Soon issue specific regulations to manage extra teaching and learning.

On February 18, the Central Press Conference for February 2025 took place in Hanoi. Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong attended and discussed a number of issues related to general education, including the management of extra teaching and learning.

HAim for schools without extra classes or tutoring

Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong said: The viewpoint of the Ministry of Education and Training when drafting Circular 29/2024/TT-BGDDT is to implement the 2019 Education Law and other relevant legal regulations, in accordance with the practical situation in localities. The Circular aims to better manage extra teaching and learning activities, not to prohibit or "tighten" these activities.

The organization of extra teaching and learning must ensure that it does not affect the organization and implementation of the school's educational program and the teachers' subject programs. The organization of extra teaching and learning must ensure the interests of students, not coerce them; and preserve the image and dignity of teachers.

Extra teaching and learning must be consistent with the 2018 General Education Program. In it, students are encouraged to be proactive, creative, and develop self-study habits; teachers play the role of organizers, inspectors, and guides.

Regarding the new points of Circular 29, Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong emphasized: Firstly, the new Circular stipulates that no extra teaching or learning is allowed for primary school students, except for cases of training in arts, sports, and life skills training; no extra teaching for students whose schools have organized 2 sessions/day.

Second, extra teaching and learning in schools must not collect money from students and is only for 3 subjects under the responsibility of the school. The viewpoint of the Ministry of Education and Training is to aim for schools that do not have extra teaching and learning because in principle, schools and teachers implement the correct study hours according to regulations to ensure students have enough knowledge and meet the requirements of the 2018 General Education Program.

Third, regarding the regulations on extra teaching and learning outside of school, the new Circular stipulates that organizations and individuals organizing extra teaching and learning with fees from students must do so openly, transparently, and in accordance with the provisions of law; teachers currently teaching at schools are not allowed to teach extra teaching outside of school with fees from their students.

After issuing Circular 29, the Ministry of Education and Training advised the Prime Minister to issue Official Dispatch No. 10/CD-TTg dated February 7, 2025 on strengthening the direction of secondary school and high school enrollment and management of extra teaching and learning activities.

In the telegram, the Prime Minister acknowledged that over the past time, the entire education sector has achieved many important and positive results in implementing the task of fundamental and comprehensive innovation in education and training, and innovation of general education programs.

At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Training and People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities are required to implement many solutions to continue improving the quality and effectiveness of state management of secondary school enrollment, high school enrollment and extra teaching and learning activities.

Local authorities join in

Implementing the direction of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Official Dispatch No. 545/BGDĐT-GDTrH dated February 11, 2025 on strengthening direction for general education, in which it requested the People's Committees of provinces and cities to direct the Department of Education and Training to properly implement regulations on management of extra teaching and learning.

The People's Committees of many provinces and centrally-run cities have issued documents on strengthening the direction of secondary school and high school enrollment and the management of extra teaching and learning activities in the area (such as Dong Thap, Nam Dinh, Bac Ninh, Bac Kan...).

Many Departments of Education and Training have issued official dispatches to direct the implementation of Circular 29. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, the City People's Committee has issued this official dispatch. Some Departments of Planning and Investment have issued official dispatches to guide business registration and contents according to regulations on extracurricular teaching according to Circular 29.

Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong said that after Official Dispatch No. 545/BGDĐT-GDTrH, the Ministry of Education and Training will continue to grasp the situation from localities to issue further urging and directing documents, thereby helping the Departments of Education and Training have a basis for advising and directing implementation at the local level.

The Ministry of Education and Training requests the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to continue to effectively direct the implementation of communication work, organize specialized conferences to disseminate and guide relevant subjects to unify the organization and implementation of regulations.

The Departments of Education and Training have promptly grasped the situation from schools and teachers to guide or coordinate with departments, branches, districts and counties to have instructions suitable to local characteristics.

Schools and teachers are responsible for teaching students to develop qualities and abilities, meeting output standards. The creation of test and assessment questions must also ensure that they are correct and sufficient to meet the requirements of the program. For students who have not achieved satisfactory results and are preparing for the transfer exams and high school graduation exams, schools and teachers must be responsible for providing support for them.

QEffective management of tutoring and learning

In order for the Circular to soon come into practice, Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong proposed a number of solutions to be implemented in the coming time to effectively manage extra teaching and learning, including: Issuing specific regulations to manage extra teaching and learning.

Improve teachers' capacity and teaching methods, teachers' responsibility; promote students' self-study ability.

Testing, assessment and entrance exams must be consistent with the content and requirements of the 2018 General Education Program; questions must not be set outside the program content to ensure that students study according to the program; and connections between general education and university education must be strengthened.

There should be enough schools to ensure equal access to education for students; increase the number of schools and classes that teach two sessions a day. Strengthen inspection and examination by state management agencies at both central and local levels in compliance with regulations on management of extra teaching and learning; strengthen supervision by parents and the whole society over this activity.

Strengthen information and propaganda to raise teachers' self-esteem to say "no" to extra teaching that is not in accordance with regulations; mobilize parents to agree and support solutions to manage extra teaching and learning activities to ensure the rights and comprehensive development of students.