On September 14, information from Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee said that Vice Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Dau Thanh Tung has just signed and issued a plan to implement the Project "Making English a second language in schools in the period 2025 - 2035, vision to 2045" in the province.
According to the plan, Thanh Hoa has identified a roadmap for implementation from preschool education, general education to university, vocational education and continuing education.
The goal by 2035 is for the province to form an ecosystem of using English in educational institutions. By 2045, English will become a communication tool widely used in teaching, management and educational activities of schools.
Mandatory English teaching from grade 1
In the period 2025 - 2030, Thanh Hoa sets a target for 100% of general education institutions in the area to teach compulsory English from grade 1; at least 20% of institutions reach Level 1, 5% reach Level 2 and 2% reach Level 3.
In the period 2030 - 2035, the proportion of general education institutions reaching Level 1 is expected to increase to at least 30%, Level 2 to 10% and Level 3 to 5%. By 2045, the corresponding ratios will be at least 50%, 20% and 15%.
For preschool education, in the period 2025 - 2030, 100% of facilities in favorable areas must ensure conditions for children to get acquainted with English, at least 10% of facilities reach Level 1. By 2045, the province aims for 100% of preschool facilities to be qualified for children to get acquainted with English.
For higher education, Thanh Hoa sets a roadmap for Hong Duc University to reach Level 1 in the period 2025 - 2030, Level 2 in the period 2030 - 2035 and Level 3 in the period 2035 - 2045.
Specific goals can be adjusted after the Ministry of Education and Training issues guidelines on evaluation criteria for each level.
A noteworthy content is that the province will select qualified institutions to pilot teaching some subjects and educational activities in English; then evaluate and draw experience before replicating.
Thanh Hoa also orients towards building an environment to use English inside and outside the classroom; organizing clubs, experiential activities, and exchanges to increase practical opportunities for students.
Reviewing staff, supplementing teachers
To implement the plan, the province requests to review the current situation of teachers and lecturers; develop recruitment plans, contracts and arrange English teachers, teachers who are capable of teaching subjects in English.
At the same time, the province will study mechanisms to attract foreigners who are proficient in English to participate in teaching at public educational institutions; develop policies to support English teachers to work in difficult areas.
Thanh Hoa also prioritizes investing in foreign language classrooms, smart classrooms, technology infrastructure and digital learning materials; encouraging the application of artificial intelligence in lecture design, building bilingual learning materials, testing, assessment and supporting students' self-study.
For the period 2025 - 2030 alone, the total estimated cost for implementing the plan is more than 307 billion VND. Funding sources include the state budget, legal revenue from educational institutions, socialization sources and other legal mobilized sources.
The implementation cost in the period 2030 - 2045 will be determined based on the actual situation and the province's budget balancing capacity.
According to the plan, from 2026, Thanh Hoa will begin reviewing the staff, developing teacher recruitment plans, piloting teaching some subjects in English, developing digital learning materials and investing in facilities to serve the roadmap to make English the second language in schools.
