Many opinions support the new regulation
The Ministry of Education and Training has just issued Circular No. 29/2024 dated December 30, 2024 regulating additional teaching and learning (DTHT). This Circular takes effect from February 14, 2025, replacing Circular No. 17 from 2012.
Circular 29/2024 stipulates that teachers who are teaching at schools are not allowed to teach extra classes outside of school and collect money from students that the teacher is assigned to teach by the school.
The Circular also clearly states cases where extra teaching and extra teaching are not allowed, including: "Do not organize extra teaching for primary school students, except for the following cases: training in arts, physical education, and life skills training".
In particular, the new regulation prohibits paid tutoring in schools.
The circular stipulates that the arrangement of classes, assignment of teachers, arrangement of timetables and organization of extra-curricular activities must ensure the following requirements: extra-curricular classes are arranged by subject for each grade; each class has no more than 45 students; in one week, each extra-curricular subject has no more than 2 periods.
The new circular stipulates that extra teaching hours should not be arranged alternately with the schedule for implementing the main curriculum; and that extra teaching content should not be taught ahead of the curriculum distribution.
The above circular has received special attention from the public, educators and families with children in school. Many people have voiced their support and agreement.
Teacher Nguyen Thi Ha - a high school teacher in Vinh City shared with Lao Dong Newspaper reporters: "The ban on paying extra classes in schools and prohibiting teachers from tutoring their own students is necessary to ensure objectivity, prevent unfair and negative phenomena (teachers giving preferential treatment to students for extra classes, limiting exam questions, cutting down on core curriculum content for extra classes, tutoring in general...) and ensure the principle of voluntariness in organizing extra classes. If students have a need, they can register for extra classes outside of school, and any facility that ensures quality will be selected."
An education manager in Yen Thanh district also shared that the new regulations will facilitate management work. "From now on, schools will have time to focus on professional work, without being entangled with organizing and managing DTHT" - this officer said.
Concerns about shortcomings in extracurricular tutoring facilities
Besides, there are still worries and concerns about the new DTHT regulations.
“In-school tutoring has advantages such as low price, suitable for the circumstances of the majority of students today (about 20,000 VND/session). Management of discipline and quality is tightened, thus contributing to consolidating and improving the quality of education.
Now, the ban on paid DTHT in schools means that students in need will have to find facilities outside the school, and the agreed service price will be higher than the school's fee. In addition, the management of quality, discipline, facilities... will have many difficulties and shortcomings.
In addition, not every place has tutoring centers to meet the needs of students, especially in rural and mountainous areas," said teacher Phan Van Tien, a high school teacher at Nam Dan district.
The principal of a secondary school in Nghi Loc district also shared: “My school allows students to voluntarily apply for extra classes, but does not organize them en masse. Some students do not register for them. Most parents request that the school organize afternoon extra classes because parents work all day, so their children do not study voluntarily at home, and there is no one to supervise them, so they are afraid that their children will wander around. They say that going to school is the most secure. Now that there are regulations, the school must comply, but there are still many concerns about prices, quality and discipline at extra-curricular tutoring facilities outside of school.”
A representative of the Nghe An Department of Education and Training said that it will organize the implementation of Circular 29/2024 of the Ministry of Education and Training regulating DTHT with a spirit of strict compliance.
"During the implementation process, in addition to guiding and managing the DTHT work, we will grasp feedback from educational institutions and report to the Ministry of Education and Training for appropriate handling" - said a representative of the Nghe An Department of Education and Training.
