On February 14, the circular on extra teaching and learning of the Ministry of Education and Training will take effect. At this time, most extra classes in schools and teachers' homes have stopped operating to await instructions.
Students after school hours at a tutoring center in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: NHU HUNG
"My child's school announced that it would stop tutoring because the new circular of the Ministry of Education and Training does not allow schools to do this. Do you know any good tutoring places? My child has to go to tutoring classes and is not capable of studying on his own" - Ms. Trang Vo posted in a group of parents with children preparing to enter 10th grade in Ho Chi Minh City and received the attention of many other parents.
Mixed opinions
Ms. Trang Vo said: "Teaching extra classes at school makes it convenient for parents. After finishing their regular classes, students stay at school to study extra classes, so parents don't have to pick them up or drop them off. Teachers already know the personality and abilities of each student, so it's easier to teach them.
Now this extra class is no longer available because the Ministry of Education and Training does not allow schools to charge students for extra classes. I will definitely have to transfer my child to another place. But my concern is whether the new place is suitable for my child or whether the teachers are effective, while there are only a few months left until the important transfer exam."
Contrary to Ms. Trang Vo's concerns, many other parents believe that banning paid tutoring in schools is a remarkable step forward for the Ministry of Education and Training. Ms. Hong, a parent in Ho Chi Minh City, explained: "There are many negative aspects to tutoring in schools, so the Ministry of Education and Training is right to ban it. My child has been forced to take extra classes at school, and I have been upset since the beginning of the school year."
Ms. Hong said that this year her child is expected to take the entrance exam to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy. "Since the beginning of grade 11, I have sent my child to study with a good and famous teacher in Ho Chi Minh City in 3 subjects: math, chemistry, and biology. When he entered grade 12, the school opened a tutoring class for students preparing for the high school graduation exam.
If I didn’t register, the homeroom teacher invited me in for a talk. Although she didn’t say it directly, she meant that 100% of the 12th graders had to attend this extra class. The reason was that the school wanted to ensure the high school graduation rate.
In the end, because I didn't want my child to become a problem student, I had to register, pay the fee, and tell my child to just sit in class and if he didn't want to listen to the lecture, he could do something else.
After Ms. Hong's story, many other parents spoke up, saying that their children were in the same situation. "My child is in 9th grade this year, and was also forced to take extra classes at school even though he didn't want to.
My child plans to take the entrance exam for the 10th grade, so he needs to do advanced exercises. I also found a tutoring class to review for the 10th grade. In this class, the students are at the same level, their goals are the same, so it is easier to exchange and study. Meanwhile, the tutoring class in the secondary school only stops at the level of consolidating basic knowledge because it teaches a large number of 44 students with different levels.
Yet every day my child still has to carry his bag to study in an unsuitable class, and also has to pay tuition. I am really upset but I dare not say anything for fear of my child being hated...".
12th grade students of Muong Lat High School (Thanh Hoa) review for high school graduation exam - Photo provided by the school
Still open class but no fee
According to Tuoi Tre, not many secondary and high schools in Ho Chi Minh City have opened extra classes for final year students since the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.
Currently, these schools have stopped teaching since February 2025 because the Ministry of Education and Training stipulates: "Extra teaching and learning in schools must not collect fees from students and is only for students who register for extra classes for each subject as follows: students whose final semester subject results are not satisfactory; students selected by the school to foster excellent students; final year students voluntarily register to review for entrance exams and graduation exams according to the school's education plan".
Ho Chi Minh City has a characteristic that many schools have implemented two sessions/day. Therefore, opening a review class will be included in the tuition fee for the second session.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Truc, principal of Duong Van Thi High School, Thu Duc City, said: "Currently, 12th grade students at our school are still studying extra hours for subjects that are expected to be in the high school graduation exam as planned from the beginning of the school year.
Our school has two sessions per day, and we collect tuition for the second session, so the extra classes are counted in the second session. In previous years, the school opened a high school graduation exam review class for 12th graders after they took their final exams for the second semester. This class is called an extra class and is paid. This year, the school will still open an extra class for 12th graders to support them in their exam preparation, the only difference is that we will not collect tuition."
