Are teachers allowed to open calligraphy classes and teach pre-primary skills?

Circular 29 regulating extra teaching and learning of the Ministry of Education and Training, which took effect on February 14, states that teachers and schools are not allowed to organize extra teaching for primary school students, except in cases related to training in arts, sports, and life skills.

Faced with this, some primary school teachers who are holding extra classes outside to guide students in writing and skills development before entering first grade are wondering if they are following the law.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Director of the Department of Secondary Education, Ministry of Education and Training, said that the regulation prohibiting the teaching of extra cultural subjects to primary school students is not a new content. In fact, this regulation has been in place since Circular 17 of the Ministry of Education and Training issued in 2012.

In the primary school program, there are contents related to cultural training, arts, sports, skills... If those contents are included in the program organized for students, it does not violate Circular 29.

"The characteristic of primary education is that students do not always learn from books, for example, first graders cannot read much, so it is necessary to focus on content that develops physical and skill development," Mr. Thanh further explained about the regulation of not teaching extra cultural subjects to primary school students.

According to him, in the case of primary school teachers guiding students to practice beautiful handwriting and skills before entering grade 1, not teaching general education programs, it is not within the scope of Circular 29.

However, in the case of teachers on the payroll of public schools, it is necessary to pay attention to Article 4 of this Circular, which stipulates that teachers in public schools are not allowed to participate in the management and operation of extra teaching, and can only participate in extra teaching outside the school. Therefore, teachers who are teachers in public schools, if they want to participate in teaching skills and practicing writing for students, need to submit a declaration form (included in the appendix of Circular 29) and submit it to the principal. "Anyone who teaches secretly without reporting to the principal will be disciplined according to regulations," said Mr. Thanh.

According to Circular 29, organizations or individuals wishing to organize extra teaching and learning activities outside of school with fees collected from students must comply with the following requirements:

- Register business according to the law;

- Publicly announce on the electronic information portal or post at the location of the tutoring facility the subjects that are taught extra; the duration of extra teaching for each subject according to each grade level; the location, form, and time of organizing extra teaching and learning; the list of tutors and the tuition fees before enrolling students in extra teaching and learning classes.

Teachers who are teaching at schools and participate in extra-curricular teaching must report to the principal or director or head of the school about the subjects, location, form, and time of extra-curricular teaching.