'Without extra classes, the teacher doesn't remember the name, no matter how good you are, you will only get 5 points'

After VTC News published articles about extra teaching and learning, many readers sent comments expressing their indignation at this problem. They also suggested that teachers and managers be expelled from the industry for allowing this situation to recur for many years.

The problem of extra tutoring is becoming more and more widespread. (Illustration: D.N)

'No extra classes, I don't remember your name'

Reader Ngoc Bao reported that her child is in a situation where the whole class comes to the teacher's house for extra classes and gets preferential treatment, while students who don't go to class are often reminded and "scrutinized".

In grades 6-7, her child was at the top of the class, on the math team, but last summer, the teacher changed the class location from school to home. After 2 months, the teacher informed the parents to pay for extra classes for their child, without any prior agreement. "Although I was quite upset, I still paid for my child's extra classes and then asked the teacher's permission to withdraw from this disguised math team," the parent said.

Since the beginning of the school year, she has hardly called on me to speak, given me homework, or corrected my work like before. I even feel isolated in class. From a child who loved math, I now have to endure pressure from her with an unhappy attitude.

Reader Nguyen Van Manh shared the case of his second grader. On the first day of the new school year, the teacher announced on the class's parent information group that "any family who sends their child to her house for extra classes will do well, anyone who doesn't will do poorly, and she is not responsible." Three weeks after the start of school, the children who did not register for extra classes were texted by the teacher to complain that they were slow learners, poor learners, and that if they did not improve, they could easily fail the class.

Should I send my child to extra classes?

This is also the situation that Mr. Hoang Chi Duc encountered. Because he did not go to any extra classes, especially Literature with his homeroom teacher, his child's test scores (in grade 2) were always below 7 points and he was bullied. As for other subjects, the scores of the 1-period and mid-term exams were always below 5 points. His daughter even shared that because she did not go to her homeroom teacher's house for extra classes, "she did not remember my name" but only remembered the names and often called on the students who went to her house to give their comments.

The students who attend extra classes at her house know the tests in advance and their scores are always surprisingly high. Luckily, when it came to the final exam, the school organized a grading system and my child's scores were all above 8 in all subjects.

"Last year, I was in 2nd grade and didn't go to the teacher's house to study, so I was only a good student and didn't get the certificate of Uncle Ho's Good Children. The remaining 38/39 students went to the teacher's house to study, so most of their Math and Vietnamese exams got 10 points at the end of the year," wrote account Le Phuc.

Enough tricks to force students to take extra classes

As a primary school teacher in Hanoi, reader Mai Pham said she knew many teachers in her school who forced students to take extra classes through the stories of colleagues, neighbors, and students. This problem of extra classes is even more terrible when primary school teachers do not let students take naps because they do not attend extra classes. This reader herself feels ashamed and embarrassed in front of parents and society.

Reader Ngo Thuy Hang shared that she is a high school teacher and often encounters questions and concerns from parents, "Why do children study from primary to secondary school, receive certificates of merit every year, but their entrance exam scores for high school are low, even just enough to pass?" This is also the consequence of extra teaching and learning. Parents who send their children to extra classes must find quality places, not just go to classes to please teachers, so that their children are not "bullied".

Reader Ly Long commented: "I have been teaching for 14 years but I have never once tutored, taught extra classes or had extra training, even though many parents have asked me to teach. To me, all students are the same and need to be treated equally and transparently."

Many people say that extra teaching and learning have become a burden for students and parents. (Illustration: D.N)

Until now, when students graduate and go to work, on Teachers' Day, they all remember, send greetings, and wish good health from the heart with all respect for teachers. That is much more valuable than the money from tutoring.

Nguyen Tien expressed his agreement with the stories that parents shared in the press about the current problem of extra teaching and learning. Having worked as a teacher in Thu Duc City (HCMC) for 21 years, this reader understands all the tricks and forms of forcing students to attend extra classes to earn money.

For example, at the beginning of the school year, teachers constantly test students and give them low scores. Teachers act out their concerns about their students' learning situation and advise them to take extra classes. If they want to have a good academic record, get good results, or get into a university in the future, they must take extra classes at a cram school.

Another way to pressure parents is to keep the good students in the old class, and put the good, average and failed students in one class, and this class is also assigned a bad teacher. When putting all the weak students in one class, there are some very good children, but sadness and dissatisfaction lead to smoking electronic cigarettes, wrote Nguyen Tien.

'Invite' extra-curricular teachers out of the industry?

Nguyen Vuong account commented, extra study and extra teaching are the needs of participants. The education sector needs to manage so that there is no negativity, not everything that cannot be managed is banned.

Reader Tran Van Huyen commented that tutoring has been deeply ingrained in the subconscious of the majority of teachers teaching subjects related to exams. How to prevent this rampant situation of tutoring requires the cooperation of all levels, even parents need to take responsibility. It is recommended that the Ministry of Education and Training needs to take strong action against school and local leaders when tutoring occurs, and can even expel teachers and schools that assist in tutoring.

Many readers have suggested that the Ministry of Education and Training should absolutely prohibit primary and secondary school teachers from teaching or taking extra classes. This is not only ineffective but also stressful for students who have to study twice a day at school and then go to their teacher's house to study until 8 or 9 pm in the evening. The students are still too young, and if they just focus on studying like that, it will greatly affect their health and make them mentally exhausted.

In March 2023, responding to voters about the growing popularity of extra teaching and learning despite the ban, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said that some other regulations of Circular No. 17 are still in effect, such as: principles of extra teaching and learning, cases where extra teaching and learning is not allowed, and responsibilities for managing extra teaching and learning activities of localities and educational institutions.
Circular 17 also clearly states that teachers must not organize extra classes or study classes following regular classes; must not cut down on the content of the regular general education program to include in extra classes; must not use any form to force students to take extra classes... This Circular also stipulates: "Do not teach extra classes to students who have been organized by the school to study 2 sessions/day...".

Ha Cuong

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