VietNamNet Bridge
Jan. 6th, 2010

Mekong Delta provinces once rushed to roll out the red carpet for talented graduates to work in rural areas. They offered sums of tens or even hundreds of millions of dong and preferential accommodations. Yet few degree-holders have arrived, mainly because of biased working conditions.

Nghe An snubs its uni grads

More people who leave than people who come

According to the Soc Trang Provincial Department of Interior Affairs, no one with a Master’s or doctorate has come to Soc Trang to settle and work since the provincial authorities began applying trying to attract talent.

Soc Trang province now has five Ph.D.’s and more than 100 Master’s, but they are all local residents trained with funds from the State.

Bac Lieu province, which launched its effort to attract degree-holders in late 2008, has also not attracted anyone.

Some analysts claim that the salaries are not attractive enough to lure people to these areas. Meanwhile, complicated pay procedures have discouraged intellectuals with high degrees and kept them away.

Ca Mau province was the first area that initiated a program to bring scholars, beginning in 2003. However, they also cannot find anyone willing to come.

Can Tho has successfully attracted one Master’s degree holder since 2007. In fact, 19 have applied for work in the last two years, but they specialize in fields that the city does not really need.

Le Huu Nghia from the Kien Giang Province Department of Interior Affairs remarked that talented persons have not come, but rather have left. At least three doctorates and ten Master’s graduates have moved away from Kien Giang.

Bac Lieu province first decided to attract university graduates with good scores, but later decided to accept any students, even those with average results. 108 such students have come to work.

Why won’t intellectuals accept offers?

One Master’s student who left Kien Giang province to settle in HCM City, explained that when high degree-holders go to live and work in rural or remote areas, they do so not for money.

In many cases, however, they have to leave not because of low pay, but due to unfair treatment. These individuals are less respected than people who have good relations with high-ranking leaders. This discrimination always diminishes the enthusiasm of those who want to devote themselves to their work.

In 2007 a very famous surgeon at Can Tho City General Hospital left because of unfair treatment. He now works for a hospital in HCM City and, because he is a good surgeon, he earns some 40 million dong a month.