Similarly, Hong Bang Secondary School, District 5, also only opens a 10th grade review class after 9th grade students take their final exams for the second semester. "For many years, our school has not collected tuition for this review class and this year is no exception. The school encourages teachers to teach review classes, not forcing them to do so.
This year, we will apply the regulations on quarterly additional income and the reward regulations under Decree 73 to find funding for this activity," said Mr. Tran Van Luyen, principal of Hong Bang Secondary School.
Free review and tutoring for students
Mr. Nguyen Duc Tu Anh, head of the Department of Education and Training of Hai Chau District (Da Nang City), said that the department has recorded opinions from parents, students, and teachers about concerns about changing regulations on extra teaching and learning to send to the department.
Many comments noted that teachers want to have guidelines and regulations to help disadvantaged students who want to take extra classes at school, otherwise it will be disadvantageous for these students.
Good students also want to make more efforts and try harder to seek knowledge from the teachers they are studying with. However, having to study with teachers who do not teach them at school also makes them a bit worried.
"But all concerns are waiting for guidance after Circular 29 takes effect, in the spirit of complying with the general policy. We are currently waiting for guidance from the department and the city.
I hope that the authorities and the city will provide additional funding to provide extra training for teachers when tutoring and reviewing for disadvantaged students or guiding and organizing review sessions for excellent student teams and tutoring weak students...", said Mr. Tu Anh.
Mr. Thai Quang Binh, principal of Ong Ich Khiem High School (Hoa Vang district, Da Nang city), said that the most difficult thing for the school is organizing teaching for final year students.
Previously, the school still organized tutoring for students, the collection of money would be based on the agreement between parents and teachers. The tuition fee was only about 10,000 VND/hour/student because students in Hoa Vang district are in rural areas, still facing many difficulties. However, the school has now adjusted according to the general policy.
Mr. Binh said that the tuition fees for the first semester have not been collected yet. Before the new circular, the school plans to no longer collect this tuition fee. At the same time, the school has stopped this tutoring class and plans to have solutions to ensure the rights of the students.
Accordingly, the school board has submitted a proposal to the Department of Education and Training on a solution to use the school's autonomous budget to review and tutor students for free. Currently, the department is waiting for approval to establish a free tutoring class.
The leader of the Department of Education and Training of Da Nang City said that the department is currently synthesizing opinions and notes from units to advise the People's Committee of Da Nang City. From there, there will be specific instructions related to Circular 29.
Bonus from additional income
Answering the question of where to get the money to pay teachers if we don't collect money? Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Truc, principal of Duong Van Thi High School, Thu Duc City, shared: "I have implemented the content of the circular on extra teaching for teachers in the school, and at the same time suggested that we can teach extra teaching without collecting money.
Instead, the school will base on the regulations on quarterly additional income (according to Resolution 08 of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council) to calculate working days for teachers. Most teachers agree with this method. The school will allow teachers to register for extra teaching and students to register for extra classes. Based on the registration, the school board will arrange appropriate extra classes."
Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training Nguyen Van Hieu:
Will soon advise the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to issue guidance documents before February 14.
Many teachers wonder if it is possible to teach at home? I confirm that it is possible, provided that it complies with regulations.
According to the circular on extra teaching of the Ministry of Education and Training, public school teachers are not allowed to participate in the management and operation of extra teaching outside of school. However, if teachers have enough rooms, desks, chairs, equipment... then they can ask retired teachers, teachers from non-public schools... to register to open a center and simultaneously manage and operate it.
Registering business services with the Department of Planning and Investment is now very simple and quick. After the Department of Planning and Investment grants a license to establish a tutoring center, the Department of Education and Training will coordinate with districts, wards and communes to inspect tutoring conditions, rooms, number of students, teachers, tuition fees, etc.
In the near future, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City will meet with districts to provide guidance and clearly define the responsibilities of agencies in managing tutoring and learning centers. The Department will soon advise the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to issue specific instructions on tutoring and learning before February 14.
The viewpoint of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City is to resolutely follow the circular on extra classes of the Ministry of Education and Training, without any leniency or sympathy. This is a regulation that benefits students, contributing to ending the situation of forcing students to take extra classes.
I also think this is an opportunity for students to feel secure, comfortable, and not worry about taking extra classes with teachers who do not teach in their regular classes.
