Golden score for English learning
According to the approved project "Bringing English to become the second language in schools in the period of 2025 - 2035, with a vision to 2045", at the high school level, all schools must teach compulsory English from grade 1. Of which, at least 20% of schools have achieved level 1 in teaching this language, 5% have achieved level 2 and 2% have achieved level 3. In the following years, the number of schools achieving level 3 gradually increased to 15%, levels 2 and 1 were 20% and 50% respectively.
Ms. Dinh Thi Thao - Principal of Vo Truong Toan Primary School (Cai Khe Ward, Can Tho City) - commented that this is a project that is in line with the current trend. In particular, teaching English from grade 1 is also a gold standard in the intelligence of primary school children so that they can absorb foreign languages best and confidently in communication. The unit has been teaching English since grade 1 for many years.
Meanwhile, at Hung Vuong Primary School (Nga Bay Ward, Can Tho City), students also have access to English early from grade 2. Mr. Dang Van Anh - Principal of the school - said that learning English early helps students form skills, confidence in communication, thinking in studying and practicing.
"The school's English teacher staff is currently 3 teachers. After teaching all the lessons of grades 3,4,5, the rest will be taught in English for grades 2. The school has implemented this program for many years, said Mr. Dang Van Anh.
Lack of functional rooms
As one of the city's units organizing English teaching since grade 1, Ms. Thao shared that in the early stages of implementation, the school also encountered difficulties in changing teaching methods, especially the teaching staff had to adapt to ensure that they could best communicate with grade 1 children. Up to now, one issue that the school needs to add is the functional department to teach English.
"Regarding initial facilities, the unit has full classrooms and functional rooms. However, due to the increasing number of students each year, functional departments have to be used to organize teaching. Therefore, we have reported and recommended to the locality for adjustment. If there are specialized functional rooms equipped with audio-visical equipment, the efficiency of foreign language teaching will be higher, said Ms. Thao.
According to Mr. Dang Van Anh, in the 2025-2026 school year, the school will organize 26 classes with about 900 students. But the unit only has 1 functional room to teach English. Therefore, the school has balanced and arranged the number of periods appropriately to ensure that students study in the best conditions.
Through the demand survey, most parents want their children to access English from grade 1. To teach English effectively according to the project and meet the needs of parents, we need to add another functional room, said Mr. Dang Van Anh.
According to the Department of Education and Training of Can Tho City, after the merger, the whole city has 16,971 classrooms and functional rooms. Of which, primary school has 10,076 rooms, secondary school has 4,378 rooms and high school has 2,517 rooms.
On October 31, the People's Committee of Can Tho City issued an Official Dispatch on the implementation of the project "Making English the second language in schools in the period of 2025-2035, with a vision to 2045". Accordingly, the Chairman of the City People's Committee assigned the Department of Education and Training to preside over and coordinate with relevant departments, branches, sectors, units and People's Committees of communes and wards to develop programs, projects, and plans to specify the goals, tasks, and solutions of the Project in accordance with local actual conditions. The implementation plan must be consulted and submitted to the City People's Committee for promulgation in 2025, ensuring progress, quality and compliance with regulations.
