Nghe An demands teachers return more than 10 billion VND in allowances

Nghe An Department of Education sent 281 principals, vice principals and teachers to work on secondment, spending more than 10 billion in allowances, but now must withdraw them because this amount is against regulations.

The above information was given by Mr. Bui Dinh Long, Vice Chairman of Nghe An province, at a press conference on the province's socio-economic situation in 2023, on the afternoon of January 4.

"Based on the inspection's conclusion, anything paid in violation of regulations must be recovered," he said.

According to authorities, teachers were seconded to work in the Department of Education and Training in accordance with regulations. However, because they are no longer teaching, they are not entitled to teacher allowances. Meanwhile, localities in Nghe An have spent more than VND2 billion on this amount in 2021 and 2022 for 281 people.

Press conference on the afternoon of January 4 of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee. Photo: Duc Hung — Press conference on the afternoon of January 4 of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee. Photo: *Duc Hung*

Since 2012, due to a lack of specialists working at the Department of Education and Training, the People's Committee of Nghe An province has directed districts and towns to send teachers to work at the Department on secondment, each unit receiving 6-8 people.

Many principals, vice principals, and teachers at schools have been transferred to the Department to work as specialists. At first, they were given the same income as at school (including salary, job incentives, seniority allowance, and position allowance if any). After 6 months, those who were school leaders had their position allowance cut, but the remaining payments were still made.

By 2018, the Nghe An Department of Finance said that the Prime Minister's decision to retain the regime for teachers assigned to work in educational management had expired since May 2015. Therefore, the payment of allowances to seconded teachers was no longer in accordance with regulations. The Department recommended that the Provincial People's Committee cancel or abolish the previous document, and direct districts and towns to stop paying preferential allowances and seniority allowances to seconded teachers.

In August 2019, the Provincial People's Committee's directive on implementing the school year's tasks clearly stated that seconded education officials are entitled to the same allowances as those working at schools in the central area. The Department of Finance continued to make recommendations, saying that this was incorrect, and suggested stopping all allowances. However, some places still paid.

At the end of 2022, Nghe An Provincial Inspectorate discovered a number of violations in this regard. After reviewing, the Department of Finance proposed to recover more than 10 billion VND spent on 281 people on secondment in 2021 and 2022 in 19 districts and towns. Of which, Ky Son district had to collect the most with nearly 2 billion VND, Thanh Chuong, Quy Chau, and Tuong Duong each about 1 billion VND.

In response, 15 districts requested not to collect this amount because they believed that seconded teachers were at a disadvantage compared to their colleagues.

Currently, teachers receive a salary of 3.8-12.2 million VND/month, depending on the level of education and rank. In addition to their salary, they may receive one or more allowances such as: seniority allowance (5% after 5 years of work, 1% added each year), career incentives (25-50%), position allowance, seniority allowance beyond the framework, special allowances for teachers working in areas with particularly difficult conditions.

Meanwhile, when they return to the Department of Education and Training, they receive salaries like civil servants and public employees, without the above allowances.

Seconded teachers working at the Department of Education and Training of Dien Chau district. Photo: Hung Le — Seconded teachers working at the Department of Education and Training of Dien Chau district. Photo: *Hung Le*

After the decision to withdraw the allowance, in some districts, teachers on secondment simultaneously requested to return to school, causing the education department to lack enough staff to work, causing work delays in some places. The Education and Training Department of Anh Son, Tuong Duong, Ky Son, Quy Hop districts... only had 3-4 people left, while according to the Department's request, the number needed was 12-15 positions.

Nghe An currently has about 1,500 schools and more than 1,170 satellite schools. This is one of the localities with large and scattered schools and classes, making management difficult.

Duc Hung

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