The recent seminar “How to make English the second language in schools” organized by the People’s Deputies Online, brought together National Assembly delegates, experts, and administrators to discuss the current state of English teaching and learning in Vietnamese schools. The seminar also proposed solutions to gradually make English the second language in schools, in alignment with Conclusion 91-KL/TW from the Politburo.
Dr. Dam Quang Minh, Chief Operating Officer of EQuest Education Group, contributed to the seminar by noting that while Vietnam’s English proficiency has improved in recent years, it still lags behind global standards. Specifically, Vietnam ranked 29th out of 70 countries in 2015, 65th out of 100 in 2020, and 58th out of 113 in 2024.
Dr. Dam Quang Minh, Chief Operating Officer of EQuest Education Group
Dr. Minh also highlighted both the opportunities and challenges in English education in Vietnam. Implementing bilingual and international programs (such as teaching Mathematics and Science in English) involves multiple steps and typically takes 1-2 years for approval. Even within the same educational system, different schools must obtain separate approvals for the same programs, adding to both time and costs.
Dr. Minh emphasized the need for a synchronized approach across both public and private schools to develop a nationwide foundation of qualified English teachers.
For the full perspectives of the delegates, experts, and administrators, please refer to the link below: Link 1, Link 2
