Phu Tho Department of Education and Training has just issued an official dispatch requesting to rectify extra teaching and learning activities in educational institutions.

The Department of Education and Training requires school leaders to strictly follow regulations on extra teaching and learning. At the same time, publicize extra teaching and learning plans on the website and parent meetings. Fully, seriously and effectively implement the official education program; organize serious, objective and fair assessments to improve the quality of education in subjects and reduce the pressure of extra learning; "absolutely do not cut the program to teach and learn extra".

The Department of Education and Training allows schools to organize extra classes based on students' voluntary participation and parental consent. It strictly prohibits forcing students to take extra classes in any form. Extra classes must be conducted in accordance with regulations, with quality and effectiveness.

"School leaders are responsible for managing teachers who teach extra classes outside of school according to regulations (do not organize extra classes outside of school but can participate in extra classes outside of school; do not teach extra classes outside of school with students who are currently teaching regular classes without permission from the unit's leaders)," the document stated. The Department requested schools to strengthen inspection, supervision, and management of teachers who teach extra classes inside and outside of school according to regulations.

Phan Thiet City People's Committee (Binh Thuan) requires schools to rectify extra teaching and learning inside and outside of school.

The document clearly stated that recently, according to parents' feedback, the situation of primary and secondary school teachers organizing extra classes outside of school continues despite many documents notifying and reminding. Therefore, the People's Committee of Phan Thiet City requires strict implementation of regulations on extra teaching and learning according to current guidelines. In particular, the Department of Education and Training is responsible for managing extra teaching and learning in the city.

The City People's Committee also requested to strengthen inspection and handling of illegal tutoring and extra learning in the area. "Review and inspect locations for renting out illegal tutoring and extra learning facilities; and establishments that organize tutoring and extra learning to promptly correct and handle violations," the document stated.

School principals organize extra classes and tutoring according to regulations. They must agree with parents on the contents related to the organization of extra classes and tutoring fees according to the agreement.

The People's Committee of Thai Binh City (Thai Binh) has directed the management of extra teaching and learning, strictly handling units and individuals who violate regulations on extra teaching and learning.

To resolve the issue, the City People's Committee leader requested the Department of Education and Training to preside over, advise, and organize implementation, avoiding the situation of not regularly checking to prevent violations. Plan regular and surprise inspections of extra teaching and learning outside of school.

At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen inspections of centers and places that organize extra classes; promptly handle violating units and individuals. "Teachers are strictly prohibited from cutting down the content of the curriculum in class to put pressure on parents to send their children to extra classes," the directive document of the City People's Committee emphasized.

The City People's Committee assigned the Department of Internal Affairs to advise on disciplinary action or transfer of managers and teachers who violate regulations on extra teaching and learning.

Recently, the Department of Education and Training of District 1 (HCMC) also issued a document strictly prohibiting teachers from giving extra classes in violation of regulations according to Circular 17/2012 of the Ministry of Education and Training.

The District Department of Education and Training requires teachers not to teach extra classes to students whose schools have organized two sessions per day, and not to teach extra classes to elementary school students, except in cases of art, physical education, and life skills training.

The Department of Education and Training assigned the principal to be directly responsible for financial management, assets, and management of extra teaching and learning. "Responsible for checking that teachers comply with the above regulations and strictly and promptly handling violators," the Department directed.

At the end of October, the Department of Education and Training of Ba Dinh District (Hanoi) issued a document requesting principals of kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools in the district to strictly implement extra teaching and learning according to regulations. Schools organized for staff and teachers to sign a commitment not to organize extra teaching contrary to regulations, and to only participate in extra teaching according to regulations and with the principal's consent.

In addition, the district requires strengthening supervision and inspection of extra teaching and learning activities in schools and promptly handling and reviewing violations, especially the behaviors and attitudes of officials and teachers forcing students to take extra classes; not teaching extra classes at facilities that are not licensed or have not been approved by the principal.

The school is assigned to coordinate with local authorities to strictly manage extra teaching and learning activities; publicly announce the list of licensed extra teaching facilities for parents and the public to know.

"The principal is responsible to the Department of Education and Training for any violations of regulations. Schools with staff and teachers who violate regulations on extra teaching and learning will not be considered for emulation titles during the school year," the Department of Education and Training emphasized.

At the 8th Session of the 15th National Assembly in November 2024, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son said: "The Ministry's policy is not to prohibit extra teaching, but to prohibit extra teaching behaviors that violate teachers' ethics and professional principles, such as forcing students."

Extra classes are a real need for both teachers and students. This does not need to be banned or criticized. The issue that makes public opinion angry is that students have to attend extra classes taught by outside teachers, even though they do not want to.

Currently, teachers are not allowed to teach extra classes outside of school with their regular students without the principal’s permission. The Ministry of Education and Training is developing new regulations that eliminate formal procedures. For example, instead of asking the principal for permission, teachers can teach but must make a list of students, report to the principal, and commit not to force them. At the same time, teachers are not allowed to use examples, questions, and exercises taught extra classes to test and evaluate students.

The Ministry also proposed to include tutoring in the conditional business sector to avoid distortion, facilitate management, and ensure the rights of both teachers and students, said a Ministry representative.

Khanh Huyen