VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has decided to impose the heavy fine of VND10-20 million on the behaviors of running extra classes without licenses.

MOET has shown its strong determination to stop the teachers’ movement of opening extra classes to earn extra money by suggesting the heavy fine on the behavior when drafting a new decree.

The decision has been made after a lot of parents complained that their children were forced to go to the private tutoring classes opened by their school teachers. They also said that they did not have money to spend on extra lessons, and their children did not have enough time to attend too many classes.

Under the decree, teachers must obtain permission from competent agencies when running private tutoring classes, or they would be punished.

Heavy punishment would stop evil?

The VND3-5 million fine has been suggested for those teachers, who cut the official curricular lessons and give the curricular lessons at their extra classes. By doing this, students would have to attend extra classes, or they would not get enough lessons as required by MOET.

The individuals or organizations, which run extra classes in the places which cannot meet the requirements in terms of material facilities, would be fined by VND5-10 million.

Especially, those who run extra classes without licenses would be fined VND10-20 million.

Different fine levels have also been set up for other violations. One would have to pay VND5-10 million in fine for not following the current regulations on the tuition management.

The determination by the MOET to stop the movement of running private tutoring classes has raised the strong opposition from teachers.

A literature teacher of a high school in Dong Da district in Hanoi, said she has to refuse the proposals from parents to run extra classes, just to strictly obey the new regulation. However, she does not think this is a right decision.

“It’s unfair for teachers and students,” she said. “Why do we have to refuse to give extra lessons, if students really have the demand for the lessons?”

She went on to say that a lot of parents want their children to have after-school learning hours with prestigious teachers so as to improve their knowledge. The teacher has also denied the fact that students are forced into extra classes.

“Who should students consult with when they have problems with a math question? Their parents cannot help solve the question, because the students nowadays follow the curricula different from their parents’. In this case, attending extra classes proves to be the best choice,” she said.

Local newspapers have reported that four teachers in Hai Phong City have been disciplined for their violations of the regulation on giving extra teaching hours. The chief inspectors of the Hai Phong City noted that the four teachers are all the teachers with good qualification and morality.

Despite the strong opposition from teachers, MOET has vowed to stop the movement of spontaneously opening extra classes. MOET’s Deputy Minister --Nguyen Vinh Hien, has pointed out that it is the teachers who create the parents’ demand for bringing their children to extra classes.

“Teachers ask students to solve overly difficult questions. In order to find out the answers to the questions, the students would have to attend the teachers’ extra classes,” Hien said.

NLD