The Circular on extra teaching and learning of the Ministry of Education and Training, effective from February 14, 2025, continues to cause many conflicting opinions.
Students take extra classes at a tutoring center in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: NHU HUNG
"I breathed a sigh of relief after my child's homeroom teacher announced that the extra literature class at his house would be temporarily suspended from February 2025. The reason was because the circular on extra teaching and learning of the Ministry of Education and Training prohibits teachers from teaching extra classes outside of school and charging money to students they are teaching at regular secondary schools. My child was happy to hear that because from now on he will not have to go to extra classes with the teacher anymore," said Ms. NTHTham, who lives in Ho Chi Minh City.
Teachers stop tutoring
Ms. Tham's child is in 9th grade this year. "At first, my child took extra literature lessons with a teacher in District 1. My child commented that this teacher taught literature in an inspirational way, he found literature easy to understand and his writing improved significantly. However, I don't understand why the homeroom teacher often criticized my child's work in front of the class. My child's test scores were often low.
I called the teacher to discuss, and he said that the way my child did the test was not good, and that his teaching method was in a different direction. After thinking about it, I asked my child to stop studying with the teacher in District 1 and study with the homeroom teacher. My child complained that the teacher made him sleepy, but since studying with him, his test scores have improved significantly."
Before Ms. Tham's family could rejoice, her child's math teacher also stopped teaching extra classes. "She said she would only teach until February 9, waiting for instructions from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training to see what happens.
Honestly, I am very upset with teachers forcing students to take extra classes with them. But the Ministry of Education and Training must give us parents the right to choose the teacher to send our children to.
The math teacher in my regular school is an excellent teacher in the district. This year, my child's class is lucky to have her. My child has been taking extra classes with her since 8th grade because he intends to take the entrance exam for the 10th grade math major. Now there are only a few months left for the 10th grade exam, I don't know where to find a teacher for my child, not to mention if I find one, I don't know if it will be suitable for him or not."
Similarly, Ms. Huong (living in Phu Nhuan district) said that her child really liked the way the natural science teacher at her secondary school taught. "Thanks to the teacher, my child loves and is passionate about natural science. He asked his mother to let him take extra classes in this subject.
But when I asked, he refused because he did not teach extra classes. My child insisted that he would only study with this teacher and not with any other teacher. So I had to beg and persuade him, and finally he agreed to tutor a group of 3 students (including my child).
My ability to convince my teacher to teach extra classes is considered a "miracle" for teachers in the school because in the past, teachers would spend time with their families after teaching instead of teaching extra classes. My efforts to convince my teacher, but now the Ministry of Education and Training prohibits teachers from teaching extra classes for students in regular classes, is not appropriate.
After all, tutoring is a type of service. It is unfair for me to spend money for my child to attend tutoring without being able to choose the teacher" - Ms. Huong expressed her opinion.
Students after school hours at a tutoring center in Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: NHU HUNG
Teachers are "confused" why do they have to go through an intermediary?
In recent days, Tuoi Tre has received many questions from public school teachers. They wondered: "Can I only teach a small group of 5 students at home?", "I have a small child and want to teach at my own home, where can I register and what are the procedures?", "The Circular of the Ministry of Education and Training prohibits teaching extra classes for primary school students, except for cases of training in arts, sports, and life skills training.
However, parents in my child's class want to send their children from 4:30 pm to 6 pm because they cannot pick them up early. So during that time, if I teach students math, practice writing, writing... is that a violation of the regulations?"
Speaking to Tuoi Tre, Mr. Ho Tan Minh, chief of office of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, said: "According to the circular on extra teaching and learning, teachers at public schools are not allowed to participate in the management and operation of extra teaching outside of school but can participate in extra teaching outside of school.
Teachers who want to teach extra classes must register with a tutoring center. These centers must register their business and be licensed by the Department of Planning and Investment. According to the Law on Civil Servants, relatives of teachers such as spouses, parents, and children are not allowed to register and open a tutoring center.
Regarding the above regulation, many teachers in Ho Chi Minh City do not agree because in reality many people teach extra classes right at their own homes. "My house is spacious, I have a whole room with tables, chairs, standard lighting... for extra classes, so why can't I teach extra classes at home?
Teaching at home has many advantages such as teachers do not have to go to the center, wasting time and effort; not having to go through an intermediary unit, tuition fees can be reduced; teaching at home is also more flexible for both teachers and students" - Ms. Th., an English teacher in Tan Binh district, analyzed.
Sharing the same opinion, Mr. T., a math teacher in District 5, suggested: "I don't understand why the Ministry of Education and Training requires us to go through an intermediary unit to teach extra lessons, it's both troublesome and costly.
Why can’t we open our own tutoring classes? I am capable of managing my own tutoring class, so why am I not allowed? Not to mention many colleagues only tutor 3-5 students whose parents kindly entrust them to them.
