VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Education and Training’s (MOET) Circular 08 on rewarding and disciplining students, which has been valid for 27 years, has become out of date.

Tran Ngoc Minh, headmaster of Hoang Hoa Tham High School in Binh Thanh district, HCM City, noted that it was unsuitable in the new circumstances.

While the schooling environment, students’ psychology and social matters have changed, the regulation on rewarding and disciplining students remains unchanged.

Under the regulation, schools will give compliments to students who participate in community service (tidying up classes or cleaning schools…). But in reality, students do not have to do this anymore, because these works are now undertaken by hired cleaners or security guards.

The circular stipulates that students will be reprimanded if they use bad language in school, gamble and play truant. However, Minh noted that the punishment is not stiff enough to deter students. 

“Students tend not to be afraid of repeating mistakes, because they know they will only be reprimanded,” Minh said.

Pham Van Tien, headmaster of Tan Phong High School, said as the circular has become out of date, and the school has to apply it in a flexible way, while integrating additional requirements to better educate students.

Meanwhile, Bui Gia Hieu, headmaster of Nhan Viet High School, noted that Circular 08 is no longer reasonable because it cannot cover matters in modern times. 

“The circular does not mention how to treat the students who have tattoos on their bodies or have dyed their hair green and red,” he noted. “The circular also does not say what to do when students speak ill of each other and of their teachers on social networks. Meanwhile, these are the burning issues of modern society.”

Educators still argue about a provision in the circular which says that students will be expelled from school for one year if they commit serious violations.

A high school teacher in Hanoi noted that expelling students from school and forcing them to stay away from friends will make things worse. 

“Students may commit crimes during their stay at home when they have nothing to do,” he warned. “Naughty students need to be put under the supervision of schools and teachers to be prevented from committing crimes.”

However, the teacher admitted the students may face opposition from other students who do not want to be affected by the students who committed violations.

Minh also said he does not think expelling students from school is a reasonable measure.

NLD