Why do all 73,000 teachers in Ho Chi Minh City have to take an English test?

An English lesson of class 12A2, Nam Sai Gon Secondary School, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: NHU HUNG

Faced with the requirement that all primary, secondary and high school teachers in Ho Chi Minh City must take an English proficiency test, many teachers are worried about the purpose of the test, that the questions are too difficult to complete, and that they will have to pay to attend training classes organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training.

Besides, public opinion is concerned about the unit coordinating with the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City to organize this survey.

To clarify, Tuoi Tre Online had a talk with Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Hieu said: "The purpose of the survey is to assess the overall picture of the English proficiency of the teaching staff in the whole industry. From there, the department will have a database to build the Project "Gradually bringing English to become the second language in schools". This is an important goal to improve the quality of education and international integration, implementing the conclusion No. 91 of the Politburo.

Specifically, how many English lessons will be built in the school, what activities will be organized in English, what training roadmap and support will be provided to improve the team's foreign language skills... we need to have objective perspectives and calculate data based on scientific analysis, not just do it haphazardly.

Dr. Nguyen Van Hieu - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training

* Sir, Ho Chi Minh City currently has more than 73,000 teachers teaching at primary, secondary and high schools, including teachers of English and other subjects. So all these teachers have to take the survey?

- The survey takes place online in just 90 minutes. Teachers can turn on the computer whenever they have free time, not necessarily at a certain time.

I would like to emphasize that this is not a professional assessment or teacher competency ranking test. The survey results will not be used for any other purposes such as competition assessment, salary consideration, discipline or other personal purposes.

The survey results of each individual will also be kept confidential. Only the teachers themselves who participated in the survey and the project steering committee's support team (a specialized department assigned to synthesize and analyze data to serve the overall planning) will have access to the survey results.

I think that participating in the survey is an opportunity for each teacher to objectively assess their current English proficiency level.

However, for teachers who have less than 10 years of teaching experience before retirement, or have health problems, school principals may not include them in the survey list. All other teachers need to do this survey.

* Ho Chi Minh City has many teachers who have obtained IELTS, TOEFL certificates... So do these teachers have to take the survey, sir? In reality, English teachers will have different English proficiency than other subject teachers, so will the department conduct a separate survey or a common survey for all teachers? Many teachers also wonder what level of proficiency is considered satisfactory?

- As I said above, all teachers need to take this survey so that the department can comprehensively and objectively assess the level of the team. Cambridge Assessment English compiles a common survey for all teachers, including listening, reading and writing skills to assess English proficiency according to the European standard reference framework CEFR (from A1 to C2).

It should also be added that there are many forms of making English a second language in schools. In addition to teaching subjects in English, there are also clubs and activities organized to create an English communication environment for students.

Therefore, teachers who have achieved level B1 or higher according to the CEFR will be trained to teach primary school. Teachers who have achieved level B2 or higher according to the CEFR will be trained to teach secondary school.

* There are opinions that after the survey, the city will have a large number of unqualified teachers. And the city's Department of Education and Training will force them to attend English proficiency training courses organized by the department. What do you think about this issue?

- Since the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, some high schools in Ho Chi Minh City have been teaching some lessons and some subjects in English. However, parents have mixed opinions, they are wondering whether the teachers in the classroom have certificates to teach subjects in English, what are the teachers' abilities, and whether they can ensure that students understand the lessons...

Before developing a plan to survey teachers' English proficiency, the department consulted teachers about making English a second language in schools.

The results showed that 86% (of 39,467 teachers who responded to the questionnaire) supported the introduction of English as a second language in schools; 51.1% of 39,467 teachers were willing to teach some subjects in English in the future.

I would like to reiterate that the survey results are for reference and statistical purposes only. They will be the basis for the department to develop a plan to improve English proficiency for teachers.

So there is no concept of passing or failing in this survey. After the survey, teachers will know their English proficiency level.

The city’s education sector will have a plan to improve teachers’ English proficiency with various types of training. Teachers will choose the form, method, and teaching unit that best suits their circumstances. Teachers can even study on their own, as long as they achieve their goals.

In addition, teachers with good English skills and who wish to teach some subjects in English will be selected for training. These teachers will be trained with funds from the state budget, according to the city's program.

On the other hand, the department will also advise and propose to the city leaders a special allowance regime for teachers teaching subjects in English.

* Public opinion is wondering about the Department of Education and Training coordinating with a unit with little experience in testing to organize a survey of English proficiency of teachers across the city?

- Teachers will conduct the online survey on computers or smart mobile devices at: https://englishsurvey.hcm.edu.vn.

The survey content is in multiple-choice format, designed and standardized by Cambridge Assessment English, ensuring objectivity, science and high reliability in assessing teachers' English proficiency.

In addition, the department also coordinated with another unit to conduct the survey. This unit only supported the survey software, while the survey questions were conducted by Cambridge Assessment English.

A science class in English (according to the integrated English program of Project 5695) of students at Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted, Ho Chi Minh City - Photo: provided by the school

Ho Chi Minh City has been teaching math and science in English for 10 years.

Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training said that in 2014, Project 5695 was implemented in 18 schools in three districts in the city with 600 students.

It is an integrated English program, students will learn English, math and science in English with native teachers. By 2024, Ho Chi Minh City will have more than 30,000 students from 160 primary, secondary and high schools in 20 districts studying this program.

According to the department, the academic results of students participating in Project 5695 are always high, especially in math and science. The percentage of students achieving excellent scores in periodic and final exams in math and science in English is always between 85-90%.

In addition, the percentage of students taking the Pearson Edexcel international certificate exam with average Pass results in three subjects: English - Math - Science over 10 years: primary school 86%, secondary school 92%, high school 96%.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training believes that with the above results, the city is confident in building and implementing the project "Gradually making English the second language in schools".

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HOANG HUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-tat-ca-73-000-giao-vien-tp-hcm-phai-khao-sat-tieng-anh-20250424084106083.htm