In this case, if we register at a center, how much tuition will we be able to afford? The Ministry of Education and Training should add regulations for teachers to teach at their own homes, with the condition of publicizing the list of students, facilities, and tuition fees...".
Students of Bac Ha High School No. 1 (Lao Cai) attend a review class for the 2024 graduation exam - Photo: NB
Good solution to "circumvent the regulations"
Ms. Thuong (a parent in District 1) told Tuoi Tre: "I guess the Ministry of Education and Training has a reason for banning extra classes for primary school students. However, my family still wants to send our children to extra classes. The reason is that my child's class ends at 4:15 p.m., while my husband and I both get off work at 5:30 p.m.
I would like to ask the homeroom teacher to look after my child from 4:15 pm to 6 pm. During this time, she will help my child review the lessons of the day and prepare for tomorrow, because I have to work in the evening and cannot help my child study. My husband can only help me for a few minutes before getting angry and yelling, making my child cry, tired and frustrated.
For the past 3 years, I have chosen to send my child to the head teacher. At 6pm, I pick him up, bathe him, eat, entertain him, and then go to bed - very easy."
Ms. Thuong added: "Many other parents in the same situation do the same. Now the head teacher has announced that she will not accept students from February 2025 because the Ministry of Education and Training does not allow it.
I have also carefully read the circular on extra classes of the Ministry of Education and Training. There are still ways to circumvent the regulations. Our group of 14 parents agreed to submit a request for the teacher to keep the students while waiting for their parents to pick them up. During the waiting time, the teacher lets the students dance, sing, practice writing, do math... instead of taking extra classes.
If you want children to sit still, you have to change activities constantly. The authorities cannot force them to dance and sing for 90 minutes. If the Ministry of Education and Training does not allow collecting money for extra lessons, we parents will set up a fund. This fund will give teachers money to take the children home, buy drinks..."
Mr. Ho Tan Minh (Chief of Office of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training):
Ho Chi Minh City will soon have guidelines on extra tutoring.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training will have specific instructions on extra teaching and learning in the near future. The department's viewpoint is to follow the circular of the Ministry of Education and Training.
It is expected that Ho Chi Minh City will have an information portal on tutoring and learning. In it, all licensed tutoring centers will be made public, along with information about teachers, tuition fees, tutoring subjects, teaching time, etc.
In addition, the city's Department of Education and Training will coordinate with local authorities to inspect, guide, and manage... so that extra teaching is carried out properly.
Teachers need to regulate to properly implement the circular on extra teaching and learning. Anyone who does wrong will be held responsible and handled according to the Law on Civil Servants.
Cross-exchange regular students for extra tutoring
According to Tuoi Tre's investigation, there is currently a situation where teachers exchange regular students for extra classes. Regarding this issue, Mr. Ho Tan Minh, chief of office of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, said: "Clubs such as fine arts, guitar, zither, organ, basketball, swimming, calligraphy... are all very necessary for primary school age children.
Primary schools need to proactively organize after-school clubs to meet parents' needs for sending their children. At the same time, this is also a way to create a legitimate source of income for teachers."
Without adjustment, it is difficult to have real teaching and learning.
Students of Si Ma Cai High School No. 2 (Lao Cai) review for the 2024 graduation exam for free organized by the school - Photo: NGUYEN BAO
Extra teaching and learning will have many changes after the regulations have just been issued by the Ministry of Education and Training and will take effect from February 14.
Not banned but will be managed
Instead of the mindset of "if you can't manage it, then ban it", Circular No. 29/2024/TT-BGDDT sets a different goal: not banning extra teaching, but ensuring strict conditions. In other words, only banning negative extra teaching that is not beneficial to students and allowing proper extra teaching in accordance with regulations.
For this purpose, there are quite a few major changes in the newly issued regulations, such as the prohibition of organizing extra tutoring for primary school students, except in cases of training in arts, sports, and life skills training.
Secondary schools and above are allowed to organize extra classes in school for three groups (students who have not met the academic requirements, excellent students who need extra training, and students preparing for final exams) but are not allowed to collect money from parents. Organizing extra classes and extra learning outside of school must comply with strict regulations.
Organizations and individuals (except for cadres and teachers working in educational institutions) can organize extra teaching and learning outside of school, but must register their business to be subject to management according to the provisions of the Enterprise Law and fulfill tax obligations.
These organizations and individuals must also comply with regulations such as publicizing the subjects taught, the duration of each subject, grade level, location, time of teaching, list of tutors and the fees students must pay...
School teachers can register to teach extra classes at licensed facilities but must report to the principal about the subject, location, form and time of extra classes.
In particular, teachers who are teaching at schools are not allowed to give extra lessons for money to students they are assigned to teach according to the school's educational plan.
