"Reviewing" educational regulations from nearly 40 years ago that could be eliminated

According to the draft Circular regulating rewards and discipline for students that the Ministry of Education and Training is seeking opinions on, the content of "expulsion" in the form of student discipline according to Circular 08 issued since March 1988 is abolished.

Nearly 40 years ago, Circular 08 on guidelines for rewarding and disciplining students in general schools applied the form of expulsion to students who violated discipline.

Specifically, there are 5 forms of disciplinary action against high school students who commit mistakes, including reprimand in front of the class, reprimand in front of the school's disciplinary council, warning in front of the whole school, 1-week expulsion, and 1-year expulsion.

Disciplinary form of expulsion of students according to Circular 08 issued since 1988 (Illustration: Hoai Nam).

For 1 week suspension

- Students who commit violations that have been warned in front of the whole school but do not know how to repent and correct their mistakes, which have a negative impact on other students; or commit violations for the first time but are of a serious nature and level, causing great damage to the honor of the school, teachers and the student body such as theft, robbery, organized fighting and causing injuries to others, etc.

Or if there are other violations of similar nature and level of harm, the School Disciplinary Council will consider and propose to the Principal to decide and implement, and at the same time report to the direct superioreducational management agency for information and monitoring.

- This form of discipline will be recorded in the student's transcript and the family will be notified to coordinate education.

- During the 1 week period of being expelled from school, this student must review and think deeply about his shortcomings and mistakes.

If the student shows sincere repentance and is determined to correct his/her shortcomings and improve, after the period of expulsion, the Principal may consider and decide to allow him/her to continue studying. The time the student is expelled from school will be considered as an excused absence if he/she is allowed to return to school.

If during the 1-week suspension, the student who committed the mistake does not show sincere repentance and determination to correct the mistake, and even commits more mistakes, the school's Disciplinary Council will propose to the Principal to decide to suspend the student for 1 year.

- The student's family is responsible for managing and educating their children during the time the student is expelled from school.

With 1 year expulsion

- Students who commit one of the following violations will be proposed by the school's Disciplinary Council to the Principal for a 1-year disciplinary expulsion, with their academic records recorded and their families notified, and will be handed over to their families, the Youth Union, and local authorities for continued education.

- Having committed a mistake and being expelled from school for a week by the school's Disciplinary Council through the Principal, but not correcting it, still re-offending, even committing other mistakes and violations.

The form of expelling students is no longer in the draft Circular regulating rewards and discipline of students that is being consulted (Photo: Hoai Nam).

- Committing a very serious mistake, although it is only the first time, this wrongdoing is conscious and proactive (not being enticed or accomplice), causing very great harm, very dangerous to social property and human life such as: participating in theft, robbery, depravity, reactionary organizations, etc. using weapons (daggers, bayonets, pistols, grenades, etc.);

Organized fighting, causing injury to others, committing crimes outside of school and being arrested by the police or committing other violations of similar nature and level of harm.

- After implementing the 1-year expulsion discipline, the school must complete the records and immediately report to the directly managing higher education agency, the Department of Education (for secondary school students) and the Department of Education (for high school students) for information and monitoring.

- Students who have been expelled from school for 1 year, if they meet the age requirements and want to re-study, must apply to the old school to consider re-studying and must have a certificate from the local authorities (ward, commune, town, township, ...) about their progress, and a commitment from the family about educating their children.

In addition to the above forms of disciplinary enforcement, to ensure the pedagogical nature and seriousness of teaching and learning during class hours, this Circular of the Ministry also stipulates:

Subject teachers can temporarily suspend students from studying and refer them to the Principal for education if they commit one of the following violations: speaking or behaving disrespectfully towards teachers; fighting with friends in class; causing disorder that affects the learning of the class, despite being advised and reminded by teachers... These students are allowed to return to class to continue studying in the next period.

According to Dr. Pham Thi Thuy, Ho Chi Minh City branch of the National Academy of Public Administration, Circular 08 on student discipline and rewards issued by the Ministry of Education and Training in 1988, which includes the form of expelling students, is no longer appropriate.

Ms. Thuy emphasized that we need to recognize that for a long time, in discipline and education, we have lacked tolerance and sharing with children. If education uses punishment to push students out of school, then schools are no longer worthy of educating and should not educate.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/soi-lai-quy-dinh-trong-giao-duc-gan-40-nam-truoc-co-the-bi-loai-bo-20250512152549411.htm