Humanitarian steps in education

On September 15, 2025, the Ministry of Education and Training issued Circular No. 19/2025/TT-BGDDT on rewards and discipline for students (referred to as Circular 19). One of the contents that the public is interested in in this circular is that from October 31, 2025, the form of disciplinary suspension for students will be abolished - replacing the 37-year-old regulation.

For decades, suspension has been considered a strong deterrent, but it has unintentionally pushed students out of the school environment. Many students, after being suspended for a certain period of time, do not want to return to school, dropping out of school with a negative mindset, while they themselves are in an important stage that needs to be cared for and educated to develop physically, intellectually, and personally. Once suspended from school, they not only lack knowledge but also easily fall into the feeling of abandonment, isolation, and are at high risk of falling into social evils.

Circular 19 no longer considers student misconduct as a "crime" that needs to be punished, but as a "disease" that needs to be treated. Disciplinary measures for primary school students are warnings and requests for apologies; for students at other levels, they are warnings, criticisms, and requests to write a self-criticism. Activities to support the correction of violations are: advising and encouraging students, monitoring and consulting students in the process of correcting violations; requiring students to participate in a number of activities related to school counseling, social work in schools, skills education , and other appropriate activities decided by the school to change perceptions and adjust behaviors...

Teachers and students of Nguyen Trai Primary School (Tan An Ward) participate in STEM activities. Photo: N.Minh

The elimination of suspension and the focus on remedial support activities represent a change in the approach to student misconduct and discipline. The new regulations do not remove students from the school environment but focus on education, counseling and psychological support. This means that the school is not only a place to impart knowledge but also a second home - a place where students can share, be listened to and be helped to overcome difficulties.

Each student has a different family situation, parents working far away, family life conflicts, conflicts with friends at school or simply being in the normal psychological crisis of puberty... Negative emotions and dissatisfaction can occur, uncontrolled behaviors because the children are not "mature" enough, do not have timely educational attention...

The new regulations on student discipline in Circular 19 are a milestone for the education sector to turn a new page with a more positive perspective, emphasizing the prevention of violations through early and timely attention and education. Instead of removing students from the educational environment, we find appropriate educational solutions for them to develop better.

There is still much work to be done to effectively promote humane forms of discipline in schools, but this will be an important milestone for schools, parents, and society to have a common perspective to maintain order, discipline, and discipline in schools, and take appropriate steps in the development process for a bright future for students.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/giao-duc/202509/buoc-di-nhan-van-trong-giao-duc-ecf187f/