The Ministry of Education and Training officially allows online teaching to support and replace direct teaching.

The purpose of online teaching is to support or replace face-to-face teaching at general education and continuing education institutions, helping educational institutions improve teaching quality and complete educational programs. This activity also aims to develop the capacity to use information and communication technology in teaching, promote digital transformation in the education sector, and at the same time expand access to education for students, creating conditions for them to study anywhere, anytime.

The Ministry of Education and Training stipulates that the principle of online teaching is that the content must meet the level or requirements of the general education program (CTGDPT); ensure minimum conditions for online teaching infrastructure, and the teaching staff must meet the requirements for organizing online teaching. When carrying out this activity, general education institutions and continuing education institutions must comply with current regulations on information security, regulations on data, personal information, and intellectual property according to the provisions of law.

Online teaching support and direct replacement to improve teaching quality

Online teaching activities, as prescribed in the Circular of the Ministry of Education and Training, are carried out according to lessons or topics according to the General Education Program, ensuring interaction between teachers and students during the teaching and learning process. This activity can support direct teaching at educational institutions by implementing part of the lesson content or topic according to the General Education Program to support direct teaching of that lesson or topic. Online teaching can also replace direct teaching at educational institutions by implementing the entire lesson content or topic according to the General Education Program to replace direct teaching of this lesson or topic.

The head of an educational institution has the right to decide on the form of online teaching organization to support direct teaching; organize online teaching to replace direct teaching at the educational institution during the time when students are not at school to study due to force majeure.

To organize online teaching, teachers carry out main activities such as: Organizing online lessons to teach and guide students in their studies; assigning learning tasks and testing and evaluating students' learning outcomes; monitoring and supporting students in exploiting learning content from online teaching materials; consulting, supporting, answering questions and resolving students' inquiries.

Students studying online carry out main activities such as: Attending online classes organized by teachers; carrying out learning activities and tests, assessments as required by teachers; exploiting learning content from online teaching materials; asking and answering questions to teachers and other students.

Periodic online assessment in force majeure conditions

Circular of the Ministry of Education and Training stipulates that regular testing and assessment of students' online learning outcomes is carried out during the teaching and learning process. Forms of regular testing and assessment in online teaching and learning are carried out according to regulations on regular testing and assessment of the Ministry of Education and Training.

The periodic testing and assessment of students' online learning outcomes is conducted directly at the educational institution according to the regulations on periodic testing and assessment of the Ministry of Education and Training. However, in cases where students cannot come to the educational institution at the time of periodic testing and assessment due to force majeure, the periodic testing and assessment will be conducted online.

The Ministry of Education and Training allows heads of general education institutions to decide on the form of periodic testing and assessment according to regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training, ensuring that testing and assessment are accurate, fair, objective, and honest.

In order for online teaching and learning activities to take place smoothly and in accordance with regulations, the Ministry of Education and Training specifically stipulates the responsibilities of relevant agencies, organizations and individuals. In particular, the Provincial People's Committee is responsible for directing departments, branches, district People's Committees and relevant agencies to deploy online teaching and learning in the locality. The Provincial People's Committee develops mechanisms and policies to support resources to ensure technical infrastructure for organizing online teaching and learning; arranges funding for training, fostering and coaching to improve professional qualifications and online teaching skills for teachers and managers and ensures technical conditions for organizing online teaching and learning.

Circular 09 takes effect from May 16, 2021.