Dissolution and suspension of more than 30 foreign language centers due to ineffective operations

On the morning of June 22, the Department of Education and Training held a conference for foreign language, life skills and after-school centers.

Many centers affected after the epidemic

The conference took place in the context that the operations of foreign language, life skills and after-school centers have begun to return to normal after 2 years of being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic has also had a great impact and up to 30 centers in the province have had to temporarily suspend operations or dissolve.

Delegates attending the conference. Photo: My Ha

According to the report of the Department of Education and Training, there are currently 176 foreign language centers in the province and they have basically met the needs of learners. Many centers have grown rapidly in scale and maintained good training quality with more than 74,000 students currently studying and nearly 2,500 students receiving certificates. In addition, in 2 years, more than 100,000 students in educational institutions have participated in intensive English learning.

In recent years, life skills and after-school centers have also developed rapidly with 92 centers (most concentrated in Vinh city with 46 centers).

The model of activities is implemented in many groups such as the group of life skills content linked in schools, the group of life skills content operating at the centers. The number of students is mainly concentrated in the group of life skills content linked in schools with nearly 64,000 students.

Speaking at the conference, representatives of many English centers and life skills centers in the province also contributed many opinions and shared about the difficulties in the operation process.

Currently, the regulation on licensing requires foreign language teachers, causing many foreign language centers in remote districts to face many difficulties. In some localities, the situation of extra teaching and learning is widespread and not strictly managed, making it difficult for many licensed centers to operate properly. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen inspection and examination because there are still unlicensed centers operating openly.

The conference was attended by leaders of the Department of Education and Training and representatives of more than 200 foreign language and life skills centers across the province. Photo: My Ha

Strive to ensure scale and quality

The conference also looked directly at the limitations of the centers. Although 20/21 districts and cities have foreign language centers, in some localities, the scale and ability to meet the needs of learners are still limited (such as Tuong Duong, Anh Son, Hung Nguyen, Quy Hop, Quy Chau, Que Phong). Most of the centers are currently renting houses, so the environment is not really suitable; after the Covid-19 pandemic, many units showed signs of deterioration in facilities but have not been replaced.

In foreign language centers, the management of teachers and professional activities is not in accordance with regulations, especially foreign teachers. The training and development of teachers according to professional standards is not focused on; the implementation of the enhanced English program in some units is not effective.

Comrade Nguyen Van Khoa - Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training spoke at the conference. Photo: My Ha.

With life skills centers, management still has difficulties. Most recently, the Department established a team to inspect a number of centers, most of which did not keep sufficient records according to regulations (operation license records; professional management records; teachers assigned to teach the wrong content of activities, not matching the approved activity program).

Some units have not been effective in building programs and organizing activities: teachers have not been trained and regularly improved their knowledge and methods after a period of operation (math thinking content, skills training...), most of them are recruited carelessly and lack proper training.

In particular, many units use technology and social networks to promote the center's image that is not true to reality or approved content, affecting the reputation and healthy competition between units.

In the past year, the Department's inspection team also inspected a number of foreign language centers with signs of violations, suspending 3 centers in Vinh city, namely SAS English Center at 74 - 76 Tran Phu, AMES English Center - 41 Tran Phu, A Plus English Center - 58 Nguyen Phong Sac.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training Nguyen Van Khoa affirmed that, as a management unit, the Department's viewpoint is to compete fairly and requested that centers operate in accordance with their registration licenses and comply with legal regulations.

The Department will also accompany the centers to develop best but will also strictly handle centers that do not operate according to their functions and tasks.

A representative of the English Center in Yen Thanh district pointed out some difficulties in the operation process, for example, the regulation requiring foreign teachers when registering. Photo: My Ha.

In the coming time, the Department will seriously and properly implement the information disclosure on management software and media so that people and educational institutions can choose and monitor.

At the same time, the Department continues to complete guidelines to stabilize the organization of foreign language centers; strives for all localities in the province to have enough foreign language centers that ensure scale and quality, meet the needs of learners and support the activities of public educational institutions.

In addition, it will continue to coordinate with relevant departments and branches to strengthen comprehensive State management of foreign language centers.

The education sector plans to organize competitions for excellent teachers at the provincial and cluster levels to create opportunities for teachers at the centers to affirm their capacity and teaching quality.