Ho Chi Minh City proposes solution to make English the second language in schools

Attending the workshop were Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong, leaders of specialized Departments and Divisions under the Ministry; Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City; representatives of Departments of Education and Training and educational units.

Workshop scene

The workshop was organized to propose solutions to implement Conclusion No. 91 of the Politburo, which sets the goal of gradually making English the second language in schools. Through the in-depth discussions presented at the workshop, delegates discussed and shared the current situation of teaching and learning English.

From there, propose groups of synchronous, practical and effective solutions on policy mechanisms, teacher training, curriculum content innovation and assessment, as well as coordination between departments and the whole society to gradually realize this strategic goal.

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, proposed a number of typical solutions such as building an environment for learning and using English, innovating English teaching and learning methods, improving the quality of teachers and enhancing international cooperation in the field of English education.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, spoke at the conference.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu emphasized: “To successfully implement the goal of making English the second language in schools in Vietnam, we need the joint efforts of the entire political system, the active participation of all levels, sectors, educational institutions, scientists, experts, businesses, along with the support of parents and the whole society.”

The workshop also proposed a model for implementing curriculum frameworks and testing and assessment solutions based on the 3-level implementation hierarchy, including the comprehensive implementation level of teaching English as a second language, teaching English as a second language at a standard level, and the lowest level of starting to implement step by step.

Over the past years, Ho Chi Minh City has been implementing many breakthrough programs and projects such as the English enhancement program; the program "Teaching and learning Math, Science and English integrating English and Vietnamese programs" under Project 5695; the high-quality school model "Advanced school, international integration" in Ho Chi Minh City according to Decision No. 07/QD-UBND,

The positive results of Project 5695 are a bright spot showing that Ho Chi Minh City can completely start implementing the implementation of making English the second language in schools at the highest level of the above model (comprehensive implementation) in a number of schools.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong speaks at the conference

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong emphasized that the Ministry of Education and Training will advise the Government to soon issue a national project on making English the second language in schools, including solutions on resources, policy mechanisms, teacher training, creating opportunities for native teachers to cooperate and work in Vietnam, etc.

“Therefore, we need 5 main pillars: state management, scientists - experts, trainers (educational institutions), schools, and businesses to join in giving advice to implement this national project. In my opinion, by 2025, we can complete this project and clearly define the roadmap and implementation solutions. Practical experience of Ho Chi Minh City in implementing Project 5695 of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee shows that there needs to be a strategy, a specific plan,...

We need to implement synchronous solutions, in which we identify immediate, long-term and breakthrough solutions. Thus, the synchronous approach must identify breakthrough solutions, not spread them out horizontally, and implement them wherever conditions are suitable. We encourage localities with sufficient conditions such as Ho Chi Minh City to be the locomotive to lead and orient the effective teaching and learning of English," Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong emphasized.

Also according to Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong, “Some solutions to make English the second language in schools in Vietnam” is the first large-scale workshop held since the Politburo’s Conclusion 91 was issued on August 12, 2024 recently. This shows Ho Chi Minh City’s determination to pioneer in making English the second language in schools.