(Dan Tri) - Ms. Hoang Thuy Trang - an English teacher in Hanoi - is confused by the regulation prohibiting extra tutoring for primary school students. Because this means that primary school students are not allowed to take extra English lessons.
Primary school children are also banned from learning English?
"I have read and re-read Circular 29 dozens of times to see if learning a foreign language is considered extra learning or not, but I still cannot get an answer," said Ms. Hoang Thuy Trang, a freelance English teacher in Hanoi.
Accordingly, Circular 29 defines extra teaching and learning as additional teaching and learning activities outside the time specified in the education plan for subjects in the general education program, continuing education program at secondary and high school levels issued by the Minister of Education and Training (MOET).
Thus, with English being a compulsory subject in the general education program, teaching this subject beyond the prescribed time can be understood as extra teaching and learning.
Primary school students in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).
Ms. Trang also analyzed that Article 4 of the Circular stipulates cases where extra teaching is not allowed, stating: No extra teaching is organized for primary school students, except for arts, sports, and life skills training.
"English in particular and foreign languages in general are not gifted subjects, not sports, not life skills. So does the circular also prohibit teaching English to primary school students?", Ms. Trang asked.
Ms. Nguyen Thuy Van, in charge of a tutoring center in Hanoi, shares the same concern. Ms. Van’s center provides home tutoring services for students from elementary to high school. Ms. Van plans to temporarily stop providing tutors for elementary students from February 14, including English tutors.
"I am waiting for specific instructions from the Department of Education and Training. Currently, I am not sure whether providing English tutors for primary school students violates regulations on extra teaching and learning," said Ms. Van.
"It is unreasonable to force children of different abilities to study by themselves"
Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Tam (Dong Da, Hanoi) has a daughter who is in 2nd grade and has been attending an English center since she was 4 years old. The center has not announced the suspension of English classes for primary school students, but Ms. Tam is worried about developments after February 14, when Circular 29 takes effect.
"Learning English at school is not enough. Children who want to listen, speak, and write well in a foreign language must learn English from a young age, even from kindergarten.
I agree that children need to be trained in self-learning. But primary school age children need to learn under the guidance of parents and teachers. Not to mention that each child has a different ability to perceive and absorb.
If parents are not capable of guiding their children to learn English, is there anything wrong with sending them to extra classes at a center or hiring a private tutor? It is unreasonable to force children of different abilities to study on their own without teachers' guidance," said Ms. Tam.
Sharing the same perspective, Ms. Phan Thu Hang (Nam Tu Liem, Hanoi) analyzed: "If learning foreign languages is also banned for primary school students, the foreign language ability of Vietnamese students will quickly decline.
The quality of English teaching in public schools has long been a burning issue. Parents have to overcome this shortcoming by letting their children learn English outside of school. I think all education managers are aware of this fact.
Learning a foreign language is very specific, requiring an environment, space, and time to be effective. If in the future, English lessons are banned for primary school students, parents will not know how to cope, especially parents whose children study in public schools.
(*) Teacher's name has been changed.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/cam-day-them-hoc-sinh-tieu-hoc-day-them-tieng-anh-co-ngoai-le-20250207154035940.htm
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