Ho Chi Minh City plans to pilot the use of English as a second language in teaching at selected public high schools during the 2024-25 school year, marking a significant breakthrough in local education.

Nguyen Van Hieu, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, confirmed the plan at a conference held on Friday to review results of the 2023-24 school year and outline tasks for the upcoming academic year, which will begin at the end of this month. 

This initiative comes as Ho Chi Minh City students continue to lead the country in English proficiency, with an average score of 6.73 in the 2024 national high school graduation exam.

Ho Chi Minh City has implemented various English programs in recent years across public elementary, middle, and high schools, including elective English, advanced English, and integrated English in math and science. 

The Politburo’s recent directive to promote international integration in education also emphasizes the improvement of foreign language skills, particularly in English, to enhance the quality of human resources for national development.

At Friday’s conference, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong urged Ho Chi Minh City to use English as a second language for teaching in public schools. 

Thuong highlighted the city's role as the economic hub of the country and stressed the need for its students to meet regional and global English proficiency standards. 

He encouraged the city to set a high benchmark for English education.

Director Hieu responded that Ho Chi Minh City is well-equipped to implement this plan and will select schools to pilot the program at the start of the coming school year.

Experts and leaders from various high schools have thrown their weight behind the initiative. 

Tran Thi Hong Thuy, principal of Tran Dai Nghia Middle and High School in District 1, expected parents to give support to the policy as their children will have a chance to study in an English-speaking environment.

Thuy noted that the city’s curriculum already includes English from third grade and has several effective English teaching programs.

The high English test scores in the city and national exams reflect its students’ readiness for this transition.

Nguyen Thi Tu, principal of Practical High School under Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy in District 5, also noted that current English enhancement programs at her school have strong parental backing and high student participation.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, dean of the English Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Pedagogy, mentioned several advantages for using English as a second language in local schools.

The city benefits from a highly qualified and experienced team of English teachers, including many foreign professionals, and boasts modern infrastructure and advanced information technology, Binh said.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!