In Quang Tri Province, hundreds of first‑ and second‑grade pupils have seen their English lessons stopped halfway through the term. The sudden change shows how a policy decision can directly affect a learner’s progress.

Principal Bui Thi Thanh Truc said the school halted English classes for first‑ and second‑graders on 9 November, and the two hired teachers had to stop working. The pause is not caused by a lack of funds but by local authorities failing to issue salary‑processing guidelines.

According to Circular 85 issued by the Ministry of Education and Training, schools may offer English as an elective for these grades, but they cannot use parental contributions to pay the teachers. This rule forces schools to find another source of money.

The provincial education department says a school can keep the classes only if it receives two permanent teaching positions or sufficient provincial funding for contract teachers. Without either, schools have no choice but to suspend the lessons.

Families are worried because the interruption reduces children’s exposure to English, which they had been receiving since the start of the school year. The situation highlights how administrative bottlenecks can quickly disrupt language learning.