Current situation of preschool teachers’ working conditions

The nature of preschool teachers’ job requires high responsibility, related to the comprehensive development as well as the life of the children, and requires appropriate expertise to meet the job. Therefore, the specific working condition factors of preschool teachers need to be researched and evaluated so that appropriate occupations can be classified in the List of arduous, hazardous, and dangerous occupations and works, and extreamely arduous, hazardous and dangerous occupations and works in Vietnam. This is a necessary issue as a basis for proposing a separate, reasonable policies for the occupation/job title for preschool teachers.

By using appropriate methods and techniques, a number of studies, surveys, and assessments have shown that the work of preschool teachers has caused certain effects. In the working environment, laborers are simultaneously affected by 3 groups of factors: Group of factors affecting working environmental hygiene, Group of factors affecting labour psychophysiology and Group of ergonomic factors–labor organization.

Regarding the group of factors related to working environmental hygiene, it shows that preschool teachers are most affected by the influence of noise factors. Research by Nguyen Thi Hien and  colleagues (2023) showed that the average noise measured during a preschool teacher’s entire work shift is over 80 (dBA), corresponding to an average score of 5.5 points (evaluated according to the 6-point scale of Circular 29/2021/TT-BLDTBXH dated on December 28, 2021). Working in an environment with an average noise level higher than the allowed standard, plus the responsibility of both teaching and caring for and ensuring the safety of children throughout the entire work shift can lead to other influencing factors. Especially the group of factors affecting the psychophysiology of labor. This observation is also shown in the results of research and assessment of working conditions of preschool teachers by author Nguyen Thi Hien and colleagues.

In the group of factors affecting the psychophysiology of labor, there are factors that cause changes in the central nervous system such as the index of visuomotor reaction time increased by 28.34 ± 15.13%, corresponding to the average score according to the 6-point scale (Circular 29/2021/TT-BLDTBXH) is 3.42 ± 1.44 points; the index of auditory reaction time increased by 29.51 ± 11.21%, corresponding to a score of 3.52 ± 1.13 points. The average score obtained for both indexes of auditory and visual reaction times is equivalent to type IV (arduous) working conditions.

Besides, still in this group of factors there are indexes related to assessing the level of brain activity, we found that the index changes memory ability through the decrease in memory capacity between before and after the shift through visual memory testing was also affected. At the end of the shift, preschool teachers’ memory capacity decreased by an average of 29.18 ± 13.6%, equivalent to an average score of 3.73 ± 1.25 points, this score reflects the working conditions that affect the preschool teacher’s ability to remember, corresponding to arduous working conditions.

The index of attentional stress and mental fatigue also showed similar results. For preschool teachers, the most characteristic index for attentional tension and mental fatigue is the index of the number of objects that must be observed simultaneously. Currently, the average number of subjects that preschool teachers must observe is 32.8 ± 5.82 children, corresponding to an average score of 4.57 ± 0.74 points. Teachers over 50 years old or under 30 years old or in other age groups are still assigned for classes as normal, with no priority given to teachers with high age or low age (less experience). Therefore, this is also one of the pressures on older teachers. This maybe one of the reasons why some effects on changes in central nervous system function and the level of brain activity of the age group 50 and older always have a higher average score than other groups (according to Nguyen Thi Hien and colleagues).

In addition to the two groups of factors mentioned above, the Group of ergonomic factors – labor organization is also observed and evaluated to have a comprehensive view of the working conditions of preschool teachers: The results after evaluation showed that although preschool teachers had to operate in many different positions to teach and care for children. However, the assessment results showed that on a 6-point scale, this group of factors is equivalent to an average score of 3 points. Besides, the index of working time of preschool teachers is considered, ranging from 9 – 11 hours/shift, equivalent to an average score of 3 points. In general, the working conditions of preschool teachers are not much influenced by the Group of ergonomic factors – labor organization.

Circular 29/2021/TT-BLDTBXH stipulates standards for classifying workers according to working conditions entered into effect on April 15, 2022. The classification of workers according to working conditions must be based on the results of assessment working conditions follow to the method specified in Circular 29/2021/TT-BLDTBXH. The Circular guides how to evaluate the working conditions of workers on a 6-point scale, applying this evaluation and calculation method, the evaluation score for the working conditions of preschool teachers is 3.69 points equivalent to type IV working conditions. Works with type IV working conditions are occupations and works that are arduous, hazardous and dangerous.

With the above results of assessing the working conditions of preschool teachers, it contributes to the basis for proposing separate and reasonable policies for the job/occupation title for preschool teachers. The working conditions of preschool teachers are not qualitative observations and assessments, but using standard methods to produce quantitative results with a clear scientific basis. In order to protect the rights of workers, it is proposed that management agencies consider including preschool teacher into the List of arduous, hazardous, and dangerous occupations and works, and extreamely arduous, hazardous and dangerous occupations and works in Vietnam.

Nguyen Thi Hien, Vu Xuan Trung, Nguyen Huong Tra My, Bui Thi Ngoc Minh

Occupational Health Center, VNNIOSH