Extra classes are twice the tuition fee, I work hard to pay for my child.

Sitting and talking with other parents, Ms. Nguyen Lan Huong, a parent of children in grades 3 and 8 in Hanoi, learned that many people were like her.

Children take extra classes, parents pay with grim faces

Although we know that extra classes are based on the needs of each student, in Hanoi most students have to go to extra classes, some even go full week, including taking online classes until midnight.

Ms. Nguyen Lan Huong, a parent with children in grades 3 and 8 in Hanoi, shared with Dan Viet newspaper: "The older my children get, the more I understand why no one dares to have many children because it is really too expensive. Even I have 2 children of school age, but the amount of money spent on their education is more than 10 million VND per month, even though they study at public schools."

Ms. Huong added that although the need for extra classes is voluntary, no child does not attend extra classes. "I am not interested in high or low achievements, I do not need my child to be better than his friends, I just want him to pass the entrance exam to a high school near home. Even though he is only in 8th grade, I am very stressed and worried. My family is not well off, so my only goal is to send my child to a public school to ease the burden. But if you want to pass, you have to study day and night, studying one subject after another.

Illustrative photo of students taking the 6th grade entrance exam in Hanoi. Photo: Tao Nga

Many times I told my child to take less classes because it was too hard, one shift after another, both mother and child were struggling, but he refused. Luckily, he still took extra basketball classes to balance his life. Children today really suffer."

Ms. Le Thu Hang, whose child is in 6th grade, also said that her child studies full-time every week. The parents' job is to take turns picking him up and dropping him off.

According to Ms. Hang, her daughter is currently taking 2 Math classes, 1 Literature class and 1 English class. "I know that self-study is better for her, but she cannot study at home, so I have to send her to extra classes at night. If she does not go to class, her results will be much lower than her friends. If every family goes to extra classes and I do not send my child to extra classes, she will definitely be at a disadvantage. Even though it costs a lot of money every month, I have to accept it for the sake of her future."

Having a child in grade 4, Mr. Tran Thanh Tung shared: "My child has been taking extra classes since he was not in grade 1 yet, so regularly, outside of class time, he takes extra classes in the evenings or on weekends. If he doesn't take extra classes, he won't be able to keep up with his friends. After all, parents go to work to earn money just for their children's future."

Explain why parents force their children to go to extra classes?

Sharing with PV of Dan Viet newspaper, Bui Ngoc Phuc, co-author of the book "Going through exams with your children" said: "Extra classes are not new. In the past, students with poor academic performance were tutored by teachers, and good students were given advanced training. Later, due to the request of parents, teachers opened extra classes to accept small groups of acquaintances.

However, nowadays, extra learning and teaching are developing too rapidly, students take extra classes at all three levels of education, teachers consider it as their main source of income. The need for extra learning is completely legitimate, where there is supply, there is demand. Those who teach extra classes are no longer limited to teachers, many people without a teaching degree still open classes, so extra teaching and learning is flourishing.

Speaking more about the need for children to attend extra classes, Teacher Vu Thi Anh Tuyet, Principal of Nguyen Viet Xuan Primary School, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, said that at the primary level, students are designed to study 2 sessions/day, ensuring knowledge and skills according to the 2018 generaleducation program. However, there are still some parents who want their children to be enriched with more knowledge to meet the input requirements of high-quality secondary schools. Or there are busy parents who do not have time to check, guide the review and review of the knowledge content learned in class, so they wish to ask for support from teachers. That is the reality of life, thus creating the need for extra classes.

If there is a need, parents will find a way to ask teachers to organize extra classes to meet the demand, so the ban will not be effective, causing difficulties for management. Therefore, Ms. Tuyet believes that there should be specific regulations on cases and conditions for extra teaching and learning to manage strictly.

Dr. Nguyen Tung Lam, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Educational Psychology, said: The goal of the 2018 General Education Program is to develop students' comprehensive abilities. However, teachers and parents still find ways to teach and learn extra to cram knowledge. The underlying cause of students at all levels taking extra classes today is because of exams and the competitive mentality of some parents, not wanting to be inferior to their friends.

Mr. Lam said that at the primary level, students are young and already study 2 sessions/day, so there is no need to learn additional cultural subjects in any form. For weak students, the school will be responsible for sending teachers to provide free training.

For junior high and high school students who need extra classes to prepare for exams to advance their level, schools design a curriculum that ensures content and knowledge for students to take exams, avoiding the situation where teachers use tricks and hide lessons to lure students to take extra classes. For the entrance exam to specialized high schools, localities should consider an admission plan without taking exams, which will also reduce the situation of extra classes and exam preparation.

According to Dr. Lam, the goal of education to develop comprehensive capacity for students is that teachers guide how to learn, and students learn by themselves. In addition, it is necessary to reduce theory, increase activities, and increase practice to form skills. Parents need to be aware of this so as not to find extra classes for their children at all costs.

Source: https://danviet.vn/phu-huynh-than-tho-tien-hoc-them-gap-doi-tien-hoc-phi-toi-cong-lung-dong-tien-cho-con-20241124070035814.htm