Many cases of violence in independent classes: Responsibility and love are not enough

Several recent cases of child abuse have caused public outrage, notably many of which occurred in private, independent classrooms.

The recent case of child abuse at the Con Cung family nursery in Que My commune, Que Son district, Quang Nam province has caused outrage. The nursery owner has been detained.

PHOTO: CUT FROM CAMERA

The preliminary report of the representative of the Department of Preschool Education, Ministry of Education and Training on April 10 at the consultation workshop on solutions to develop the Project "Improving the quality of preschool education in urban areas and industrial parks in the period of 2025-2030, with a vision to 2045" showed that the country has 15,256 public, private, and non-public preschools and 17,444 independent preschools. Private independent preschools still lack playgrounds, supplies, toys, and minimum equipment that do not meet the requirements to implement the preschool education program (62%). There are still 18% of private independent preschools that have not met the standards for safe schools, thus posing many potential risks to children's safety.

Difficulties and limitations remain in the team, quantity and quality of preschool teachers. Currently, there are 33,000 preschool teachers nationwide who have not met the training standards prescribed by the 2019 Education Law (at least a college degree in preschool education). The report at the workshop acknowledged the fact that the salary policy for preschool teachers is not commensurate with their professional activities, low income, many teachers quit their jobs. In addition, some teachers lack experience in professional activities, which poses a risk of not ensuring safety for children.

Improve quality, need training standards and need love and responsibility

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thi Kim Chi emphasized this at the workshop on April 10. Ms. Chi said that in preschool education, non-public facilities are clearly of interest to investors. At the same time, choosing to let their children study in independent classes is a choice, a solution of many parents in urban areas and industrial zones (because it is convenient for parents' working hours, from early morning to late afternoon, or they can look after children on weekends...). However, there are two requirements that need to be emphasized to management agencies, how to ensure compliance with all regulations before being licensed; and how to develop private independent preschools, improve quality, and ensure absolute safety for children, especially after many shocking child abuse cases in public opinion in recent times.

Firstly, according to Ms. Chi, it is necessary to consult on policies and mechanisms to support investors in terms of policies and legal aspects so that investors can feel secure and ready to invest. A model that has been effectively implemented in many countries is public investment, private operation (PPP) in which the state allocates land, public assets, and public facilities. Regular expenses such as salaries and operating costs are paid by investors. To achieve this, it is necessary to have clear policies and mechanisms, a legal framework, strict management from the state, and open operations. It is not difficult for investors but still tightly and effectively managed by the state, providing a high-quality educational environment for learners.

Second, according to Ms. Chi, it is necessary to control the quality of teachers and staff, ensuring absolute safety for children in private independent classes. It is necessary to improve the quality of teachers and caregivers, and pay attention to raising teacher standards. However, more important is love for children.

The qualifications of the team are important, but more important are love, responsibility, and skills in handling unexpected situations, which must be regularly trained, such as when a child is choking on a foreign object or has his head submerged in a basin of water, teachers and staff must do their best to save the child as quickly as possible... According to Ms. Chi, localities need to continue to advise on policies, how to provide more support for teachers and staff of private independent nursery groups, as well as specific policies for each locality.

Experts and managers in charge of preschool education discussed at a workshop to consult on solutions to develop a project to improve the quality of preschool education in urban areas and industrial parks in the 2025-2030 period, with a vision to 2045, on April 10.

PHOTO: THUY HANG

Non-public preschool teachers 'job-hopping' continuously, many people are worried

The salary of public preschool teachers is currently calculated based on coefficients, grades, seniority, and position allowances (if any). In some provinces and localities with special characteristics, such as Ho Chi Minh City, public preschool teachers have additional income (also known by many teachers as Resolution 08 money).

Non-public preschool teachers' salaries are paid according to the labor contract and agreement between the teacher and the school owner - investor of that preschool.

Preschool teachers in private and public institutions are supported according to Decree 105/2020/ND-CP of the Government regulating policies for developing preschool education.

However, at many conferences, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City proposed that, regarding Decree 105/2020/ND-CP, it is necessary to adjust the rate of children of workers and laborers working in industrial parks who are entitled to policies at preschools, and support preschool teachers in private and public types (from 30% to 20%), so that more non-public preschool teachers are supported.

An official in charge of an education and training department in Ho Chi Minh City said that there is a reality of frequent job-hopping in non-public preschools. There are cases where preschool teachers who are working in one place, find that the salary, welfare policies, and benefits of another facility are better, immediately quit their jobs and move to a new workplace. Many owners of independent and private preschools in Ho Chi Minh City also confide that in the context of economic difficulties, high rental costs, and difficult enrollment, maintaining the operation of independent and private classrooms and private preschools is facing many difficulties.

In Ho Chi Minh City, there are currently 1,228 kindergartens, of which 530 are non-public kindergartens; the whole city has 2,024 independent kindergartens.

Increased attention to non-public preschools

According to the draft project "Improving the quality of preschool education in urban areas and industrial zones in the period of 2025-2030, with a vision to 2045" of the Ministry of Education and Training, there are 6 groups of solutions mentioned. Among them, there are many solutions aimed at developing non-public preschool education, including private independent classes.

Such as a group of solutions to diversify types and models of preschool education suitable for the characteristics of urban areas and industrial parks (in which, in the non-public type, support will be provided to improve the quality of private independent nursery groups, policies to support the reception of children from 3 to 36 months old); a group of solutions to improve the quality of nurturing, caring for, and educating children from 3 to 36 months old who are children of workers and laborers working in industrial parks (including organizing professional training for teachers; financial support from the local budget for private teachers)... Notably, the group of solutions to promote the socialization of education, to encourage businesses to contribute and build preschools, and encourage investors to be willing to invest in the field of preschool education.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhieu-vu-bao-hanh-o-nhom-lop-doc-lap-trach-nhiem-tinh-yeu-thuong-chua-du-185250415120738254.htm