“After 55 years old, I can't dance, sing, or exercise continuously?”

Proposal for preschool teachers to retire 5 years earlier than regulations

Before and after the sessions of the 15th National Assembly, voters from provinces and cities made many recommendations and proposals, many of which were related to the education sector. One of the issues that voters were very interested in was reducing the retirement age for preschool teachers.

After the 4th session and the 2nd extraordinary session of the 15th National Assembly, voters of Binh Dinh and Lao Cai provinces submitted a petition to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs regarding the retirement age of preschool teachers.

Accordingly, voters expressed that preschool teachers must be active, agile and healthy to ensure good care and teaching of children to dance and sing. At the same time, teachers must make their own models and tools to serve the teaching of children. Therefore, increasing the retirement age for preschool teachers to 60 years old is not appropriate. Through the petition, voters hope that the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs will study, review and soon develop a circular guiding the determination of the list of special occupations and jobs. In particular, there is attention to adding preschool teachers to the list of special occupations.

In addition, voters suggested considering regulations allowing preschool teachers to retire at least 5 years earlier than the general retirement age regulations in the 2019 Labor Code. The appropriate option is for this group to retire at the age of 55.

Before the 6th session of the 15th National Assembly, voters in Hai Phong province also proposed that the Government consider extending the retirement age after 55 years old for preschool teachers because this is a very stressful job, requiring teachers to be in good health to do it.

Voters in Dak Lak recently submitted a petition to the 7th session of the 15th National Assembly, requesting consideration of adding preschool teachers and primary school teachers to the list of hazardous and arduous occupations, and at the same time having appropriate policies to support those working in this industry and profession to feel secure in their work and stay with the industry and profession for a long time.

Kindergarten teachers often have to leave early and come home late. Illustration: Phuong Thanh

Responding to voters' petitions, the Ministry of Education and Training said, For preschool teachers and primary school teachers, the Labor Code stipulates that employees who meet the conditions for social insurance payment time as prescribed by the law on social insurance are entitled to pension; employees whose working capacity is reduced, who do particularly heavy, toxic, or dangerous work, or who work in mountainous, remote, border, or island areas on the list prescribed by the Government may retire at a lower age than prescribed. Preschool teachers, primary school teachers, as well as civil servants and employees, must comply with this regulation.

Based on the specific characteristics of preschool education, the Ministry of Education and Training has proposed that the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs add to the list of arduous, toxic, dangerous jobs and especially arduous, toxic, dangerous jobs for preschool teachers (Official Dispatch No. 6586/BGDĐT-NGCBQLGD dated December 15, 2022 providing comments on the draft Circular promulgating the List of arduous, toxic, dangerous jobs and especially arduous, toxic, dangerous jobs) to have a basis for proposing to reduce the retirement age of preschool teachers compared to the regulations.

The Ministry of Education and Training added that currently, the draft Law on Teachers (the Ministry of Education and Training is assigned to develop) posted on the Ministry of Education and Training's information portal and the Government's information portal has proposed that preschool teachers be allowed to retire 5 years earlier than the current regulation (ie 55 years old).

Teacher looking forward to retiring at 55

Sharing with Dan Viet , Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen Oanh, a preschool teacher in Cao Xa commune, Lam Thao district, Phu Tho province, said that up to now, she has been attached to the profession of "coaxing children" for nearly 30 years. Ms. Oanh really hopes to reduce the retirement age because at this age, she feels that she is no longer as active as before.

“Our working day starts at 7am and ends around 5pm after dropping off the children. After nearly 30 years of working late and leaving early, I feel like my body is no longer as flexible as before. Many days, my bones and joints ache and I just want to end my working day. At this age, I also feel quite sluggish. After 55 years old, we cannot dance, sing, or exercise continuously,” Ms. Oanh shared.

A preschool teacher in Hanoi said that being a preschool teacher is a job that not only requires good health but also quick reflexes. Every day, teachers have to organize activities to teach children, dance, sing, exercise, take care of their eating, sleeping, hygiene, and at the same time ensure the safety of an average of about 30 children under 6 years old for 8-10 hours. With such work intensity and working hours, teachers after 55 years old are no longer in good health, making it very difficult to carry out their tasks, not to mention that teachers also have to "take advantage" of their free time to make teaching aids, participate in collective activities, competitions, etc.

"I also hope to contribute my voice to the Government and agencies to reduce the retirement age for preschool teachers to 55. With such a difficult job, I hope that preschool teaching is a difficult and toxic profession," said this teacher.

The Vietnam Education Trade Union conducted a survey of administrators and preschool teachers who directly teach, and the survey results in 2020 showed that up to 96% of people chose the retirement age to be 55 years old. Illustration photo: NT

In fact, for many years, preschool teachers have requested to retire earlier than the general regulations in the Labor Code.

The Vietnam Education Trade Union conducted a survey of administrators and preschool teachers who directly teach, and the survey results in 2020 showed that up to 96% of people chose the retirement age to be 55 years old, only 4% chose the retirement age to be 60 years old.

Regarding the proposal that preschool teachers should retire at the age of 55, sharing with the press, Dr. Vu Minh Duc, Director of the Department of Teachers and Educational Personnel Management, Ministry of Education and Training, said that firstly, the regulation of the retirement age of preschool teachers 5 years earlier meets the wishes and aspirations of the preschool teaching staff.

Second, such research, together with other scientific bases, simultaneously confirms that teachers retiring at the age of 55 is appropriate and suitable for the health and working conditions of preschool teachers, ensuring the health of workers.

“When teachers are at such an old age, it is difficult to move with the children. Even when they see the children fall, they cannot react in time to catch them and can cause unsafe conditions for the children,” said Dr. Vu Minh Duc.

Source: https://danviet.vn/de-xuat-giao-vien-mam-non-duoc-nghi-huu-truoc-5-nam-sau-55-tuoi-toi-dau-the-mua-hat-van-dong-lien-tuc-duoc-20241029161144748.htm