According to Circular 29, extra teaching and learning (ET) in schools is provided to 3 groups of subjects: students who have not achieved the previous semester's grade, excellent students in subjects that need to be supplemented, and final year students who are preparing for entrance exams and graduation, and is completely free of charge. Extra-curricular tutoring facilities must register their business; publicly post the subjects, duration, list of tutors and tuition fees. Extra-curricular tutors must ensure that they have good moral qualities; and have professional qualifications appropriate to the subjects they teach.
From the above definitions, there are 3 clearly identified points, which are: Additional teaching activities outside the prescribed time in the education plan with school subjects regardless of the form of direct or online teaching, with or without fees; the scale of organizing classes or small groups are all considered DTHT.
Extra teaching and learning is currently managed under Circular 29, effective from February 14.
DTHT REGULATIONS IN VIETNAM ARE LESS THAN SOME COUNTRIES
According to the new regulations, there are 4 principles of extracurricular activities: extracurricular activities must be conducted voluntarily by students, with the consent of parents or guardians, and must not be conducted in any way to force students to take extra classes; extracurricular activities must not be contrary to Vietnamese law, must not contain prejudices about ethnicity, religion, occupation, gender, social status, and must not reduce teaching content to include extra classes; extracurricular activities must contribute to the development of students' qualities and abilities, and must not affect the organization and implementation of the school's and teachers' educational programs; duration, time, location, and form of extracurricular activities must be appropriate to the psychology, age, and health of students, and must comply with regulations on working hours, security, order, safety, environmental sanitation, fire prevention, etc.
There are 3 cases that are not allowed to have extra classes: Primary school students, except for those who are trained in arts, sports, and life skills; Teachers who are teaching at schools are not allowed to teach extra classes outside of school for money from students they are teaching at school; Teachers at public schools are not allowed to participate in managing and operating extra classes outside of school but can participate in extra classes outside of school.
With the new regulation, the message of the Ministry of Education and Training is that DTHT is not banned but needs to be strictly controlled to avoid negativity, aiming at the interests of learners and teachers. Teachers have the right to teach extra classes in a proper, transparent manner, and contribute to society through tax obligations. Thus, Vietnam chooses a more flexible and softer approach to DTHT than many countries. For example, China has completely banned DTHT outside of school; in Korea and Japan, teachers in public schools are absolutely not allowed to teach DTHT. Vietnam does not ban DTHT, public school teachers are still allowed to teach extra classes outside of school.
NEW CHANGES IN DTHT MANAGEMENT
DTHT organizations comply with the provisions of Circular 29 and related legal documents, such as the Law on Education, the Law on Civil Servants and Public Employees, the Labor Law, the Law on Enterprises, the Decree on administrative sanctions... leading to the responsibility for management, inspection and examination of DTHT being regulated uniformly, strictly and synchronously from the Central to the grassroots level.
On the government side, the highest is the Government, then the People's Committees of the provinces, districts, communes/wards. On the education management agency, it includes the ministry, department, Department of Education and Training and the principal of the educational institution. In particular, the role of the principal, the head of the educational institution is very important - because he is the person who directly manages the teachers and is responsible for the quality of the school.
Evidence of the unity and determination to limit negativity is the Prime Minister's Official Dispatch No. 10/CD-TTg dated February 7, 2025 on strengthening the direction of secondary and high school enrollment and management of DTHT activities. Accordingly, the People's Committees of provinces and cities direct educational institutions in the area to strictly implement regulations on DTHT, strictly handle violations of regulations; and provide appropriate funding support to schools to contribute to improving the quality of education.
The Ministry of Education and Training has established a team to inspect DTHT nationwide from February 20 to March 20, 2025. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities have issued documents on guidance on DTHT in their localities, directing the People's Committees of districts, communes/wards and the education sector to coordinate in inspecting, examining and managing DTHT.
This is truly a highlight, a new change in DTHT management, unprecedented.
Quality education based on self-study, critical thinking, problem solving and creativity
Photo: Dao Ngoc Thach
C QUALITY EDUCATION BASED ON SELF-STUDY AND CRITICAL THINKING
In the context of rapid development of science, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI), many countries have restricted and banned DTHT. In recent years, China has focused on training high-quality human resources, especially the creativity of learners, and it is necessary to reduce DTHT. The birth of Deepseek - an AI software, created by engineers trained in China recently is the clearest proof of the quality of education based on self-study, critical thinking, problem solving and creativity of this country.
Vietnam's orientation is to become a high-middle-income country by 2030 and a developed socialist country with high income by 2045. To achieve this goal, education must be based on the foundation of self-study, self-research, self-orientation, and self-progress of learners under the guidance and support of teachers and lecturers.
Since the Lunar New Year, especially after Circular 29 took effect on February 14, illegal tutoring has decreased significantly. Primary school teachers have stopped tutoring, and teachers of secondary schools, high schools, and continuing education centers have stopped tutoring classes. In places with conditions, teachers have registered to tutor at tutoring establishments that have registered their businesses. This has caused difficulties for some students who need to take extra classes to supplement their knowledge and skills, especially students in grades 9 and 12.
However, this is also an opportunity for schools and teachers to enhance their responsibility in ensuring school quality, and students also have more opportunities to self-study, no longer relying too much on extra classes. In the context of technology and especially AI that has been replacing many workers in different professions, workers are facing a wave of unemployment when they do not have timely access to AI. In this context, educators and parents with children in school all want their students and children to form and develop important skills, such as: passion, curiosity, creativity, acceptance of change and learning AI, critical thinking, emotional intelligence and complex problem solving skills. These skills that complement AI will become increasingly valuable.
Reduce exam pressure, increase teacher self-awareness
Currently, due to many reasons, the pressure of high school admissions, high school graduation exams and admission to top universities is still very high.
Therefore, the education sector needs solutions to reduce exam pressure such as expanding enrollment quotas in public high schools; arranging quality teachers, investing in facilities to improve quality uniformity between junior high schools and high schools, creating a convenient training connection from intermediate and college to university, from which a part of students will study intermediate and vocational college and then can connect to university.
In particular, teachers' self-awareness in fully complying with regulations on DTHT, DTHT with conscience and responsibility to bring value to learners will further honor the value of teachers. The National Assembly should soon pass the Law on Teachers to not only honor but also have practical policies to improve the income and life of teachers so that they can have better conditions to contribute to the cause of education.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-ly-day-them-chat-che-huong-den-nen-giao-duc-tien-tien-185250304153123678.htm
Comment (0)