Development orientation of the 2018 General Education Program

Attending the meeting were members of the National Council for Education and Human Resources Development, members of the General Education Subcommittee, experts, scientists, representatives of Departments of Education and Training and higher education institutions.

Develop without disrupting the program

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong said: The 2024-2025 school year is the year to fully implement the 2018 General Education Program cycle from grades 1 to 12. The general education program is a component of the fundamental and comprehensive innovation of education and training, which is extremely important, because from this program, tasks such as organizing, appraising textbooks, training teachers, and conditions of facilities... are all implemented.

Session view

According to Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong, the 2018 General Education Program clearly states that program development is a regular process, including evaluation, revision, supplementation, and completion of the program. Therefore, in this school year, when the program is fully implemented at all levels, there needs to be a comprehensive review and evaluation.

“Therefore, the Ministry of Education and Training wishes to hear the opinions of experts and scientists on the implementation of assessment, the content of program development, the contents that need to be revised and supplemented, and the viewpoints on the orientation and timing of program development. The orientation and development of the program must be carried out consistently on the basis of not causing too much disruption, not causing difficulties for teachers and learners, not causing difficulties in terms of facilities, programs, methods, documents and textbooks,” the Deputy Minister emphasized.

Reporting at the meeting, Director of the Department of Secondary Education (Ministry of Education and Training) Nguyen Xuan Thanh said: The 2018 general education program has closely followed the goals, requirements and specified the contents set out in Resolution 88/2014/QH13 of the National Assembly, inheriting and developing, absorbing scientific achievements and experiences in the world , with many innovations and advances compared to previous general education programs.

The 2018 general education program is designed to develop students' abilities and qualities. The subject system is designed to ensure balanced content of educational fields, suitable for each level and class, overcoming duplication between subjects; reducing the number of subjects and educational activities, reducing the number of class periods, and at the same time applying a number of measures to overcome overload, deeply integrating in lower grades, and gradually differentiating in upper grades.

Director of the Department of Secondary Education (Ministry of Education and Training) Nguyen Xuan Thanh reported at the meeting.

The connection between classes, levels, and subject programs is guaranteed. The basic subject content is streamlined, reducing academic content, increasing practice, practical application, and linking to real life.

The socialization of textbook compilation according to Resolution 88/2014/QH13 and Resolution No. 122/2020/QH14 of the National Assembly has achieved initial success, ensuring sufficient textbooks, promptly serving the implementation of the school year; mobilizing many organizations and a large number of teachers, scientists, and experts with qualifications, prestige, experience, and capacity to participate in textbook compilation; the content of basic textbooks is consistent with the goals and requirements of the 2018 General Education Program .

The innovation of educational methods is reflected in each educational content, prepared before the issuance of the 2018 General Education Program, new educational models and methods have been applied in practice.

The selection of textbooks is guided and adjusted by the Ministry of Education and Training according to the provisions of the 2019 Education Law. Localities deploy and apply flexibly according to the conditions of each locality. Educational institutions have followed the correct procedures according to the instructions of the Ministry of Education and Training, ensuring transparency and democracy; selecting a team of teachers with deep expertise, responsibility, and dedication to selecting textbooks.

For local education materials, basic classes have completed approval for 63/63 provinces/cities according to regulations. After the Ministry of Education and Training approved local education materials, the Departments of Education and Training provided guidance on organizing the teaching of local education content for classes in accordance with the roadmap for implementing the 2018 General Education Program.

Associate Professor, Dr. Do Ngoc Thong, Editor of the new general education program, Literature subject, discussed at the meeting

The innovation of educational methods has been carried out in all educational institutions, the forms of teaching and learning have been diversified, and advanced technology has been applied. The proactive role of students has been promoted. Teachers are more confident, have better control of the classroom, are more active and proactive in each teaching hour, and clearly demonstrate their role as organizers, inspectors, and guides.

Student assessment has gradually shifted from focusing on results and classifying students according to knowledge standards to considering the learning process, assessing students' progress, abilities and qualities comprehensively. Assessment forms are more diverse, combining process assessment and summative assessment, with the participation of many parties.

Perform alignment based on science and practice

From the perspective of those who design the program and compile textbooks, Associate Professor, Dr. Do Ngoc Thong, Editor of the new General Education Program for Literature, said: This is the first time the Education sector has implemented and carried out the policy of "one program, many textbooks" in a truly meaningful way. This is a correct policy, in line with international trends. The implementation of this policy has had a great impact on school activities, teaching and learning methods of teachers and students. Teachers can refer to and choose many teaching methods, approaches, have more information, increase responsibility in choosing textbooks and choosing appropriate text materials for students and the actual conditions of the school...

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi My Loc discussed at the meeting

Evaluating the 2018 General Education Program which has been deployed and implemented according to the roadmap, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi My Loc said that the new program has helped students absorb relatively well and develop their own abilities, be bold and confident in studying and communicating in life. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi My Loc also paid attention to the work of evaluation, supervision, strengthening the work of continuous, appropriate, specific and comprehensive inspection of goals, methods, objects and contents during the implementation process.

Giving typical examples of international experience in building and implementing general education programs in countries around the world, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Minh, former Principal of Hanoi National University of Education, affirmed: "The 2018 general education program is a step forward, in line with the trend of the times and the world".

Identifying teachers as an important factor in implementing the 2018 General Education Program, Deputy Director of Ninh Binh Department of Education and Training Dinh Van Kham suggested that in the orientation of developing the program in the coming time, it is necessary to regularly train and foster professional skills, continuously prepare human resources and teachers to implement the program, especially new subjects and integrated subjects, and at the same time provide sufficient funding for this work.

Appreciating the opinions of experts and scientists discussing at the meeting, Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong commented that this is a difficult and challenging task and said that, in all documents and conclusions of the National Assembly's supervision delegation, up to this point, it is affirmed that the 2018 General Education Program has been elaborately and methodically built and highly appreciated.

Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong speaks at the meeting

Regarding the orientation of the development of the 2018 General Education Program, the Deputy Minister said that assessments, supplements, and adjustments need to be carried out thoroughly and comprehensively in the conditions of program implementation. Adjustments, supplements, and changes need to have both scientific and practical bases.

To continue to effectively implement the program, the Deputy Minister paid attention to communication work. In particular, communication focuses on the content, advantages, and effectiveness of the program so that the education sector and society can understand and properly and fully implement the program.

Emphasizing the key factor of human resources in the implementation process, the Deputy Minister suggested that it is necessary to strengthen training and regular professional development for the team of managers and teachers implementing the program. Along with that is the work of training human resources in the pedagogical sector to meet the requirements of the program.