Delegate Hoang Van Cuong: Not all forced extra classes are bad, voluntary ones are good

On the afternoon of March 25, continuing the program of the 7th Conference of National Assembly Deputies working full-time, delegates discussed the Law on Teachers. The issue of extra teaching and learning was of interest to National Assembly delegate, Professor Dr. Hoang Van Cuong (Hanoi delegation), former Vice President of the National Economics University.

National Assembly Delegate Hoang Van Cuong speaks. Photo: Ho Long

Commenting on the draft law, in addition to agreeing with many contents, delegate Hoang Van Cuong said that the draft still had some concerns, and suggested that the Drafting Committee continue to improve it. According to him, the prohibition of forcing students to participate in extra classes in any form as stipulated in Point e, Clause 2, Article 11, this provision sounds very good, seems very correct, but there are 2 issues.

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First, not all extra classes are bad. A responsible teacher with a conscience is very worried about his students not understanding the lesson, not making progress, and falling behind their friends.

Therefore, for weak students who are slow learners, teachers often have to ask these students to stay after class to teach and tutor them. "For these special students, if I don't force them, they definitely won't stay to study. Even when I teach Lao university students, I still have to ask them to come to an extra session so I can explain to them the things they don't understand," said Mr. Cuong.

Thus, the delegate, a professor, affirmed that forcing students to stay and study extra classes as above has no selfish motive and is not bad, so it should be encouraged to arouse the humanity of teachers.

The draft should be revised as: "Prohibiting forcing students to participate in extra classes in any form for personal gain."

Second, there are situations where teachers do not force students but students and their families have to write applications to request extra classes. "So it is clearly not forced but voluntary", but in essence it is not voluntary, because if they do not take extra classes, they may not know how to do the test, so they have to fake "voluntary".

Therefore, delegate Hoang Van Cuong proposed that the draft law should "Prohibit paying for extra teaching for students who are directly teaching". Such a regulation would avoid forcing those you teach to take extra classes to gain knowledge, while respecting their legitimate desire to take extra classes.

Delegate Hoang Van Cuong also agreed with the salary policy for teachers, which stipulates that teachers are ranked at the highest level in the administrative career salary scale system. However, Mr. Cuong said that this provision has actually been in Resolution 29 of the Central Committee for more than 10 years but cannot be put into practice without a separate salary table for teachers. Therefore, if there are no specific regulations in this law, Mr. Cuong is concerned that it is easy to fall into a situation where teachers' salaries cannot be ranked at the highest level and continue to be just a "slogan".

Source: https://nld.com.vn/dai-bieu-hoang-van-cuong-khong-phai-cu-ep-hoc-them-la-xau-tu-nguyen-la-tot-196250325153739601.htm