Vietnam English language education reform

The Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training is seeking public feedback on a draft circular to implement English as a second language across the national education system. This initiative, part of a long-term strategy for 2025–2035 with a vision toward 2045, aims to move beyond teaching English as a standalone subject toward creating an environment where the language is used for teaching, communication, and management at all levels, from preschool to higher education. The proposal outlines a gradual roadmap consisting of three development levels: initial formation of conditions, regular use in teaching and communication, and high development characterized by a synchronized English-speaking environment. To support this, the Ministry is drafting regulations to evaluate institutions based on these three stages: beginning, developing, and highly developed. Implementation is advancing through Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). At Nguyen Hue Secondary School, pilot programs are utilizing bilingual methods for subjects like Mathematics. This approach requires coordination between subject teachers, who manage academic content, and English teachers, who assist with terminology and pronunciation. In Khanh Hoa province, a specific implementation plan for 2025–2035 has been issued with a budget of 69 billion VND. This includes training 100 teachers with secondary English degrees, enhancing the skills of 1,200 subject teachers, and equipping 72 schools with modern facilities. Despite these advancements, experts warn that success depends on creating natural communicative environments through clubs and projects rather than focusing on exam preparation. Concerns remain that a lack of proficiency among teachers could turn lessons into “lengthy translation exercises” or lead schools to prioritize administrative compliance over genuine learning. Recent developments show the reform expanding to integrate STEM, STEAM, and artificial intelligence (AI) into school curricula. To facilitate this modernization, pedagogical institutions like the Ho Chi Minh City University of Education are expanding training programs.