HCM City is keeping a close eye on private tutoring classes since many are operating without a licence. - Photo thanhnien.vn

HCM CITY – The HCM City Department of Education and Training said it is closely monitoring private tutoring facilities since more and more of them are operating without a licence.

Elementary school students cannot be given private tuition except in arts, physical education and life skills. Teachers are also prohibited from forcing students to into tuition classes in any manner.

These are part of the Ministry of Education and Training’s regulations on private tutoring.

HCM City schools are not allowed to offer tuition to students studying full time.

The new education curriculum for first graders for 2020-21 is said to be too difficult for children, especially Vietnamese language, and many parents are putting their children in private tuition classes.

Some have complained about teachers at public schools offering private tuition and that they feel obliged to send their kids to these classes so that they are not left behind.

The District 12 education department has been carrying out inspections of private tuition facilities. Last month it shut one that was registered as a babysitting service but offered English language tuition.

According to many school principals in the district, teachers have to sign a commitment to not offer private tuition to their own students, and are penalised if found doing so.

But admittedly schools are unable to closely monitor all their teachers.

HCM City currently has around 300 facilities licensed to offer private tutoring. – VNS