Vietnam is embarking on significant educational reforms aimed at improving the quality of its educational system through the recent enforcement of Circular 29/2024/TT-BGDĐT, effective from February 14, 2024. This new regulation marks the cessation of additional teaching sessions, widely known as "dạy thêm, học thêm," which had become prevalent across schools, impacting student management and learning conditions.
The Ministry of Education faces considerable challenges as they seek to adapt to this new framework. Nguyễn Thọ Bảo, the principal of Cẩm Thủy 1 High School, expressed some of these difficulties, stating, "One of the difficulties of the school when implementing the new regulation on additional teaching is the pressure about educational quality, the exam results of students." This acknowledgment highlights the balancing act educational institutions must undertake as they transition from traditional methods to ones encouraged by the Ministry.
This shift away from supplemental tutoring not only aims to improve educational quality but also to alleviate the financial burdens on families. The abolishment of school fees for public education from preschool to high school is another major change slated to take effect from the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, as confirmed by the Ministry of Education. This decision has sparked widespread approval among parents and experts alike. Costing around 30 trillion VND, about $1.3 billion, this initiative is expected to ease financial constraints on many households, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Phạm Ngọc Thưởng, the Deputy Minister of Education, emphasized the significance of these reforms, saying, "The Ministry has emphasized the importance of using new teaching methods to improve educational outcomes and encourage self-study among students." This perspective is being reflected across schools where administrators are being encouraged to implement innovative teaching practices. The upcoming academic year poses new challenges with examinations approaching quickly after major changes.
Implementing Circular 29 entails not only ceasing additional teaching sessions but also demands active efforts from both schools and parents to manage student learning effectively. Schools are expected to find new ways to engage their students and improve learning outcomes without relying on extended classroom hours. For example, Cẩm Thủy 1 High School is transitioning to collaborative approaches to monitor student progress. Following Circular 29, they will focus on voluntary, criteria-based tutoring sessions only for those students preparing for finals.
Specific strategies include organizing quality assessments to assist students who need additional support and enhancing communication between teachers and parents to reinforce learning at home. The principal indicates these changes are part of ensuring the school meets set examination outcomes, especially for the final year students.
Similarly, at Tĩnh Gia 2 High School, only remedial classes for struggling students and preparatory classes for final exams are being conducted. Teachers have been prompted to sign commitments to refrain from private tutoring under non-compliant circumstances. To encourage self-study, faculty members have been trained to guide students more effectively, aligning this approach with the revised curriculum guidelines for 2018.
The broader rollout of these initiatives sees schools across Vietnam rethinking their traditional roles and responsibilities as educators. Schools must assure rigorous educational exposure by maximizing lesson time and maintaining effective communication. Adjustments to teaching schedules, lesson structures, and the means of assessment are all under review to fulfill the new regulatory requirements.
With the goal of enhancing the standard of education, the Ministry of Education plans to intensify on-site training and provide necessary resources for teachers to adapt effectively. The strategy extends beyond mere regulatory compliance; it aims to solidify the fundamentals required for proficient academic performance and cultivate autonomous learning among students. Critics and advocates alike recognize this as necessary progress as the education system seeks to compete internationally.
Alongside these changes, the government has committed to thorough monitoring of the educational ecosystem, ensuring schools adhere to the guidelines established by Circular 29. Further, this systemic shift aims to prioritize student-centric policies enabling students of all backgrounds to have equitable access to quality education without incurring additional costs to families.
Overall, the reforms signal promising advancements for the future of education in Vietnam, catering to the needs of contemporary society and striving to set benchmarks for educational participation. These policies aim to diminish inequality, thereby fostering improvement not only within the educational framework but throughout society itself.
Through these stepped-up efforts, Vietnam aspires to transition toward creating more opportunities for young learners, fostering environments where education can thrive free of financial burdens, and emphasizing quality learning as the centerpiece of its educational mission.