How much should teachers be paid?

This is lower than the country's per capita income of $81,695 (World Bank, 2023).

It is noteworthy that UCLA, a prestigious school ranked number one among U.S. public universities, charges out-of-state and international students $46,000 for an academic year.

Recently professors and lecturers at the University of Central Florida protested the lack of salary raises, saying their pay was not enough to cover basic living costs, especially as housing prices and living expenses have skyrocketed. Students have joined and supported these protests.

Florida State has not raised its public universities' tuition for over 10 years. UCF's out-of-state tuition is only $22,000 per year, significantly lower than the $60,000 charged by comparable private universities.

Teachers' salaries have always been a sensitive issue. How much is enough? Can teachers live on their salaries? Does society expect teachers to hold multiple jobs just to make ends meet?

Teaching is not a path to wealth. It is a profession meant to serve society, with human development as its measure of success.

Some argue that teachers should be paid according to market supply and demand.

While this may apply to private universities, public ones would have to charge prohibitive tuition fees if teachers' salaries were market-driven. If that happens, many families will not be able to send their children to school.

In Vietnam, public school tuition remains nominal, thanks to government support. Public schools charge just VND4-6 million ($156-238) per year, while private schools can charge hundreds of millions for the same curriculum. How many families can afford such high tuitions?

A public school teacher in HCMC, September 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Around the world, teachers who work in public schools accept the goal of serving society. They work for less than their worth and help governments by offering low-cost or free education to most people.

This is especially true in poorer countries, where tax revenues cannot fully cover education expenses. Public education is inherently nonprofit.

However, this does not mean society expects teachers to work for free. Teachers need salaries that at least cover their basic needs and allow them to support their families. In Vietnam, public school teachers have to spend their earnings sparingly.

Private tutoring is another issue entirely. When the government hires teachers, they are employees. The government can now decide whether teachers can do extra work or have to focus exclusively on their school teaching. Transparent policies prevent misunderstandings and negativity surrounding tutoring.

To determine how much teachers should be paid, we must consider the nature and difficulty of their teaching. All teachers from elementary through high school must have at least a university degree and other professional requirements, except for kindergarten teachers, who need only a college degree. Working with teenage high schoolers demands additional high standards.

Teachers do not just work in the classroom, but also prepare for lessons, score papers, tutor students, meet with parents, organize events, and participate in competitions. During summer, technically on a break, teachers often have to attend professional workshops and help with community activities like vaccination, school maintenance and proctoring exams.

A typical public school teacher manages large classes, with 40-50 students per class and hundreds of students through the year. They spend a lot of time planning lessons, grading, evaluating student behavior, and dealing with accidents and conflicts.

Without understanding and support, the pressure on them becomes immense. When teachers lose their passion and energy for their work, the quality of education inevitably drops.

Few teachers aim to "get rich" from teaching. Most just want to make a living and reduce unnecessary stress. Anyone seeking wealth is unlikely to remain in teaching.

In the ranking system for public servants, teachers are just one of many different government employees. But deciding teachers’ salaries must involve comparing their job demands, importance and contributions with those of other civil servants.

My cousin has been a teacher for nearly 30 years. When teachers' salaries were increased on July 1, 2024, her monthly pay rose by VND3 million ($119). She said cheerfully: "That's VND100,000 more per day. Not a lot, but it makes me happy."

Meanwhile, her two hours of private tutoring per day at a private institution fetches her VND1-1.5 million.

If we use market rates to set teachers' salaries, it will show how much society owes them now.

Understanding the nature of teaching should encourage society to support teachers more. While society might not yet be able to pay teachers "proper and full" salaries, respect and understanding will greatly motivate teachers to give of their best.

*Bui Khanh Nguyen is an education expert.