Da Nang speaks out about 'forcing' primary school students to learn English with foreign teachers

In response to press and public concerns about some primary schools in Da Nang organizing English classes with foreign teachers at high tuition fees, on September 28, the Department of Education and Training (DET) sent a press release to press agencies and schools.

According to the Department of Education and Training of Da Nang , in preparation for the 2023-2024 school year, the Department issued guiding documents related to the organization of English teaching with foreign teachers.

Specifically, most primary schools in the city have organized 2 sessions/day (some schools have not yet implemented this for 5th grade students due to physical conditions). Therefore, schools must organize teaching according to the official timetable, ensuring the minimum number of periods/week/teacher, the minimum number of sessions/week/class, and the maximum number of periods/day/class.

The Department of Education and Training of Da Nang affirmed that primary schools organizing English teaching and learning with foreign teachers is voluntary, and parents are not forced to register.

The Department of Education and Training of Da Nang affirmed that organizing English lessons with foreign teachers as well as teaching life skills are voluntary subjects, registered by students and parents (not all students have the need), so they can only be organized outside of regular school hours, not included in the regular timetable.

At the same time, schools only deploy and organize for students whose parents register to participate in the study on a voluntary basis, strictly prohibiting suggesting or forcing students to participate. The organization process must ensure the right to study, safety and suitability to the psychology and physiology of students.

In addition, schools that choose units to coordinate in organizing English teaching with foreign teachers (as well as contents related to purchasing goods and services) must comply with the provisions of the Law on Bidding and related guiding documents.

“ Schools are only allowed to implement when they have developed a complete plan according to the instructions of the Department of Education and Training and have it approved by the Department of Education and Training of the districts. If any school organizes without approval or does not implement according to the approved plan, it is a violation ,” the Department of Education and Training affirmed.

At the same time, the Department also requires the Departments of Education and Training to ensure that the approval of plans is in accordance with regulations and to be responsible for checking and supervising the implementation.

The announcement emphasized: " Currently, the Department of Education and Training is inspecting the implementation of tasks at the beginning of the school year at the Department of Education and Training of districts and conducting field trips to a number of primary schools to promptly detect and remind of violations...

If schools do not adjust and correct violations, the Department of Education and Training will continue to organize inspections, impose penalties and recommend that the People's Committees of districts coordinate in handling violations according to regulations ."

Previously, some parents in Da Nang whose children are studying in grades 1 and 2 reported that schools organizing English classes with foreign teachers is inappropriate.

According to the reporter's investigation, the tuition fee of an English center for primary schools in Da Nang is quite high. Specifically, if the duration is 1 period/week (4 periods/month), the tuition fee is 140 thousand VND/student. And if the duration is 2 periods/week (8 periods/month), the tuition fee is 270 thousand VND/student.

According to parents, English is an elective subject for grades 1 and 2. Children only practice getting used to it, so the English teachers teach it to meet the requirements, and it is not necessary to study with foreign teachers.

In particular, the tuition fees that schools charge foreign teachers to teach are too high, and many families cannot afford them.

CHAU THU

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