Parents complain about having to pay increased tuition fees at the center after Circular 29

Limiting rampant extra classes: Reducing pressure and promoting self-study

Many people appreciate the implementation of Circular 29, and believe that the regulations have partly achieved the goal of helping students avoid having to attend extra classes, bringing education back to its original principles.

"Banning widespread extra classes and promoting self-study is vital for our children's future," said Nguyen Thi Hang.

Ms. Cao Thi Hien supports tightening extra teaching so that students have time to play and relax: "We do not want to see the situation of extra teaching spreading. Students need to have a proper childhood, and teachers also need time to take care of their families."

Many people also expressed their agreement with the need for tighter management of tutoring centers, preventing teachers from forcing students to take extra classes to increase their income, and creating a healthy educational environment.

School restrictions, center boom: Still a burden for parents?

However, besides the consensus, many people have pointed out many "loopholes" and problems arising after more than a month of implementing Circular 29.

"After Circular 29, tutoring centers sprung up like mushrooms, and tuition fees increased," said Dang Tri Dung.

Many people are also concerned about the situation of teachers "circumventing the law" by teaching at centers or at their own homes, making it difficult for management. "Even though extra classes are banned at school, teachers still go to centers to teach, and in the end, parents still have to 'struggle' to pay" additional center rental fees," another person said.

As evidence for this, one person reflected that in his locality, before, for extra classes at school, students had to pay 20,000 - 30,000 VND/session, but now at the center it costs 50,000 - 70,000 VND/session.

Noticing a similar situation, a parent named Huong Nguyen reflected that before Circular 29, her child's extra classes cost 60,000 VND/session. After the Circular took effect, she had to pay 70,000 VND/session while the study remained the same as before, because now she had to "carry" additional fees for the center.

Also unable to stop sending their children to extra classes, a mother complained about another inconvenience: "Before, after school at 4:30 p.m., the children would eat, play basketball and badminton in the schoolyard, and then take extra classes. Now, parents have to skip work to pick up their children or hand them over to motorbike taxis to go to the extra class, which is a cramped house in an alley. It costs a lot of money and puts their children in an unsafe place."

A parent named Tuyet Lan expressed: "If we ban extra classes, we need to ban extra classes centers, because if there are students who go to school but my child doesn't go, I'm worried, while the tuition at the center is higher."

Sharing the same sentiment, another person said: "Allowing tutoring centers will only make students and parents suffer because they pay a lot of money but the teachers in the school still go to the center to teach."

Tran Hanh is concerned that now, tutoring is even more blatant because "anyone can get a license to do educational business, and tutoring is sponsored by taxes".

According to Mr. Le Trong Kim, after Circular 29, tutoring centers sprung up everywhere, a classroom of a few dozen square meters was also a center, there were variations of this teacher teaching that class, that teacher teaching this class, the tuition fees "carried" the center rental fee so it skyrocketed... and there was a lack of inspection and supervision by authorities.

Another problem leads to a "half-laughing, half-crying" situation as shared by Minh Hien: "Classes are left empty. Teachers and students go to the center to study day and night. Fees have almost doubled. In the end, parents still have to bear the cost."

What solutions can make Circular 29 truly effective?

For Circular 29 to truly have a positive impact, many readers suggest that stricter control measures are needed.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan suggested: "Completely ban extra classes outside of school. Instead, organize extra classes in the second session right at school with high supervision from the management agency. Teachers are paid appropriate salaries, and parents do not have to worry about running around."

Some other opinions emphasized the control of tutoring centers. Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan suggested: "The Ministry needs to have a document to inspect and close centers that do not meet the requirements. Anyone who grants licenses for centers to operate in violation of regulations must also be held accountable."

Another person suggested: We should inspect the licenses for tutoring at private homes and apartments to see how they can easily get the licenses. According to this person, we need to strictly punish private individuals who tutor elementary school students, and at the same time, we need to add regulations prohibiting tutoring after 8pm.

In addition, some people think that technology should be used to reduce dependence on private tutoring. Huy Nguyen suggested: "The Ministry of Education should encourage students to study on the Internet and use AI technology to support their studies. If there is not enough inspection force, a website should be set up for people to report violations."

Another solution comes from Trinh Vien: "It is necessary to unify the curriculum, reduce theory, and increase practice. When the pressure of studying is reduced, the need for extra classes will also decrease."

Mr. Ngoc San Nguyen suggested that a common national test bank should be established and used to help ensure objectivity and fairness in assessing students' abilities, while limiting the situation of teachers creating "tricky" or biased test questions. According to him, the Ministry of Education and Training should assign the responsibility for organizing exams/assessments to the education department/training management, thereby minimizing the situation of teachers arbitrarily creating questions, unfairly grading, or colluding with outside tutoring centers. In addition, there should be strict sanctions for individuals and organizations that violate regulations on tutoring and extra learning, including warnings, reprimands, salary reductions, suspensions, or even removal from the industry.