Promoting Student Autonomy - The Foundation of Modern Education

On July 10, 2025, in Da Nang, the Flemish Organization for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance, Kingdom of Belgium (VVOB) organized a National Workshop on Student Autonomy with the participation of delegates from the Ministry of Education and Training, Departments of Education and Training of 8 provinces and cities: Thai Nguyen, Lai Chau, Ha Giang, Nghe An, Quang Tri, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Ho Chi Minh City participating in the Project of Integrating Learning through Play in Primary Education in Vietnam, along with representatives of non-governmental organizations and pedagogical universities across the country.

Delegates participate in activities demonstrating learning through play to promote autonomy - Photo: Project provided

This is a forum to present technical papers on promoting student autonomy, from which to propose essential recommendations and practices to support students in forming and developing this capacity in the context of a rapidly changing world .

Student autonomy is the foundational pillar of moderneducation .

Student autonomy is no longer a distant concept but has become an urgent requirement, equipping learners with essential skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and lifelong learning. In Vietnam, the 2018 General Education Program has clearly emphasized autonomy as one of the core competencies, contributing to the comprehensive development of children and realizing the goals of the general education program.

However, in reality, autonomy is often limited to the understanding of self-study or independent learning, making broader aspects such as the ability to cooperate, creative thinking and adaptability easily overlooked and not fully reflected in teaching practice.

Recognizing this gap, VVOB in Vietnam, together with members of the technical team, has developed a paper “Promoting student autonomy: Pedagogical practices to develop autonomy according to the 2018 General Education Program”. This document not only analyzes different understandings of autonomy but also provides many practical recommendations for integrating this competency into teaching and learning activities in the classroom and in schools, along with specific practices to promote student autonomy.

Mr. Nguyen Bao Chau, Project Coordinator of VVOB in Vietnam, shared: “We need to shift from viewing self-study as reading materials alone, to seeing autonomy as an integrated capacity, students need to know how to set goals, evaluate progress, cooperate with classmates and adjust their learning methods to suit themselves. The technical paper is not only a theoretical orientation, but also a practical tool for teachers, school leaders and pedagogical lecturers to apply directly to teaching and learning activities. This is a necessary step to bring autonomy into the classroom.”

Representatives of the Central Deaf Education and Support Center share experiences in sign language - Photo: Provided by the project

Promote a learning environment that supports autonomy

At the workshop, experts presented specific sets of recommendations to create a more supportive learning environment that promotes and nurtures student autonomy as a core competency. Accordingly, the role of school leaders in promoting autonomy needs to be strengthened. School leaders play a pioneering role in creating a strategic vision, developing policies and creating favorable conditions for teachers and students to develop autonomy.

Strengthening teachers’ capacity to promote student autonomy. Teachers are the ones who directly interact with students, so it is important to equip them with appropriate knowledge, skills and pedagogical methods. Promoting family and community involvement in supporting the development of student autonomy. For autonomy to truly develop, students need to be empowered and given opportunities to actively participate in their own learning. Strengthening the role of teacher training institutions in training, fostering and researching autonomy.

Delegates attending the workshop - Photo: Provided by the project

The technical paper is the result of extensive professional cooperation between VVOB and representatives of teacher training universities, international and non- governmental organizations working in the field of education. The content of the document is based on a thorough review of policy documents, professional documents, national and international research, and good practices of education projects in Vietnam.

Through the workshop, VVOB hopes to spread a correct understanding of student autonomy, while promoting innovative pedagogical practices, from the classroom to the management level, to build a learning environment where students can be proactive, creative and develop comprehensively. This will not only help them succeed in their studies but also equip them with solid foundations to confidently enter the ever-changing world.

Thanh Truc

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/thuc-day-nang-luc-tu-chu-cho-hoc-sinh-nen-tang-cua-giao-duc-hien-dai-195729.htm