Teachers assigned to teach subjects and educational activities in English in Ho Chi Minh City must reach at least level 4 in primary and lower secondary schools and level 5 in upper secondary schools.
They must also complete training in methods for integrated content and language learning.
The Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has approved a plan to implement the project "Making English a second language in schools for 2026-2035, with a vision to 2045" in the city.
Developing the teaching workforce, raising English proficiency, and training teachers to teach in English are among the plan's main tasks.
Teachers assigned to teach subjects and educational activities in English must reach at least level 4 in primary and lower secondary schools. The requirement is level 5 for upper secondary schools, upper-secondary continuing education, and vocational education. In addition to the language requirement, teachers must complete training in integrated content and language teaching methods.
Managers, teachers, and staff at educational institutions with English proficiency below level 3 must study independently to reach level 3 before joining a centralized language training program. They may use artificial intelligence platforms or other suitable and effective forms of self-study.
The city will train managers, teachers, and staff who have reached level 3 to raise their proficiency to level 4 or 5. Teachers must commit to reaching the required level before they can be assigned to teach subjects in English at their institution.
After reaching the standard, teachers will continue regular training to maintain and develop their English proficiency and their ability to teach in English. Universities of education have been identified as the main specialized institutions for this work.
Under the project timeline, Ho Chi Minh City aims for 100% of managers and teachers to meet the English proficiency standard by 2035. All educational institutions are expected to complete training in teaching subjects in English, finalize English-language teaching programs, and build an English-speaking school environment.
During the 2026-2027 school year, institutions will review implementation conditions, prepare plans, and survey the English proficiency of 100% of their staff. In 2027-2028, the city aims to have 20-30% of managers, teachers, and staff take part in English training. The share is scheduled to rise to 30-40% in 2029-2030.
The plan also says that the city currently lacks English teachers and teachers who teach other subjects in English, while the quality of their training is uneven. The shortage of primary-school English teachers is particularly serious in areas far from the city center. Public kindergartens also have no established posts for English teachers.
To address the shortage, the city will study policies to support and attract English teachers to areas where they are needed. It will also prioritize providing enough teachers for disadvantaged wards, communes, and special administrative zones.
Sources: Dân Trí
