Ministry of Education and Training summarizes the first cycle of implementing the 2018 General Education Program

The conference was organized in the form of direct coordination online with More than 40 connecting points nationwide. Minister Nguyen Kim Son chaired the conference.

Also attending the conference were Permanent Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong, representatives of leaders of units under the Ministry of Education and Training , Departments of Education and Training; representatives of higher education institutions, experts, scientists, relevant units and organizations.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Minister Nguyen Kim Son said: Among many contents of fundamental and comprehensive innovation in education and training, promulgating the 2018 General Education Program and implementing this Program is a very important step, affecting both the breadth and depth of education, especially general education.

To date, the 2018 General Education Program has completed an implementation cycle. Previously, in 2023, the Ministry of Education and Training organized a mid-term assessment and a preliminary review of the Program's implementation. Also in 2023, the National Assembly 's Committee on Culture and Education (now the Committee on Culture and Society) chaired the National Assembly's supervision of the implementation of the 2018 General Education Program. The supervision results showed that the implementation of the Program has achieved many important results.

Today's conference aims to review the entire process of implementing the 2018 General Education Program after a period of implementation in practice: Results, positive points and values achieved; implementation conditions; implementation methods; impacts of the Program implementation process... On that basis, determine what needs to be done to promote positive points, adjust existing points for better implementation in the next period.

In addition, the 2018 General Education Program strongly shifts from content approach, knowledge provision to developing learners' capacity. Resolution 71-NQ/TW continues to emphasize this orientation. Therefore, it is also necessary to consider what the Program has achieved in the capacity development goal, and what needs to be done in the coming time to continue promoting that orientation. Textbooks are one of the factors, a tool to implement the 2018 General Education Program; therefore, it will also be evaluated in the overall implementation of the Program.

The assessment results will be an important basis for the leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training to make appropriate decisions for the next phase.

Minister Nguyen Kim Son delivered the opening speech at the conference.

Comprehensive and general system of documents and basic directives

Implementing Resolution No. 88/2014/QH13 on innovation of general education programs and textbooks (Resolution 88), Resolution No. 51/2017/QH14 adjusting the roadmap for implementing general education programs and textbooks according to Resolution No. 88 (Resolution 51), the Ministry of Education and Training has developed and promulgated the General Education Program; organized the compilation, appraisal and approval of textbooks according to the General Education Program; coordinated with ministries, branches and localities to prepare conditions for teaching staff, facilities and teaching equipment.

The consistent viewpoint in the process of building the General Education Program is to follow an open direction, ensuring stability and the ability to develop during the implementation process in accordance with scientific and technological advances and practical requirements.

In the period of 2020 - 2025, the system of documents was issued comprehensively, covering core issues, aspects and fields to ensure innovation requirements. The Government's direction to the Ministry of Education and Training and ministries, branches and localities has basically covered all contents according to innovation requirements; ensuring closeness and timeliness in directing implementation and resolving difficulties and problems.

The Ministry of Education and Training has also issued documents guiding localities to implement the General Education Program according to the roadmap specified in Resolution 51; organize evaluations and draw lessons from the implementation of the program and textbooks. During the implementation process, the Ministry of Education and Training has annually reported to the Government, the National Assembly Standing Committee, and the National Assembly as prescribed.

Attention to synchronization of implementation conditions

The development of teachers and educational administrators has been given serious attention and implementation by the Ministry of Education and Training.

In the 2023-2024 school year, the Ministry of Education and Training coordinated with the Ministry of Home Affairs to review and report to the Central Government to supplement 27,826 teacher positions out of a total of 65,980 additional teacher positions for localities in the period 2022-2026. At the same time, direct localities to implement the work of managing staff, recruiting and using teachers and educational management staff so that localities can solve difficulties in teacher shortage, and support educational institutions that are qualified to implement the General Education Program according to regulations.

The teaching staff has been developed in quantity, gradually overcoming structural shortcomings. The rate of qualified teachers trained according to the 2019 Education Law at all levels has increased. The pedagogical capacity of the majority of teachers has been improved, basically meeting the requirements of innovation in content, teaching methods and assessment of the implementation of the General Education Program.

The Ministry of Education and Training has directed localities to focus on reviewing and planning appropriate school and classroom networks to facilitate people and ensure students' learning rights; increase investment in facilities and teaching equipment to help educational institutions improve and contribute to improving the quality of education.

Along with that, the Ministry of Education and Training has focused on maintaining and expanding the number of classrooms and adding permanent and semi-permanent classrooms and reducing the number of temporary and borrowed classrooms to meet the requirements of implementing the Program as prescribed.

In the 2024-2025 school year, the country will have 26,408 general education facilities. The average classroom/classroom ratios and classroom solidification will be increased and the average student/class ratio will be reduced.

Mr. Thai Van Tai, Director of the Department of General Education, reported at the conference.

Develop programs, textbooks and implement them according to schedule

The 2028 General Education Program was issued by the Ministry of Education and Training and implemented according to the roadmap nationwide. The program is built in an open direction, allowing schools to proactively develop educational plans in accordance with reality.

