Ministry of Education and Training: Consider making self-study results a competition goal

On March 14, the Ministry of Education and Training released a report assessing the implementation of Circular 29 on extra teaching and learning, after one month of taking effect (February 14). The Ministry found that many schools suddenly stopped extra teaching at this time, while they should have adjusted it immediately after the circular was issued in early January.

"Suddenly stopping extra tutoring in schools affects the psychology of students and parents," the Ministry assessed.

In addition, many localities are slow to issue instructions, and coordination between departments and branches is not effective, causing some teachers who need to teach extra classes to worry.

The Ministry acknowledged that other issues such as lack of facilities; parents' dependence on teachers, lack of knowledge to tutor their children, expectations for their children's achievements; exam pressure; weak self-study skills of students... also created many concerns when Circular 29 was implemented.

However, the Ministry of Education and Training said that after 1 month of implementation, the new regulation has initially created positive changes in awareness and management of extra teaching and learning.

Students, parents and teachers are more aware of the consequences of rampant private tutoring. It not only affects the physical and mental health of students, but also affects equity in access to education, wastes time and money of families, and affects the quality of formal teaching...

The Ministry requires schools to survey and classify students according to their level in order to have appropriate class and teacher placement plans. This is to limit the widespread organization of revision classes.

Schools must continue to innovate testing and assessment methods for students in the direction of developing qualities and abilities; not putting pressure on students to study more. In addition to the main curriculum, schools can organize self-study sessions for students, considering making self-study results a competition and assessment goal for the year.

For extra-curricular teaching, the Departments need to coordinate with professional agencies to support teachers in registering for extra-curricular teaching; strengthen inspection and handling of violations.

According to Circular 29 on extra teaching and learning of the Ministry of Education and Training, schools are only allowed to teach extra classes for 3 groups and must do so free of charge, including: groups with unsatisfactory results; selected to nurture excellent students; and final year students who voluntarily register for exam review.

For extra-curricular tutoring, individuals and tutoring organizations must register their business and publicly disclose information about tuition fees, duration, subjects, time, location, etc. In addition, teachers are not allowed to collect extra tuition fees from students in their classes.

The Ministry said the above regulations aim to avoid the situation where students, even though they do not want to, still have to take extra classes organized by teachers and schools.

Since early February, after the Tet holiday, many schools have stopped offering extra classes, surprising many students, especially those in their final years. Many students and parents are worried that their preparation for the 10th grade entrance exams, high school graduation exams, and university entrance exams will be affected.

According to the Government Office, Circular 29 has received much approval, but there are still many concerns. Some opinions say that the root cause of extra teaching and learning is due to the heavy curriculum, while the mentality of valuing degrees among many people is still quite common. Currently, the curriculum, textbooks, high school graduation exams, and university admission methods are all new, and the "competition" rate to enter prestigious universities is increasingly fierce.