HCM City public schools face teacher shortage

Many districts in HCM City continue to face a teacher shortage at public schools, even though the 2019-20 academic year began two months ago.

A foreign teacher at an English class in Le Duc Tho Primary School in HCM City’s Go Vap District. — Photo www.sggp.org.vn

In late October, many districts announced the results of teacher recruitment for the academic year.

In particular, ninety-nine candidates, for example, were hired for schools in District 1 in late August.

In early October, the district’s Division of Education and Training announced that it would have to hire 15 more teachers, including nine for preschool, four for primary and two for secondary schools. As a result, the teachers started their jobs later than many others.

The vice principal of a public kindergarten in District 1 was quoted as saying in Sài Gòn Giải Phóng (Liberated Sài Gòn) newspaper that overcrowding, especially at pre-schools, required the hiring of additional teachers.

“However, the supplemental (teachers) will affect staff management when the schools start the new academic year," the vice principal said, adding that it was necessary to hire more people to reduce pressure on other teachers.

In Thu Duc District, only 173 teachers were recruited, but the district still needs 85 new teachers and staff.

An official from the district’s Division of Education and Training said that teacher shortages occurred every year, and that new teachers for this year would be recruited to meet demand.

In District 4, newly recruited teachers began working on October 25. Three days later, District 9 announced the results of recruitment of 116 candidates for its schools, which was later than previously scheduled.

The district had to extend the registration period because there were not enough applicants for the positions.

Tan Phu District also extended the registration period to attract more candidates.

Teacher recruitment is coordinated between the Education and Training Department and Interior Department, and depends on staff streamlining plans. Local authorities prioritise teacher recruitment for new schools and others that lack many teachers.

Intensive English courses

The city’s Department of Education and Training has instructed all high schools in districts to organise intensive English courses in the 2019-20 academic year.

Foreign teachers can be hired to teach one to two lessons of intensive English per week or take part in the entire English teaching programme.

Schools must hire Vietnamese teachers to assist foreign teachers in charge of the English courses, and they must have a teaching plan at the start of every school year to ensure teaching quality.

However, some schools have complained that the new requirements will cause difficulties in staff arrangement and salary payments.

Le Duy Tan, head of the city's education department’s Secondary and High School Education Division, said the schools will not use the State budget to pay salaries for teachers of these courses. “The schools must take full responsibility for the method, content and quality of teaching."

Because of low salaries, there is high turnover of English teachers, librarians and medical workers at public schools. Many teachers leave to work at private schools where they can earn a higher salary, causing a "brain drain".

The city's Department of Education and Training plans to ask the Ministry of Education and Training to help them settle problems related to teacher recruitment so that schools can be more proactive in looking for and hiring teachers.