Low-income Teachers in Vietnam Biggest City to Receive Allowance

Authorities of Vietnam’s southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City have decided to support low-income teachers with an added allowance for the next nine months, starting from April, 2011. The move aims to partly help local teachers cover increasing daily expenses and encourage their enthusiasm, the Saigon Giai Phong online newspaper reported April 19. Teachers whose basic salary is around VND2.1 million will receive the sum of VND200,000 (nearly $10) a month. The allowance will soar by 40% for personnel in the education sector in disadvantaged communes of the city’s suburban districts such as Can Gio, Nha Be, Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon and Cu Chi. The municipal People’s Committee also submitted its proposal to subsidize the salary increase to the Council Committee, under which, the subsidy will rise from VND500,000 to VND700,000 per head per month. Ho Chi Minh City is now home to 1.5 million students and more than 53,000 teachers and lecturers from over 1,628 schools and 30 colleges. The southern metropolis, however, is facing the trend that more teachers want to leave schools for other well-paid jobs. (www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn April 19)