Primary school students who do poorly in school, hiring a tutor is a violation of extra teaching and learning?

Circular 29 stipulates that "no extra tutoring is allowed for primary school students, except for cases of training in arts, sports , and life skills training". But if parents hire tutors to tutor primary school students with poor academic performance, is it a violation of Circular 29? This is a concern of many readers sent to the Thanh Nien Newspaper editorial office.

Is it possible to hire a home tutor to teach elementary school students? Is it a violation of Circular 29? This is a concern of many parents.

ILLUSTRATION: THUY HANG

Mr. Luong Hong Thanh (character's name has been changed), a high school math tutor in Ho Chi Minh City, said: "Regarding the tutoring of primary school students, when Circular 29 takes effect, this is not in accordance with regulations. In Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular No. 29/2024/TT-BGDĐ dated December 30, 2024 of the Ministry of Education and Training on tutoring and extra learning, it is defined as: "Teaching and extra learning are additional teaching activities outside the prescribed time in theeducation plan for subjects and educational activities in the general education program, the continuing education program at the junior high school level, the continuing education program at the high school level issued by the Minister of Education and Training". Thus, tutoring subjects in the general education program at the primary level for primary school students is not in accordance with Circular 29. At the primary level, when students are weak in their studies, the school will organize tutoring for them in the school and will not charge them money".

Responding to a reporter from Thanh Nien Newspaper about the issue of "Is it a violation of Circular 29 for elementary school students who are poor at studying to hire a tutor?", the Head of the Department of Education and Training of a district in Ho Chi Minh City said: "According to Circular 29, there is only the concept of "extra teaching and learning", there is no concept of "tutoring". According to Circular 29, this is also a violation because the subjects are elementary school students. Elementary school students study 2 sessions/day, so the responsibility of the school principal is to have a plan for teachers to train and support students who have not achieved."

Circular 29 of the Ministry of Education and Training stipulates that: Extra teaching and learning in schools must not collect money from students and is only for students who register for extra classes by subject, including "students whose final semester results in the subject are not satisfactory". The school organizes for these students to write an application form (according to the form in Circular 29); based on the number of registered students, the school develops a plan to organize extra classes for each subject in each grade.

Primary school teachers in Ho Chi Minh City during a training session on Vietnamese textbooks, General Education Program 2018

PHOTO: THUY HANG

Absolutely do not organize extra classes for primary school students.

On February 17, 2025, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City issued Official Dispatch No. 674/SGDĐT-VP to the Departments of Education and Training of districts, Thu Duc City; principals of high schools, general schools with many levels of education with the highest level of education being high school; directors of vocational education and continuing education centers on the implementation of Circular 29 of the Ministry of Education and Training regulating extra teaching and learning.

In the document, the Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City emphasized: "Absolutely do not relax the organization of review and training for students with unsatisfactory learning results; organize for final grade students to strengthen review for entrance exams and graduation exams according to the school's education plan; determine that this is the responsibility of schools to help students meet the requirements for each subject of each grade according to the regulations of the 2018 General Education Program".

Circular 29 regulating extra teaching and learning of the Ministry of Education and Training

GRAPHICS: NGOC LONG

The leaders of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City requested: "For the Department of Education and Training of Thu Duc City and districts: in addition to the above contents, strictly implement the direction of the Chairman of the People's Committee of Thu Duc City and districts on guiding and inspecting extra teaching and learning activities in the area. Focus on thoroughly disseminating to primary schools about absolutely not organizing extra teaching for primary school students according to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 4, Circular No. 29/2024/TT-BGDDT; direct heads of units to adjust and develop plans to implement the 2-session/day program in accordance with the requirements of the 2018 General Education Program; strengthen and supplement club activities, talent development activities (arts, sports, etc.), life skills training, ensuring suitability with local characteristics and pick-up and drop-off times of parents. Take measures to handle according to authority or report to competent authorities about cases of violations of regulations on extra teaching and learning in the area".