Muong Lat School offers free exam review
12th grade students of Ngoc Lac High School (Thanh Hoa) review for high school graduation exam - Photo provided by the school
High schools in mountainous districts of Thanh Hoa province have stopped teaching extra classes in schools and made plans to review high school graduation exams for 12th graders.
According to Tuoi Tre reporters, at Muong Lat High School, a mountainous, border district of Muong Lat, in the 2024-2025 school year, there are 320 12th grade students (8 classes). For many years, the school has only organized extra classes and high school graduation exam preparation for 12th grade students for a fee of 20,000 VND/student/extra class, including three periods of graduation exam subjects such as literature, math, English, civics, etc. 10th and 11th grade students do not take extra classes at school.
Teacher Nguyen Nam Son - principal of Muong Lat High School - said that the school is implementing the content of Circular 29 correctly. After February 14, the school arranged 16 teachers to accelerate graduation exam preparation for 12th grade students. In addition to studying the main curriculum in the morning, students will be reviewed for graduation exams by teachers 2 periods/week/subject in the afternoon at no charge to students.
"Currently, the school has arranged enough teachers, called for and encouraged teachers to wholeheartedly and devotedly prepare for the graduation exam for grade 12 students with the spirit of loving students. The school's teachers are also ready to take on the task of reviewing knowledge for students to achieve the highest high school graduation exam results.
In addition, the school is ready to turn on the lights in the evening in the classrooms, provide desks, and lights in the Muong Lat student village (dormitory - PV) so that 12th grade students can self-study" - teacher Nguyen Nam Son said.
Talking about the concerns and recommendations of school teachers after Circular 29 was issued, teacher Nguyen Nam Son shared that according to the content of Circular 29, students who want to take extra classes must register to study at a tutoring center licensed by the competent authority.
Meanwhile, in Muong Lat district, no tutoring center has been established. In addition, in addition to teaching the required number of periods (17 periods/week) in the morning, the number of teachers who teach high school graduation exam review for 12th graders is the number of extra hours that teachers work outside of their working hours.
However, up to now, the school has not had any funding to support these teachers. Therefore, it is recommended that the State have a policy to support teachers in reviewing for the annual graduation exam.
Lo Thi Doi - a 12A4 student at Muong Lat High School - said that currently in the morning, students study in class, and in the afternoon, outside of free high school graduation exam review time at school, they study in groups and review knowledge at their boarding school.
To prepare for the high school graduation exam, students are also worried because this year's exam follows the new 2018 General Education Program, there is little time to review, while if they want to go to extra classes to gain advanced knowledge, there is no extra teaching center in Muong Lat district.
Many students want to take the entrance exam for pedagogy or some other majors that require high scores. If they do not take extra classes and receive advanced knowledge, it will be difficult to pass.
As a literature teacher for many years at Muong Lat High School, teacher Nguyen Thi Linh shared that students in this mountainous area have many disadvantages, because if they do not have extra classes at school, they do not know where to go to take extra classes, because there are no extra classes in Muong Lat district. With only a few months left until the high school graduation exam, teachers, students, and parents are all worried.
"As assigned by the school board, I am willing to teach free high school graduation exam review for three 12th grade classes, one period per week in the afternoons from now until the exam," added teacher Nguyen Thi Linh.
The Prime Minister has issued an official dispatch directing the management of extra teaching.
The Prime Minister has sent a telegram to the People's Committees of provinces and cities and the Ministry of Education and Training to direct the work of recruiting junior high school and high school students and managing extra teaching and learning at the general education level.
Regarding the management of extra teaching and learning, the Prime Minister requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct general education institutions in the area to strictly implement regulations on extra teaching and learning and strictly handle violations of regulations.
At the same time, direct the replication of collective and individual examples of dedication and devotion to students. The Prime Minister requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to provide appropriate financial support to schools to contribute to improving the quality of education.
The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Education and Training to strengthen information, propaganda, inspection and supervision of strict implementation of regulations on secondary and high school enrollment, regulations on extra teaching and learning, and strictly and publicly handle violations according to regulations.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/giao-vien-nha-truong-ngong-cho-huong-dan-moi-ve-day-them-20250209075746532.htm
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