The Ministry of Education and Training established a Steering Committee for the development of general education programs, organized a review and evaluation of the program's implementation to identify shortcomings and limitations in the overall program as well as the knowledge content in the subject program. This is the basis for the Ministry of Education and Training to propose adjustments and updates to more effectively meet the set educational goals.

The Ministry of Education and Training has adjusted the curriculum of the subjects History and Geography; Geography; History; Civic Education due to the impact of implementing a two-level government apparatus.

Regarding textbook compilation, this is the first time the socialization policy has been successfully implemented, attracting the participation of 7 publishers and 12 joint stock companies. The number of authors participating in textbook compilation is large - about 3,844 people. This data shows that the policy has been successful in mobilizing diverse knowledge resources from all over society.

The process of compiling, appraising, approving and selecting textbooks is carried out publicly, transparently and ensures quality.

Local educational materials have also been actively compiled by localities and submitted to the Ministry of Education and Training for approval, contributing to bringing local-specific content into schools.

As of the 2024-2025 school year, the General Education Program has been implemented in all grades nationwide.

Testing and evaluation have been fundamentally reformed.

The general education program is built in the direction of developing students' qualities and abilities. Assessment and evaluation are also innovated to evaluate students' progress in the learning process and the level of meeting the requirements in the curriculum of subjects and educational activities.

The Ministry of Education and Training issued Circular No. 27/2020/TT-BGD&DT dated September 4, 2020 regulating the assessment of primary school students and Circular No. 22/2021/TT-BGD&DT dated July 20, 2021 regulating the assessment of middle school students and high school students.

Assessment has been fundamentally reformed to match the goal of developing capacity and reducing pressure on scores. Assessment focuses on the process and progress of students.

Assessment forms are more diverse, including assessment through learning products, projects, presentations and increased use of non-textbook materials in periodic tests to properly assess students' abilities.

Quality assurance target

The results of the evaluation of the implementation of the General Education Program on training and learning show that students have received relatively good learning and have developed their abilities, are bold and confident in learning and communicating. They are encouraged to self-study, research, explore, acquire knowledge, and apply new knowledge. There is a lot of time in class for students to practice, practice, present, and discuss.

Synthesizing results from localities on the final assessment results of school years from 2020-2021 to present shows that student quality is guaranteed according to output standards and requirements of the Program.

The 2024-2025 high school graduation exam is the first exam organized under the General Education Program after a renewal cycle. The exam has achieved its set goals, ensuring the assessment of learners' learning outcomes according to the educational goals of the general education program; it is the basis for assessing the quality of teaching and learning in high schools and the direction of educational management agencies.

Regarding key education, in the 2020-2025 period, Vietnam had 173 contestants participating in regional and international Olympic competitions, winning a total of 159 medals. This affirms the solid position of Vietnam's key education in the region and the world.

The new context places new demands on general education.

Despite many achievements, in the process of implementing the program, textbooks for general education in the period of 2020 - 2025 still face difficulties and inadequacies such as local surplus and shortage of teachers; lack of schools and teaching equipment; some localities are slow in submitting documents for approval of local educational materials; schools are still confused in developing educational plans for new subjects.

In the coming period, the new context poses new and urgent requirements for general education. The Ministry of Education and Training has identified a number of specific, key tasks and solutions.

Regarding the improvement of mechanisms and policies, the Ministry of Education and Training will develop a policy on outstanding salaries and allowances for teachers, linked to job positions; amend and supplement regulations on compulsory education up to the end of junior high school; improve policies to encourage socialization and diversify investment resources for education; and develop flexible contract and guest lecture mechanisms to attract talented people to participate in teaching.

Regarding the task of developing the General Education Program, the Ministry of Education and Training continues to effectively implement the program, replicate good models and good practices; continue to innovate testing and assessment methods to develop qualities and capacities.

At the same time, strengthen the teaching and learning of foreign languages, information technology, and apply AI in teaching; adjust the duration of Science, Information Technology, Technology, and Arts subjects. Research on decentralization to localities in approving local educational materials.

Regarding the task of ensuring a unified set of textbooks nationwide, the Ministry of Education and Training will review and adjust legal documents to ensure a legal basis for implementing a unified set of textbooks. Evaluate options, select the optimal option and organize implementation to have a unified set of textbooks from the 2026-2027 school year.

Along with that, the Ministry of Education and Training will develop a plan to organize training for teachers to use the new textbooks along with the existing textbooks to maximize the effectiveness of the General Education Program; and implement a roadmap to provide free textbooks for all students by 2030.

Regarding the task of strengthening the conditions for ensuring, the Ministry of Education and Training will remove obstacles in teacher recruitment, improve the quality of teacher training, and ensure enough teachers to teach new subjects. Submit to the Prime Minister for approval the Project on investment in facilities and minimum teaching equipment to ensure program implementation. Develop a program to discover, train, foster and use national talents.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/bo-gddt-tong-ket-chu-trinh-dau-tien-trien-khai-chuong-trinh-gdpt-2018-post752946.html