Chair of the Economic and Financial Committee Phan Van Mai has argued for a salaries two or three times higher to recruit the most outstanding individuals.

The National Assembly Standing Committee has provided feedback on the revision of the draft Teachers Law. At the discussions at the 9th National Assembly session, some deputies requested to clarify teachers’ salaries and allowances, ensuring they are the highest in the civil servant’s salary scale, aligned with the salary reform policy. 

Chair of the National Assembly’s Culture and Social Affairs Committee Nguyen Dac Vinh noted that teachers at public education establishments are public employees, therefore, their salaries are set based on the administrative salary scale. Regulating that teachers receive the highest salary and allowances among public employees aligns with the Party policy and is generally consistent with Resolution 27 on salary and allowance reform.

However, ensuring salary fairness between private and public sector teachers could impact education socialization policies and violate the voluntary and autonomous principles of private educational institutions. Thus, the draft law has been revised, stipulating that the salaries of teachers at non-state schools are to be set in accordance with the laws on labor.

The draft law authorizes the Government to detail policies supporting teachers, including housing and travel expense support, as well as policies to attract and value teachers.

Mai noted that the Politburo is directing the development of two key resolutions on education and healthcare. He emphasized that without clear legal frameworks and national policies to recruit the best individuals as teachers and doctors, alongside suitable environments and mechanisms for them to fulfill their roles, a society with good values cannot be achieved.

He argued that teachers’ salaries should not just be set at the highest scale but should be doubled or tripled to truly attract the most exceptional talent.

“We must think about what conditions we should create to train teachers who will educate our children and the nation’s future generations,” Phan Van Mai said. He suggested that, even if not immediately included in the law, ensuring teachers are placed at the highest salary scale must be further concretized by the Government.

He added that the upcoming Politburo resolution should clearly affirm the role of teachers and doctors, establishing strong policies and mechanisms to recruit the best talent for these fields.

Meanwhile, National Assembly Vice Chair Tran Quang Phuong noted that if teachers’ salaries are doubled or tripled, it would impact the state budget for education. “The draft law already reflects the State and society’s favoritism toward teachers, with the key being to attract talent,” he stated.

Tran Thuong