Teacher training admissions in the 4.0 era: No more room for unbalanced learning.

GD&TĐ - The adjustment of admission criteria by many teacher training colleges shows that the new requirements for future teachers are not only proficiency in one group of subjects but also interdisciplinary competence, adaptability to technology, and educational innovation.

Elementary school teachers are no longer just strong in Literature.

Once considered a field suitable for students excelling in social sciences, Primary Education has undergone a significant shift in its admissions and training. Many universities no longer consider the C00 subject combination (Literature, History, Geography) or have narrowed down the social science-oriented subject combinations for Primary Education . Instead, combinations including Mathematics, English, or those integrating multiple fields are now preferred.

This shift reflects the increasingly different demands of the teaching profession in the context of modern schools, where teachers not only stand in front of the class lecturing but also have to apply technology, organize experiential activities, teach integrated subjects, and support students in developing many new skills.

According to Dr. Duong Minh Thanh, Head of the Department of Primary Education at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, the university has been eliminating the C00 subject combination for the Primary Education major for many years. Explaining this, Dr. Thanh stated that primary school teachers teach students in many different areas, from Vietnamese language and mathematics to natural sciences , social sciences, technology, and ethics. Therefore, the subject combination for admission needs to encompass a wide range of abilities instead of focusing on just one group of subjects.

"Primary education is a field that trains teachers to teach many subjects, so the admission combinations are usually chosen to cover a wide range of areas," Dr. Thanh shared.

According to him, while the teaching profession has greater stability than some other fields, it is still affected by the demands for innovation in general education. In the future, mathematical, natural science, technology, and English skills will be increasingly emphasized to meet the demands of digital education and the trend of English becoming a second language in schools.

In fact, the 2026 admissions season shows that many teacher training colleges nationwide are changing in this direction. Some schools only retain the D01 combination (Mathematics, Literature, English) or combinations including Mathematics and English for the Primary Education major. The change in admission combinations does not mean downplaying social science subjects, but rather aims to find candidates with a more comprehensive academic background, according to Dr. Duong Minh Thanh.

"The new requirements for the entry-level competencies of primary education students will pay more attention to mathematics, natural sciences, technology, and English to meet the demands of educational reform and socio- economic development," he said.

Representatives from the Faculty of Primary Education stated that the quality of incoming students has improved significantly recently, not only due to the new admission criteria but also from preferential policies for the education sector. The improved quality of the student intake has also contributed to positive changes in the student training process.

Students majoring in Primary Education are doing their teaching practice. Photo: HCMUE

Teaching not only literacy but also technology is essential.

As a former student of the Primary Education program at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Tuong Vy from Nguyen Binh Khiem Primary School (Phuoc Thang, Ho Chi Minh City) believes that the teaching profession today is very different from before. According to Ms. Vy, primary school teachers now not only impart knowledge but also must accompany students in terms of emotions, skills, and adaptability in a new learning environment.

"Students now access information quickly and have their own personalities, so teachers need to listen, understand, and empathize with them more. Besides their subject matter, I think teachers today need to continuously improve their digital skills to keep up with the needs of students and the modern learning environment," she said.

Ms. Vy herself was admitted to university using the A01 subject combination (Mathematics, Physics, English). Upon entering the academic environment and gaining teaching experience, she realized that English and technology greatly assisted in finding materials, designing lessons, and updating teaching methods. "I think those skills are truly essential because elementary school teachers teach students in many different fields," she shared.

According to her, the adjustment of admission criteria by many schools reflects the practical need for primary school teachers to possess more diverse skills than before. This doesn't mean teachers have to be proficient in all fields, but rather that they need a foundation to adapt to educational reforms. Being good at social sciences is an advantage because the teaching profession requires emotional intelligence, communication skills, and the ability to convey information effectively. However, from her experience, she realized that primary school teachers need to handle many different areas.

Students at Nguyen Binh Khiem Primary School (Phuoc Thang District, Ho Chi Minh City) during class. Photo: Tuong Vy

In reality, at many primary schools today, teachers not only teach textbook knowledge but also organize school activities and events, teach STEAM, apply artificial intelligence, design digital learning materials, manage online classes, and guide students in digital citizenship skills. This is also why many teacher training colleges are beginning to prioritize candidates with interdisciplinary skills rather than those specializing in just one group of subjects. "If you have the opportunity to hone many skills early on, you will be much more confident and proactive when working later," Ms. Vy emphasized.

Tran Gia Han, a 12th-grade student in Ho Chi Minh City exploring the field of Primary Education, from Ngo Gia Tu High School (Phu Dinh District, Ho Chi Minh City), shared that she previously thought that simply excelling in Literature and History was sufficient to pursue a career in teaching.

"However, upon closer examination, I realized that elementary school teachers today have to do many other things besides teaching. I was quite surprised to see that they have to know how to create video lectures, use AI, organize STEM activities, or communicate in basic English with students. I think that just being good at social studies isn't enough. Elementary school teachers now need to be flexible and constantly update their skills," Gia Han shared.

Many education experts also believe that changing the admission criteria is an inevitable trend as general education is shifting strongly towards developing students' qualities and competencies. In this context, teachers need not only the ability to communicate effectively but also integrated thinking, technological skills, and the capacity for lifelong learning.

According to Dr. Duong Minh Thanh from Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, all four admission methods have been fully implemented, and further research and data collection will be conducted to adjust the methods and combinations of subjects for admission, ensuring they align with the required professional competence of the field and meet the demands of educational reform and development, particularly for society as a whole. This change sends a clear message to high school students: If they want to pursue a career in teaching in this new era, a skewed learning approach will no longer be suitable.

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Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/tuyen-sinh-su-pham-thoi-40-khong-con-dat-cho-hoc-lech-post779511.html