Deputy Minister of Education: Striving to make English a compulsory subject from Grade 1

The education sector will strive to make English a compulsory subject from Grade 1 once there is sufficient infrastructure and a dedicated teaching staff, according to the Deputy Minister of Education and Training.

The above content was shared by Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong at the conference to review and deploy the new school year in Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of August 27. He stated that in the project soon to be approved by the Government, English is regulated as an elective subject from Grade 1. At an appropriate time, with full infrastructure and teachers, the education sector will make English a compulsory subject from Grade 1, instead of from Grade 3 as it is currently. Mr. Thuong praised Ho Chi Minh City for being a pioneer in this regard. In recent years, the city has introduced preschool children to English. This is suitable for making English a second language in schools, as children need early exposure to learn a foreign language well. This has also been an elective subject for Grade 1 students for many years.In the high school graduation exam, Ho Chi Minh City has consistently been among the leading groups in English results. This year, the average score of the city’s students (after the merger) ranked 2nd nationwide.

Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong speaking at the conference on the morning of August 27. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Lam Hong Lam Thuy, Head of the Secondary Education Department, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said that since 1998, the city has implemented an intensive English teaching program with a duration of 8 periods per week. If not following this program, students can take elective English with 2 periods per week. By the 2015-2016 school year, all students in (former) Ho Chi Minh City were learning English from Grade 1.

Since 2014, students in Grades 1-12 have had the option to study Math and Science in English with native teachers (integrated program). After 10 years, about 300,000 students have enrolled, a 50-fold increase.

“In the context of Ho Chi Minh City after the merger, we will adjust the teaching project to have an appropriate and synchronized roadmap in the three areas to step-by-step make English a second language in schools specifically,” Ms. Thuy said.

At the preschool level, about 2,100 out of nearly 4,000 schools introduce children to English. The Department assesses that this activity is not yet uniform, mainly concentrated in public schools. This rate in independent and private classes is still low due to limitations in staff, infrastructure, and parental awareness.

Grade 1 students at Dang Tran Con Primary School, Ho Chi Minh City, on the first day of school, August 20. Photo: Thuy Ha

In August last year, the Politburo requested all levels to improve foreign language proficiency for pupils and students, gradually making English a second language in schools, according to the conclusion of implementing Resolution 29.

The Ministry of Education and Training expects that by 2035, 100% of pupils and students will study English as a second language.

Source: https://vnexpress.net/thu-truong-giao-duc-phan-dau-dua-tieng-anh-thanh-mon-bat-buoc-tu-lop-1-4932158.html