Circular 29 on extra teaching and learning, effective from February 14, 2025, has had a significant impact on students and teachers at schools. Many parents are also worried that stopping extra teaching may cause final year students to have difficulty in reviewing for exams.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thuy - Principal of Nguyen Phong Sac Secondary School (Hanoi) said: "9th grade students only have a few months left to take the 10th grade exam, while this year they will start taking the new program. According to the instructions of Circular 29, the amount of extra teaching time at school is very small, only 2 periods/week/subject (half the time), not enough for students to review and consolidate knowledge.

Furthermore, the Circular stipulates that for final year students, schools must teach 2 periods per week but cannot collect money from parents. Teaching takes time and effort without pay, which will make it difficult for teachers. Currently, my school is mobilizing teachers to teach students according to the instructions to maintain review and exam preparation. I don't know yet what source will pay teachers' salaries."

Ms. Thuy admitted that the circular's goal is correct but not close to reality, because extra classes are students' wishes, and currently there is still pressure from exams, so without extra classes it will be very difficult.

“Usually, like previous years, around the end of April - when students have completed other subjects - the school will arrange to teach extra subjects for the 10th grade exam. But with this situation, even if there is extra time, there will be no extra teaching,” Ms. Thuy worried.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Hai - Vice Principal of Dich Vong Hau Secondary School (Hanoi) said that the school is currently following Circular 29, which is to have 9th grade students review Math and Literature for no more than 2 periods per week. "Of course there are difficulties, but I think difficulties are common difficulties. With the current situation, it will depend on each student's self-study awareness," she said.

Mr. Nguyen Cong So - Principal of Le Van Thiem High School (Hanoi) shared that with Circular 29, schools must bundle up their work to avoid violating regulations, and are forced to teach basic lessons according to the framework program in class.

“In reality, no school does not increase the number of hours for graduation exam subjects, specifically, Math and Literature are mostly doubled... At Le Van Thiem School, we apply the increase in hours for students from grade 10 and do not charge parents. However, in addition to Math and Literature, there will be many difficulties for the two optional subjects, because students will only be given supplementary knowledge in grade 12. Circular 29 stipulates that, so schools are struggling to handle it so that students can increase the amount of review time,” Mr. So shared.

The principal of a high school in Hai Phong said that the practical application of Circular 29 will have its own difficulties for each subject. For students, the majority of them can meet the learning requirements. However, the goal of learning does not stop at the requirements of the program, students also need deeper and broader knowledge to participate in exams other than high school graduation. Meanwhile, learning in class can only meet the needs of a very small number of good and excellent students. Therefore, many students will have to find classes and teachers outside of school.

For parents, most parents want their children to study in school to ensure safety and save money. Because the centers have to invest a large amount of money to build, the fees are often 5-10 times higher than in school. Therefore, the financial burden on parents will be much greater.

Schools also face a difficult problem. Normally, the education program for grade 12 ends on May 15-20, after which schools will organize review classes for students on a voluntary basis and charge a fee. From the 2024-2025 school year onwards, according to Circular 29, there will be no fee for review classes for graduation exams, while the budget does not include expenses for review classes, so schools do not have a source of payment for review teachers.

In addition, when there is no extra teaching at school, many quality teachers who are trusted by parents and students may teach at centers, so it is very difficult for schools to mobilize teachers to teach for free at school.

According to this principal, the graduation exam review process requires a long, continuous time, with a large number of classes and many students (each teacher can teach 1-3 or 4 classes, equivalent to 40-200 students), so teaching without compensation is really difficult for teachers to put aside other paid jobs to focus on review teaching.

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Prime Minister directs strict handling of violations in extra teaching and learning

Prime Minister directs strict handling of violations in extra teaching and learning

The Prime Minister requested localities to direct general education institutions in the area to strictly implement regulations on extra teaching and learning; and strictly handle violations.
Schools stop tutoring, parents scramble to find new ways for their children to take extra classes

Schools stop tutoring, parents scramble to find new ways for their children to take extra classes

As soon as she heard that her child’s secondary school and the teachers at her home class were no longer offering extra classes, Ms. Nhung immediately asked acquaintances and searched online for a tutor for her child. “My child is a poor student and will be taking the 10th grade entrance exam next year. Without extra classes, how can he keep up?” she said.