Students in public schools learn math and science in English.

According to Government Decree No. 222/2025/ND-CP, effective from September 25th, primary schools implementing the Vietnamese General Education Program may teach some subjects, educational activities, or some content of some subjects and educational activities in a foreign language.

In Ho Chi Minh City, over the past few years, many public primary schools have implemented programs such as enhanced English and integrated English, with many lessons and educational activities conducted in English.

Strengthening scientific knowledge in English

During the 2024-2025 school year, as part of the "Open House" activity at the 3rd grade of Hoa Binh Primary School, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, we attended a math lesson in English (a branch of the English-math-experimental science program with foreign teachers). Mr. Dewald and Ms. Phuong Thi, the school's English teachers, taught the students about multiplication. In the 2nd grade, Mr. Jeremiah Ruppe and Mr. Hung Son, also English teachers, taught about shapes and geometric forms. Outside the schoolyard, students participated in English learning through experimental science activities. After listening to instructions from the foreign teachers, they conducted experiments simulating volcanic eruptions using baking soda, dish soap, etc.

Students participate in fun educational activities involving math and science in English at Tran Khanh Du Primary School, Tan Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

PHOTO: THUY HANG

On August 19th, during the back-to-school activities to welcome first-grade students at Tran Khanh Du Primary School in Tan Dinh Ward, students had a fun English-speaking station, chatted with foreign teachers, and answered riddles…

Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang, the school principal, believes that organizing the teaching and learning of subjects such as mathematics and science in English currently has many advantages. Firstly, this is a policy and guideline of the Government, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Department of Education and Training. Secondly, there is the support of parents. According to Ms. Hang, facilities and the teaching staff are other important factors for the effective and sustainable implementation of this teaching and learning method.

At Tran Khanh Du Primary School, math and science lessons taught in English each have two teachers: a foreign teacher from a language center and the school's full-time English teacher acting as a teaching assistant. Every two weeks, the teachers from the language center must have a professional development meeting with the school.

At the same time, Ms. Hang also stated that the school has the responsibility to carefully check the legal documents of the teaching units. Foreign teachers must meet professional qualifications such as a university degree and appropriate English teaching certificates. The foreign teachers' profiles must be assessed by the Department of Education and Training and updated on the website.

SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF TEACHERS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

As Thanh Nien newspaper reported, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has a roadmap to gradually make English the second language in secondary schools in Ho Chi Minh City in two phases. Phase 1, preparation and piloting, will take place in the 2025-2026 school year. Phase 2, from 2027-2030, will involve widespread implementation, evaluation, and the operation of digital classrooms as planned.

Mr. Le Hoang Phong, Academic Director of YOUREORG Education and Training Organization, believes that in the roadmap to make English the second language in Vietnamese schools, it is essential for students to learn subjects and participate in educational activities in English from the primary school level. However, to successfully implement this, two things need to be done simultaneously. First, standardize and retrain the permanent teaching staff in each primary school. For example, permanent English teachers need to be trained and receive professional development to have sufficient expertise to teach subjects such as mathematics and science. In addition, teachers of multiple subjects in primary schools also need good English skills to teach students. Second, while waiting for the training and development of the existing staff, it is necessary to recruit and attract human resources, invite visiting lecturers and outstanding students to participate in teaching...

"I strongly support teaching basic science, technology, and gradually expanding to social science subjects in English, as many schools in Ho Chi Minh City are doing. When students solve math problems, conduct experiments, or give presentations in English, the language becomes a tool for thinking, rather than just grammar or reading comprehension," Mr. Phong said.

Students in the English-experimental science program at Hoa Binh Primary School, Saigon Ward.

PHOTO: THUY HANG

Sharing Mr. Phong's viewpoint, an education official from Ho Chi Minh City stated that, based on the experience of many Asian countries, effective teaching and learning of subjects in English cannot simply rely on partners providing teachers to schools. The most sustainable approach is to review and improve the quality of teachers within each school, providing training and professional development to raise teacher standards. Simultaneously, policies and incentive mechanisms are needed to gradually empower permanent school staff to teach subjects in English. This would reduce costs for students, encourage talent, and motivate the teaching staff to strive for excellence.

Furthermore, in the initial stages, when there is a shortage of teachers, we can still invite teachers on a collaborative or visiting basis. At the same time, there needs to be a unified national foreign language proficiency framework, compatible with the European CEFR standard, but adapted to the Vietnamese context. Each educational level must have specific learning outcomes and transparent assessment tools.

Mr. Vinh San, Director of Communications at DOL English, believes that every educational model and solution has its advantages and disadvantages. It's not easy to find a single solution for different problems, target groups, and learning conditions. Focusing on the solution of teaching and learning some subjects in English from the primary school level, Mr. Vinh San believes that Vietnamese intelligence, the Vietnamese people, and the Vietnamese teaching staff can solve the problem of foreign language teaching and learning. At the same time, he believes that the application of science and technology and free online learning platforms are contributing to helping students learn English better…

10 years of Ho Chi Minh City implementing the integrated English program.

In 2014, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City issued Decision No. 5695 approving the Project "Teaching and learning mathematics, science, and English integrated with the English and Vietnamese curricula" (integrated English program) at public schools in Ho Chi Minh City.

The program integrates the UK national curriculum with the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training's national standards for English, mathematics, and science. At the conference summarizing 10 years of implementing Project 5695 in November 2024, a report indicated that the integrated English program was implemented from the 2014-2015 school year in 18 schools in Ho Chi Minh City with 600 participating students. By the 2024-2025 school year, over 160 schools with more than 30,000 participating students are expected to be involved.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hoc-sinh-truong-cong-hoc-toan-khoa-hoc-bang-tieng-anh-185250901194543802.htm