While tutoring isn't prohibited, it needs to be managed transparently.

The issue of tutoring and supplementary classes continues to attract attention, especially after the Minister of Education and Training recently clarified several issues during a National Assembly discussion on the draft Law on Teachers, stating that the principle of not prohibiting tutoring is not applicable.

"Unleashing" regulations on tutoring

Within the framework of the 8th Session, the National Assembly discussed the draft Law on Teachers in the plenary hall on November 20th, with many opinions focusing on the issue of regulating supplementary teaching. Among these opinions, some suggested that policies are needed to meet the demand for supplementary education from students and parents.

A lesson between a teacher and students at Chu Van An Secondary School ( Hanoi ).

Representative Do Huy Khanh (Dong Nai) argued that tutoring and extra classes also have positive aspects, and not all teachers are bad or force students to take extra classes. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid the situation where, if it cannot be managed, it is banned. Mr. Khanh also suggested that the Ministry of Education and Training, after the Law on Teachers is passed, should coordinate with other ministries, especially the Ministry of Planning and Investment, to issue a circular guiding a thorough consideration of this matter.

Clarifying the opinions of many delegates, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son stated that the Ministry's policy is not to prohibit tutoring but to prohibit tutoring practices that violate the ethics of teachers and professional principles. This means prohibiting certain coercive behaviors by teachers in this matter.

In reality, tutoring stems from the needs of many students; however, the Ministry of Education and Training's policy of not prohibiting tutoring raises concerns that it will continue to be distorted and become a burden for many families.

Especially after the implementation of the 2018 General Education Program, it remains difficult to curb extra tutoring and supplementary classes.

Public opinion is questioning whether the new curriculum is too demanding, leading to the increasing prevalence of private tutoring and extra classes.

Ms. Nguyen Thao Trang (Dong Da district, Hanoi), whose child is in junior high school, believes that the need for extra tutoring among students and parents is real. Children need supplementary knowledge after regular school hours. Without extra tutoring, Ms. Trang worries that her child will not pass the upcoming entrance exam for 10th grade.

According to Ms. Trang, tutoring is reprehensible if teachers coerce students into attending extra classes or retaliate by giving them low grades if they don't attend.

This is also a common concern among many parents. Ms. Tran Minh Huong (Hoang Mai district, Hanoi) believes that the current lax management of extracurricular tutoring has caused it to lose its original purpose. Ms. Huong also suggested that extracurricular tutoring should only be organized outside of schools to avoid potential negative consequences.

Management is needed to prevent negative consequences.

For a long time, tutoring has been a matter of public concern. Regarding the current issue of tutoring, Dr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh - former Director of the Department of Professional Education (Ministry of Education and Training) - believes that tutoring should not be considered an official professional activity of general education teachers because it can lead to many negative consequences. This not only negatively affects students but also erodes public trust in the teaching profession.

“When tutoring becomes an official activity without strict control, it can create inequality between students who can afford it and those who cannot. On the other hand, if tutoring is strictly managed and implemented correctly, it can support students in consolidating their knowledge. Especially for students who need extra time and personal guidance to understand the material, tutoring is necessary,” Dr. Hoang Ngoc Vinh stated.

Professor Pham Tat Dong, former Vice President of the Vietnam Association for the Promotion of Learning, believes that for extracurricular classes to be truly effective, parents need to be discerning in choosing suitable classes for their children, avoiding enrolling them out of obligation. To achieve this, parents must reject the pursuit of academic achievement at all costs, only allowing their children to attend extra classes when absolutely necessary. Schools, on their part, need to improve the professional management of their teaching staff.

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