized a number of tasks that need to be done immediately, namely "Ensuring that the state budget for education accounts for at least 20% of the total state budget expenditure in accordance with the Party's Resolution".
However, the status of teachers does not only come from social recognition or remuneration but also depends largely on the awareness and initiative to "take" that status of each teacher at all levels of education.
Teachers need to work together to build an educational environment that is not only "happy" but also dignified, where each individual plays their role properly: teachers are teachers, students are students, and parents are parents.
This requires eliminating problems such as school violence, conflicts between teachers, students and parents, as well as uneducational behaviors that occur in schools.
The status of teachers also comes from the fact that, as stated by Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son at the meeting of teachers' representatives with General Secretary To Lam, teachers "must change old habits, ways of thinking, ways of thinking and doing, overcome limits to develop breakthroughs".
When teachers proactively change their thinking, working style and teaching methods, not only will their position improve, but the quality of education will also develop accordingly, better meeting the requirements and expectations of society!
