Vietnam Lacks 26,000 High School Teachers

Vietnam is now in shortage of 26,000 high school teachers, badly affecting the training quality at these schools, said the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City saw the highest shortage rate, the Ha Noi Moi newspaper reported June 24, citing the MoET. The ministry has asked cities and provinces to soon work out a plan on teacher recruitment so as to improve the situation and ensure the training quality. Currently, the country has 134,000 teachers and 3.1 million students at high schools.  In an effort to encourage teachers’ enthusiasm, Vietnam will raise monthly salary for teachers and educational staff by 1.6 times in 2014. Under the scheme, monthly salary of high school teachers will be increased to VND6.72 million ($397.6) from 4.19 million ($247.9).