On February 14th, Circular No. 29/2024/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training, regulating supplementary tutoring, came into effect. Below are the answers to questions regarding whether teaching and learning English and computer science at centers constitutes supplementary tutoring.
Is it considered "extra tutoring" for elementary school students to attend English classes at a language center?
An English teacher at a primary school raised the question: Circular 29 on supplementary teaching and learning, effective from February 14, 2025, stipulates that "supplementary teaching and learning shall not be organized for primary school students, except for cases of art, physical education, sports , and life skills training." So, are primary school students attending English classes at a center considered "supplementary learning"?
Time to go home at a tutoring center in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
This teacher stated that outside of her school hours, she signs a contract to teach at an English center, with the center handling all student enrollment. The program she teaches at the center uses different curricula than the current textbooks, helping students obtain various English certificates. Therefore, would her additional work be considered supplementary teaching and be subject to the regulations in Circular 29? And if, while teaching at this center, she is assigned to a class with students she previously taught at the primary school, would this constitute a violation?
For example, a teacher currently teaching at a public primary school might teach IC3 computer skills certification courses at a center outside of working hours. Does this count as supplementary teaching according to Circular 29? If the teacher teaches the same students they teach at the primary school, is this permissible?
Teaching English at a language center is not classified as "extra tutoring".
Responding to a reporter from Thanh Nien newspaper, Mr. Ho Tan Minh, Chief of the Office of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, said: "Teaching English at centers focuses on practicing speaking, listening, reading, and preparing for certificates such as Starters, Movers… not teaching classroom knowledge; learning English here is to develop competence. Therefore, teaching English at centers (even for primary school students) should not be classified as supplementary teaching."
Mr. Minh also emphasized the need to clearly understand the concept of supplementary teaching and learning. Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 29/2024/TT-BGDĐ dated December 30, 2024, issued by the Ministry of Education and Training, defines supplementary teaching and learning as: "Supplementary teaching and learning is additional teaching and learning activities beyond the time allotted in the educational plan for subjects and educational activities in the general education program, the continuing education program at the lower secondary level, and the continuing education program at the upper secondary level, as issued by the Minister of Education and Training."
The Chief of Staff of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training stated: "When foreign language centers are granted operating licenses to organize teaching, they are not licensed to teach the content taught in schools, but to teach English Starters, Movers, KET, PET, etc., using different materials and developing different skills, so it is not included in the main curriculum."
"Language centers in Ho Chi Minh City are licensed to operate educational activities to teach practical English according to Circular 28 (Circular No. 28/2021/TT-BGDĐT of the Ministry of Education and Training on promulgating the Continuing Education Program on Practical English). No language center is licensed to teach English under the 2018 General Education Program. Therefore, if a language center organizes English classes based on the 2018 General Education Program, it is violating its license," Mr. Ho Tan Minh added.
Students leave a tutoring center in Ho Chi Minh City.
Regarding the question of whether teachers at public primary schools who teach IC3 certification courses at foreign language and computer centers outside of working hours are considered to be providing extra tutoring according to Circular 29, Mr. Minh stated that this is not considered extra tutoring, because teaching IC3 is about teaching skills and developing students' abilities and qualities.
IC3 is not part of the general education curriculum; the center teaches students to obtain an international certificate, enhance their abilities and skills, and it does not teach core academic knowledge.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/day-hoc-tieng-anh-tin-hoc-ic3-o-trung-tam-co-phai-day-them-hoc-them-185250210080441716.htm
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