A teacher and her students at the Hoa Ban Kindergarten in Mường Và Commune, Sốp Cộp District, in the northern mountainous province of Sơn La. — VNA/VNS Photo Hữu Quyết

SƠN LA — Preschool teachers in the mountainous northern province of Sơn La have welcomed a proposal from the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) that would see their stipends doubled.

The proposal would bump their allowances from 35 to 70 per cent of their monthly salary, according to a proposal from the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET).

The National Assembly (NA) and the Government will consider the proposal.

Teachers at the Hoa Phượng Đỏ Kindergarten in Sốp Cộp Commune told the Lao Động (Labour) newspaper that the additional income was not large, but it would reduce the burden on teachers.

It will help them have more motivation to love the profession and the school.

Nguyễn Thị Dinh, 32, has worked at the Hoa Phượng Đỏ Kindergarten for eight years.

She said teaching at preschools in remote areas was tough work. They must travel far on roads full of obstacles.

Every day, Dinh must get up at 5 am to go to school, which is more than 20km from the province's centre.

The cost of petrol for travel and expenses for living is high, so she said that with a monthly salary of just VNĐ6.8 million (US$247) a month, teachers must be very frugal too.

Similarly, Lò Thị Phong, 35, works at the Họa Mi Kindergarten in Dồm Cang Commune, Sốp Cộp District. Phong has worked at the school for more than ten years.

With the allowance increase to 70 per cent of her monthly salary, she will get an additional VNĐ2 million ($80) per month.

"With prices soaring at the moment, my salary of VNĐ7 million ($280) is not enough to live on. Sometimes I have to borrow money. So if the proposal is approved, that would be great," said Phong.

In Sông Mã District, Vì Thị Thùy, 29, works at the Hoa Hồng Kindergarten in Chiềng Khương Commune, also could not hide her joy at the thought of her allowance increasing.

Thùy said that teaching in the area was hard work because of language differences and difficulty getting to school. In some places, teachers have to cross streams to go to school as there are no bridges.

Thùy added that her present income was not enough for daily life.

Cầm Thị Thuận, head of the Hoa Phượng Đỏ Kindergarten, said that the school has nearly 70 teachers; all of them are very happy with the proposal.

If it becomes a reality, it will greatly encourage teachers.

"We hope that the Government will consider and soon approve the increase of allowances for preschool teachers, especially teachers working in poor, remote areas. Furthermore, we would like to thank the MoET for recommending the increase," said Thuận.

Phan Thanh Lăng, deputy chairman of the Sốp Cộp District Labour Federation, said that the district is a border district with a difficult economic situation.

Most preschool teachers had hard lives.

"We hope the allowance increase will come true so that teachers can ensure their lives and work with peace of mind," said Lăng.

At the discussion session on the socio-economic situation and State budget at the fourth session of the 15th NA, Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Kim Sơn said that the number of teachers quitting their jobs is highest at the preschool level, accounting for 40 per cent.

Therefore, the MoET recommends the NA and the Government consider increasing the allowance for preschool teachers from 35 per cent to 70 per cent of their salary. — VNS