Ministry of Education and Training: "Discipline is not intended to push students out of the educational environment"

(Dan Tri) - According to the representative of the Ministry of Education and Training, discipline is for students to progress, become self-aware and change, not to push students out of the educational environment.

Responding to reporters about the complete abolition of strict disciplinary measures that could cause difficulties in managing students, Mr. Hoang Duc Minh, Head of the Department of Students, Ministry of Education and Training, provided detailed information about this content.

Students and teachers are subject to legal action.

According to Mr. Minh, educating students is not only done by the education sector. To educate students effectively, there needs to be close coordination between family, school and society.

The educational environment is also subject to the constraints of the current legal system for administrators, teachers and students.

Therefore, for each violation of the law, depending on the nature, level and consequences caused, each individual must be subject to handling forms according to the provisions of law such as criminal law, juvenile justice law and other current laws.

Mr. Hoang Duc Minh, Director of the Department of Students, Ministry of Education and Training (Photo: Nguyen Manh).

"Changing the way of discipline is a way of looking at student education, discipline to help students progress, become self-aware and change, not discipline to push students out of the educational environment," said Mr. Minh.

According to the representative of the Ministry of Education and Training, with the age of the students, suspension and expulsion from school is not appropriate, this is an administrative decision and not an educational activity. The above action has a very high risk of pushing the students into crime, when there is a lack of education from the whole school and lack of attention from the family.

Therefore, every teacher needs to be dedicated to the teaching profession, consider students as their own children and maintain the ethics of teachers. At the same time, there must be appropriate measures and pedagogical methods to deal with problems arising in students that can lead to actions that harm the teacher's mental and physical health.

Change disciplinary practices to conform to the legal system

Previously, just one day after the new circular on rewards and discipline for students was issued, public opinion exploded with the incident of a 7th grade student grabbing the teacher's hair, pressing her head down, and knocking her down right in the classroom at Dai Kim Secondary School, Hanoi .

The incident has caused a wave of outrage in the community, making many people worry that the new policy is going too far ahead of reality, creating a "gap" in school discipline management.

The student grabbed the teacher's hair and threw her down to snatch back the sharp toy above (Photo: Document).

Specifically, Circular No. 19/2025/TT-BGDDT, which was recently issued by the Ministry of Education and Training on September 15, detailing the rewards and discipline of students in educational institutions, effective from October 31, has abolished the disciplinary form of suspension from school.

Instead, students who violate discipline are only warned, criticized, or at most forced to write a self-criticism.

This is controversial in public opinion because in the specific context of Vietnam, this policy is revealing major limitations, making this humanity "half-hearted" and at risk of "doing more harm than good" because compared to other countries in the world, we are lacking comprehensive support resources.

Explaining this, Mr. Minh said that the reason for the regulation as in Circular No. 19 is because the Ministry of Education and Training approaches rewards and discipline with the goal of perfecting the system of documents guiding the implementation of the Law on Education, the Law on Emulation and Rewards and in accordance with the Law on Children and the current legal system.

Accordingly, the circular sets out the following principles: Rewards and discipline for students must ensure educational and humane values, for the progress of students.

Therefore, the outstanding difference between Circular 19 and the old Circular is its suitability to the practical context and the current legal system.

Circular 19/2025/TT-BGDDT dated September 15, 2025, effective from October 31, stipulates 5 forms of commendation including: Commendation in front of the class; Commendation in front of the whole school; Certificate of Merit from the principal; Letter of Merit; Other forms of commendation and rewards.

Disciplinary violations include prohibited acts for students in educational institutions as prescribed in the Law on Education and violations of regulations of schools and competent state agencies.

Educational facility managers, teachers and staff shall determine the level of violation based on the nature and consequences of the violation.

For primary school students there are two disciplinary measures: Warning and request for apology.

For students at other levels, there are three disciplinary measures: Warning; criticism; request to write a self-criticism.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/bo-gddt-ky-luat-khong-nham-day-hoc-sinh-khoi-moi-truong-giao-duc-20250923081137838.htm