Request for a review of collaborative teaching in public schools.

Speaking to a reporter from Thanh Nien newspaper on December 17, a representative from the Ministry of Education and Training said that they have requested localities to continue conducting a comprehensive review of the organization of collaborative teaching and learning in schools.

The Hanoi Department of Education and Training has recently sent a document to the People's Committees of communes and wards, and public schools under its management, requesting reports on the implementation of educational support services in public schools. These services include: life skills, English, STEM, digital citizenship skills, AI, etc.

The inclusion of paid extra classes within regular school hours has sparked public outrage.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY PARENTS

The Hanoi Department of Education and Training requires all units to summarize and assess the situation regarding the implementation of educational support services within their respective units; the basis for implementation includes policies of the Party and State, documents from the Ministry of Education and Training, other ministries and agencies, and the city...

According to the same document, units need to propose solutions for the future, clarifying whether or not it is necessary to organize and implement educational support services in schools.

In recent years, Thanh Nien newspaper has published a series of articles reflecting on the increasingly sophisticated and distorted nature of collaborative teaching in schools. Although these are voluntary subjects and educational activities that charge fees, parents and students are not consulted before the teaching plans are arranged.

Many schools integrate "voluntary" courses into their regular class schedules, forcing students and parents to pay for them despite their disagreements. Many have expressed frustration over the lack of oversight regarding the quality of education in these integrated courses.

As Thanh Nien newspaper reported recently, following the 10th session of the 15th National Assembly , on the morning of December 15th, at the headquarters of Bach Mai ward (Hanoi), General Secretary To Lam and National Assembly delegates met with voters from the following wards: Dong Da, Kim Lien, Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam, Lang, O Cho Dua, Ba Dinh, Ngoc Ha, Giang Vo, Hai Ba Trung, Vinh Tuy, Bach Mai...

Discussing some major policies related to education and health in the recent past, the General Secretary emphasized that communes and wards must grasp the detailed and specific needs of schools and healthcare facilities in their areas in order to prepare the necessary infrastructure and equipment.

The General Secretary also noted, through discussions with Hanoi city leaders and voters, that there is still a situation where "the State provides free tuition, but schools come up with many other things that charge more money."

"The state only waives tuition fees of 1-2 million VND, but the school collaborates with companies to bring in outsiders to teach foreign languages, AI, music, physical education, etc., and then collects money, forcing the children to pay an additional few million VND," the General Secretary said, emphasizing: "Schools cannot be turned into service establishments. Hanoi must investigate this because this phenomenon is contrary to the true nature of education."

The General Secretary's statements, as reported by Thanh Nien newspaper, were quickly and widely shared among parents across various social media platforms. Many expressed their hope that the education sector would understand the parents' frustrations and the unfairness faced by students, and make necessary adjustments, preventing humane policies from remaining merely on paper and becoming distorted in schools, especially at the primary and preschool levels.

One reader commented under the article: "Thank goodness it reached the General Secretary's ears. This is a very troubling issue, a waste of money and time, and the Ministry of Education and Training didn't even mandate it."

The government reduced tuition fees by tens of thousands of dong, but schools are vaguely creating elective subjects (without clearly stating they are voluntary) so that parents have to pay hundreds of thousands of dong per student each month (primary and secondary school). Are schools really going against the humane policies and principles of the Party and the State? Thank you , Thanh Nien Newspaper, for your numerous articles on this pressing issue. I hope your newspaper will continue to investigate this matter thoroughly, in accordance with the spirit and directive of the General Secretary: "Schools cannot be turned into service establishments."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/yeu-cau-ra-soat-viec-day-hoc-lien-ket-trong-cac-truong-cong-lap-185251217151635803.htm