With the newly issued circular, the Ministry of Education and Training shows its view that supervision of extra teaching and learning is not only the responsibility of the education sector or local authorities, but also must be supervised by the entire population, by students and parents themselves, based on the issued regulations.
Because extra teaching and learning will directly affect the rights of learners. Learners have the right to choose and pay for extra learning outside of school if they find it necessary, effective, and commensurate with the tuition fee.
Compared to Circular 17 (issued in 2012) regulating extra teaching and learning, the new circular expresses a stronger and more decisive viewpoint.
According to some education experts who have participated in drafting documents or giving opinions on the issue of managing extra teaching and learning for many decades, this is a very complicated issue. It is good at one point but can be disadvantageous at another point because it touches on many social interests and needs. That is what makes negative extra teaching and learning difficult to solve. To get out of this confusion, it is necessary to decisively choose a priority subject for protection.
And in the new document of the ministry, the choice is in favor of the learners. Meanwhile, the subjects that will be affected (in terms of rights) and have to adjust a lot are the schools and teachers. This will take a long time to change.
How to adjust?
One of the things that schools must pay attention to is to separate the teaching task from the "extra teaching". In the school year's tasks, schools must have a plan to support and tutor weak students who have difficulty meeting the minimum requirements of the educational program, and a plan to guide and organize review sessions for final year students to prepare for exams.
When implementing the 2018 general education program, schools developed school education plans, including enhanced content in some subjects. This is more obvious in the final grades. However, these enhanced classes cost money from parents and 100% of students must register to attend. This creates confusion between the compulsory program and "extra teaching".
When implementing the circular on extra teaching and learning, this issue will have to be separated. The contents included in the school education plan, including teaching in class, extra-class activities, and guidance for students to review the main curriculum and not "extra teaching and learning" activities.
Teachers who teach extra hours in regular classes must pay for extra hours as prescribed. Only true "extra teaching" is regulated by Circular 29. In which, the Circular also states that it is not allowed to teach ahead of time, teach beyond the school's education plan, and not to arrange extra teaching periods between regular class time...
What does the Ministry of Education and Training say?
Extra teaching and learning is a legitimate need but must come from the needs of students and comply with the law - Photo: N.BAO
According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Director of the Department of Secondary Education (Ministry of Education and Training), the circular stipulates that schools that provide extra classes in schools can use the budget or legal funding sources.
Specifically, it is possible to use funding sources in accordance with the regulations on socialized education. However, it is absolutely forbidden to collect money from parents and students and divide it according to a percentage to pay for extra teaching activities in schools as before.
Circular 29 does not prohibit legitimate teachers from giving private lessons, but teachers will have to adjust to a new way of teaching: teaching in licensed places and complying with regulations, while fulfilling tax obligations. This means teachers cannot organize classes at home or rent a place to hold classes as before.
"Any individual or organization - except for officials and teachers working in educational institutions - can organize extra classes but must comply with legal regulations to be granted a business registration," said Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh. And to answer the question "where do teachers register to teach extra classes?", we can say "at licensed extra classes."
As for learners, there must also be a process of adjusting their perception. Because the new regulation helps learners have the right to choose to study extra according to their real needs and ability to pay tuition. Therefore, it will be necessary to redefine the goal of "studying extra", the values that learners really find necessary.
Two drawbacks
Besides the positive aspects of the circular, there are two shortcomings: the timing of its issuance and insufficient communication and guidance.
According to some principals in Hanoi, the circular issued on a sensitive issue affecting many subjects in schools should be issued at the beginning of the new school year. This will facilitate schools in developing educational plans, including plans to support revision for students in schools in accordance with regulations.
However, the circular is currently effective in mid-February - the time when students are rushing to review for major exams. The adjustment by schools is not timely, leading to the temporary suspension of review activities for students, which are considered "extra tutoring".
Teachers are used to the simple way of organizing extra classes, now they have to find a suitable place to register, so it will take time to adapt. But the exam cannot be postponed. This is an issue that the Ministry of Education and Training needs to grasp and have timely instructions for localities and schools to support final year students this school year. Otherwise, it will cause confusion, anxiety, and even disadvantage for the generation of 9th and 12th grade students this school year.
The second shortcoming: communication and guidance are also issues that the education sector must have stronger solutions for. Unclear points need to be thoroughly explained, such as the separation of compulsory education tasks from extra-curricular activities, or how to legally mobilize funding for extra-curricular activities in schools, and instructions for teachers on where and how to register for extra-curricular activities need to be explained and supported promptly.
Besides, supervision from many different channels needs to be strengthened because it is very likely that there will be "variations" of extra teaching and learning arising after tightening the management of extra teaching and learning.
Tutoring management must treat the disease at the root.Source: https://tuoitre.vn/quy-dinh-moi-ve-day-them-sap-co-hieu-luc-noi-ngung-day-nghe-ngong-noi-tim-cach-lach-20250207085220847.htm
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