Concerns about the transformation of extra teaching and learning
Ms. Hoang Thu Thao (Hoang Mai, Hanoi) - a parent with 2 school-age children always believes that the nature of extra teaching and learning is not bad. This may stem from the need for extra learning, or the need to learn a certain skill.
Taking an example from her own family, Ms. Thao said that her young children in primary school do not need to take extra classes. However, with her son who is in 9th grade this year, in addition to studying at school, her family also registered him for extra Math and Literature classes at a center near their home.
"Extra classes and extra teaching are only condemnable if teachers take actions to entice students to take extra classes such as bullying, threatening... causing students to register even though they don't want to because of their scores..." - Ms. Thao shared.
Sharing the same opinion, Ms. Le Thi Phuong Linh (Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi) is concerned that many schools are now putting joint programs, STEM education, Math and Science... into the official curriculum to make it difficult, forcing parents to register their children to study even though they do not need it.
"In essence, this is extra teaching and learning. The lack of strict management makes extra learning no longer as "pure" as it is intended to be" - Ms. Phuong Linh shared and recommended that extra learning and teaching should only be organized outside of school to avoid possible negative consequences.
Need to look at the root of the problem
From an expert's perspective, Dr. Le Viet Khuyen - Vice President of the Association of Vietnamese Universities and Colleges - assessed that the majority of students and parents "rush" to take extra classes after regular school hours because the current general education program in Vietnam is too difficult.
Dr. Le Viet Khuyen gave an example from his nephew's high school curriculum: "The Chemistry program in the current 10th grade textbook includes general chemistry knowledge at the university level. The content of the program exceeds the teaching capacity in regular school hours, leading to the need for extra classes outside. And where there is demand, there will be supply. The current social reality is that students have to take extra classes to achieve high results," he analyzed.
Mr. Khuyen said that the most important thing to do now is to reduce pressure on the general education program so that students can study well just by studying at school.
"Once that is achieved, we can consider other solutions to solve the problem of extra teaching and learning," he suggested.
Sharing the same opinion with Dr. Le Viet Khuyen, Mr. Nguyen Van Luc - former teacher of Trinh Phong Secondary School (Khanh Hoa) - suggested that it is necessary to change from the root, that is, the program needs to be concise, ensuring it is suitable for students and the assessment is not too heavy on scores.
“When students do not need to attend extra classes because of achievements, titles, scores, etc., extra classes and tutoring will naturally decline,” he said, adding that schools also need to organize remedial classes for weak students, nurture good students, and consider this the teachers’ duty; no fees should be collected.
At the same time, Mr. Luc said that extra teaching and learning activities should be included in the list of conditional business lines to create a legal corridor, managed by law so that teachers have enough conditions to participate in extra teaching outside of school without fear, and increase their income through legitimate labor.
