Schools will make English compulsory starting from grade 1.

The Prime Minister has just approved the Project "Making English the Second Language in Schools in the period 2025-2035, with a vision to 2045," aiming to improve English proficiency for children, students, and university students, contributing to the development of Vietnamese people in the era of science and technology, the digital age, and strengthening international integration.

The project aims to make English the second language in Vietnamese schools; to widely, frequently, and effectively use English in teaching, communication, management, and educational activities; and to create an English-speaking ecosystem in educational institutions from level 1 to level 3.

Improving the quality of English language teaching and teaching in English will contribute to building a generation of global citizens who meet the requirements of Vietnam's international integration.

For preschool education, children will experience and become familiar with English; aiming to form and develop English communication skills, preparing them well for learning English at the secondary school level.

For general education, students develop the capacity and skills to use English in the development of thinking and qualities, as well as the ability to learn other subjects, educational activities, exchanges, and experiences inside and outside the school, contributing to the comprehensive development of Vietnamese people in the era of deep international integration.

For higher education, the goal is to develop an environment where English is used effectively in teaching courses. The aim is to develop higher education into a leading national pillar within the English-speaking ecosystem, with the capacity for deep integration, knowledge transfer, and innovation using English.

We need an additional 22,000 English teachers.

The project will be implemented in all preschools, primary and secondary schools, universities, vocational schools, and continuing education institutions nationwide.

The Ministry of Education and Training estimates that the project will impact approximately 50,000 educational institutions, affecting nearly 30 million children, students, and about 1 million administrators and teachers across all levels of education, disciplines, and training programs.

The project will be implemented over a period of 20 years (from 2025 to 2045) in three phases.

The period (2025-2030) will focus on building the foundation and standardizing; 100% of preschools in favorable areas will ensure conditions for children to become familiar with English. 100% of general education institutions nationwide will make English compulsory from grade 1. Currently, schools are making English compulsory from grade 3.

Phase (2030-2035): 80% of preschools nationwide will introduce English to children; 30% of primary and secondary schools will achieve Level 1 proficiency.

The period (2035-2045) will see the completion and enhancement of English usage, with English becoming more natural and an ecosystem for using English in educational settings, communication, and school administration.

The project requires the development of a workforce and the improvement of the quality of training and professional development for English language administrators, teachers, and lecturers, ensuring both quantity and quality.

Survey and assess English language proficiency for teachers and lecturers teaching English and other subjects in English at all educational levels and training programs.

According to calculations by the Ministry of Education and Training, for the successful implementation of the project at the preschool level, one English teacher position per preschool institution is required. Therefore, it is projected that an additional 12,000 English teacher positions will be needed in public preschools nationwide.

The implementation of compulsory English language teaching from grade 1 in the General Education Program will result in an increase of approximately 10,000 additional teachers in primary schools nationwide.

In addition, it is necessary to train and improve English language skills and professional pedagogical competence for at least 200,000 teachers who teach in English from now until 2035 to meet the needs and objectives of the project.