Strive for 100% of students to learn English as a second language by 2035

(Dan Tri) - According to the draft of the Ministry of Education and Training , by 2035, 100% of high school students will strive to study English as a second language (from grades 1 to 12).

On March 5, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) held a workshop to provide comments on the draft national project "Gradually introducing English as a second language in schools" for the period 2025-2035, with a vision to 2045.

According to the draft project, English as a second language in Vietnamese schools means English is taught and learned in schools where the official language is Vietnamese and the main language used is English, in which English is a subject and English is used to teach and learn other appropriate subjects and majors, and in work and daily communication at school.

Overview of the workshop to provide comments on the draft national project "Gradually introducing English as a second language in schools" for the period 2025-2035, with a vision to 2045 (Photo: MOET).

The draft project stipulates that there are 6 levels of schools implementing English as a second language in Vietnam.

Specifically, for preschooleducation , by 2035, strive for 100% of preschool educational institutions to have sufficient conditions and implement English as a second language for preschool children; implement the English as a second language program for 100% of preschool children (from 3 to 5 years old). By 2045, strive to implement the English as a second language program for 100% of preschool children (nursery children and kindergarten children).

For general education, by 2035, strive for 100% of general education students to study English as a second language (from grades 1 to 12) and implement the English as a second language program at levels 1, 2 and 3.

By 2045, strive for 100% of high schools and universities to implement English as a second language programs at levels 4, 5 and 6.

Vocational education: Strive for 100% of vocational education institutions to implement English as a second language program, 100% of vocational education institutions to implement English with career orientation, 50% of vocational education institutions to implement part of other subjects and/or some other subjects in English.

The draft project also clearly states the tasks and solutions for implementation such as researching and perfecting institutions; enhancing communication, raising public awareness; developing and training, retraining, and fostering teachers and lecturers; promulgating and implementing programs, curricula, textbooks, documents, and learning materials; innovating exams, tests, and assessments; promoting the application of technology platforms, artificial intelligence, and improving facilities; promoting international cooperation, socialization, and strengthening the organization of emulation and reward activities...

Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong speaks at the workshop (Photo: MOET).

Affirming the importance of assessing the current situation in implementing English teaching and learning in Vietnam, Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong said that with a large number of learners, the strong development of international schools, teaching joint programs in high schools, and the development of IT and foreign language centers have created favorable conditions for implementation.

"However, difficulties such as differences between regions, many disadvantaged areas... we must also learn from international experience to choose suitable to the characteristics of Vietnamese education, effective in using resources, teacher training, international cooperation, investment in facilities, attracting socialization to implement the project sooner, faster, with better quality, more effectively", the Deputy Minister emphasized.

Besides, the Deputy Minister stated that in order for the Project to be implemented effectively, successfully and sustainably, the human factor is the most important, and it is necessary to focus on training a team of qualified teachers and lecturers.

The Deputy Minister also noted the application of digital transformation and information technology in teaching to address regional gaps and save time and human resources.

Representatives of higher education institutions exchanged at the workshop (Photo: MOET).

At the workshop, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Trao, Vice Principal of Hanoi National University of Education, said that the project needs to clarify the role and planning of the university education system, the role of key pedagogical schools, including developing programs and documents to train teachers and pedagogical students; strengthening facilities for teacher training schools; having specific plans for enrollment targets, funding to support teachers, students, and experts coordinating in English training majors.

According to Do Tuan Minh, Chairman of the Board of the University of Foreign Languages, VNU, Hanoi, to improve the effectiveness of the project, it is necessary to approach English as a culture, as a school environment, to inherit the contents that have been done in the previous National Foreign Language Project, and to draw lessons from experience. At the same time, localities and educational institutions need space, depending on their conditions, to carry out work appropriately, effectively, in accordance with their roles and responsibilities.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, the project needs to consider the accessibility of students in remote areas, the rate of qualified teachers in different provinces and cities; mobilize socialization and different resources to serve consulting, build tools to support effective implementation.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/phan-dau-nam-2035-100-hoc-sinh-hoc-tieng-anh-nhu-ngon-ngu-thu-hai-20250306002800058.htm