Concerns about new regulations on extracurricular teaching

New regulations on extra teaching and learning have resolved some current problems, but there are still many concerns and worries about regulations on extra teaching outside of school.

Not comfortable when children take extra classes outside of school

Extra teaching and learning continue to attract discussion when the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has just issued Circular No. 29/2024 regulating extra teaching and learning with many new points.

One of the notable points is that Circular 29 allows extra teaching outside of school, but teachers must report to the principal and can only teach students outside their regular classes.

A regular class of teachers and students at Nhat Tan Secondary School (Tay Ho District, Hanoi).

The Circular also stipulates that organizations and individuals who organize extra teaching and learning outside of school and collect fees from students must register their business to be subject to management under the provisions of the Enterprise Law.

The regulations on extra teaching and learning according to Circular No. 29 are considered appropriate and receive more consensus compared to the previous regulations in Circular 17/2012 of the Ministry of Education and Training, however, there are still many concerns and worries.

Talking to reporters of Dai Doan Ket Newspaper, Principal of Van Yen Secondary School (Ha Dong District) Truong Thi Lien said that the school had disseminated Circular 29 to all parents of the school during the parent meeting at the end of the first semester. Most parents expressed concern about the regulation on extra-curricular tutoring in the circular.

If extra classes are taught in schools without charging fees as prescribed, the school budget will not be enough to cover the cost of extra classes. In addition, most parents are concerned about the tuition fees if their children take extra classes outside of school. While the current tuition fees for extra classes at schools range from 6,000 to 13,000 VND/class depending on the number of students in the class, the tuition fees for extra classes at centers outside of school will be many times higher. Thus, not all parents can afford to let their children take extra classes.

In addition, many parents are also worried that when students do not take extra classes at school, boarding is not possible, it is difficult to pick up and drop off their children in the middle of the day, and they are not assured about their children's safety when taking extra classes outside the center with teachers who are not the main teachers.

“The school’s parent representatives expressed their wish for their children to have extra classes at school as they are doing now. As for the school, we are waiting for instructions from higher authorities and discussing how to avoid causing disruption,” said the principal of Van Yen Secondary School.

At a recent parent-teacher meeting of a 6th grade class at Chu Van An Secondary School (Tay Ho District), many parents also expressed their views that the students’ need for extra classes is real and legitimate. Weak students need extra classes to improve; good and excellent students want to improve their knowledge, while 45 minutes of actual class time under the current new curriculum is not enough.

Ms. Nguyen Thu Huong, a parent of a 6th grader at Chu Van An Secondary School, said: “Only teachers who teach regular classes can understand where students are weak and help them improve their knowledge. The new regulations do not prohibit extra teaching and learning, but teachers in class are not allowed to teach their students, which is not good. Not to mention, the entrance exam to grade 10 is very difficult now, if students do not receive extra tutoring from the school, it will be difficult to pass this exam.”

Mr. Pham Van Kien, a parent with a 9th grade student at Thanh Tri Secondary School (Hoang Mai District) asked: “If extra classes are taught at school without charging, how many teachers are willing to teach for free? If parents do not have the means, how can they send their children to extra classes at centers? Furthermore, who will be responsible for the safety of children when they take extra classes outside of school?”

Manage but not ban

Regarding the regulation that teachers do not teach extra classes to regular students, the Ministry of Education and Training said that the new regulation in Circular 29 will avoid unnecessary pressure from teachers on students in the classes they are teaching. Students go to extra classes because of their own needs, not because of the needs of the teachers who are teaching their classes.

In addition, Circular 29 also creates a healthy competitive environment among teachers in tutoring activities. Teachers who are good at teaching and have good expertise will still attract students from other schools and classes; there will no longer be a situation where teachers force their regular students to take extra classes. This is an opportunity for the general education teaching staff to improve their professional skills and teaching quality.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Director of Secondary Education Department, Ministry of Education and Training.

Discussing Circular 29, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Director of the Department of Secondary Education (Ministry of Education and Training), said that the above new regulations aim to ensure the rights of students, avoiding teachers "pulling" students out of class to teach extra classes.

Studying to be better and develop yourself is a legitimate desire, so the Ministry of Education and Training does not prohibit it. However, organizations and individuals who teach extra classes must register their business and must publicly disclose the location, subjects, study time, costs, etc. and must strictly comply with the provisions of the law. At that time, students and parents will choose any place that makes students and parents trust and meets their requirements.

In response to concerns from some teachers wondering whether a case of organizing extra classes for 5-7 students at home requires a business registration, Mr. Thanh said that the circular specifically stipulates that organizations and individuals that teach extra classes for money must register their business.

“The regulations are like that, but to be effective, there needs to be a monitoring mechanism and the roles and responsibilities of management agencies. The Circular has clearly defined the responsibilities of each unit from the Provincial People's Committee, the Department of Education and Training to schools, People's Committees of wards and communes in the area for inspection and supervision,” said Mr. Thanh.

A new point of Circular 29 is the regulation that tutoring centers are required to operate according to enterprise law, comply with reporting regulations and pay taxes in full as prescribed by law.

The Ministry of Education and Training said that this clearly shows that tutoring centers are essentially a business for profit. If you do business, you have to pay taxes like a business, that is the equality before the law of all citizens.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/lo-ngai-quy-dinh-moi-day-them-ngoai-nha-truong-10298346.html