Schools are prohibited from organizing extra classes for primary school students, and may only hold after-school tutorials for 9th and 12th graders under certain conditions, according to Circular No. 29/2024/TT-BGDDT issued by the Ministry of Education and Training on February 14.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, Tran The Cuong, shared his thoughts on the matter in an interview with Hanoimoi Newspaper.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training Tran The Cuong. Photo: hanoimoi.vn

What are your views on this circular?

It is necessary because private tutoring and remedial education are complex issues that respond to a growing demand from students and their families. The previous regulation (Circular No. 17/2012/TT-BGDDT issued in 2012), which addressed this issue, was outdated and had insufficient enforcement measures.

The new circular covers tutoring activities in and out of school, and defines the responsibilities of relevant stakeholders, including provincial and municipal people's committees, district authorities, education and training departments, and school principals.

The new circular will set a standard for after-school tutoring, help students protect their interests, and hold teachers accountable for their professionalism and integrity.

Hanoi supports this circular as it fosters a student-centered educational environment, improves the status of teachers, and addresses existing challenges in private tutoring.

What measures will the Hanoi Department of Education take to regulate tutoring and after-school classes?

In the 2024-2025 school year, there are approximately 2,900 schools and educational institutions with 2.3 million students and 130,000 teachers in Hanoi. The management of tutoring is a headache due to the high demand. Without strict and appropriate measures, students will be the most affected.

To effectively enforce the circular, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training on February 11 ordered local education departments, schools, and vocational training centers to disseminate details of the new regulation to managers, teachers, students, and parents. Schools must comply with the rules, report any problems, and ensure effective implementation.

Teachers will receive training to enhance their skills and responsibilities to help students learn independently. We will also innovate assessment methods to ensure that students can fully acquire knowledge according to the curriculum without attending additional tutorials.

Infrastructure will be improved to increase the number of schools offering full-day classes and to organize inspections to handle after-school classes.

Secondary students in Hanoi. Photo: kinhtedothi.vn

The department is drafting a regulation on private tutoring and will submit it to the Municipal People's Committee for approval. This new regulation can help standardize private tutoring, correct any violations, and promote a structured approach to education.

Many parents of 9th and 12th graders are concerned that the ban on tutoring will affect teachers' motivation and the quality of education. What do you think about this?

The latest circular from the Ministry of Education and Training clearly states that three groups of students are entitled to free after-school classes: those who underperformed academically in the previous semester, students selected for gifted programs, and final-year students who want to better prepare for the exam.

Ensuring that students meet academic standards is the responsibility of schools and teachers. Most educators in Hanoi are committed to helping students satisfactorily acquire the knowledge provided in the curricula. They have developed many initiatives to help underperforming students improve their grades. As a result, Hanoi has climbed 16 places in the National High School Graduation Exam rankings between 2022 and 2024.

To further support the schools, we are drafting a proposal to the city government and the Hanoi People's Council to allocate funds for additional tutoring.

What actions should be prioritized in the early days of implementing the circular?

For the new circular to be effective, we need a comprehensive approach to changing the mindset of all stakeholders. It's important to raise awareness among teachers, managers, students, parents and others.

Teachers must maintain their integrity and avoid unauthorized tutoring. Students and their parents should understand their rights and responsibilities. Hanoi is committed to improving policies that ensure a stable livelihood for teachers, allowing them to focus fully on their profession.

However, managing private tutoring requires more than the efforts of the entire education sector. Parents play a key role in monitoring and supporting the eradication of unauthorized tutoring. If they continue to be obsessed with their children's academic success and place grades above all else, it will remain difficult and impossible to get rid of the problem.

I hope that parents will trust and cooperate with schools and government agencies to enforce the new circular and monitor its implementation, thus ensuring the comprehensive development of all students.

Thank you for your time!