The Hai Phong City People's Committee has recently drafted an implementation plan for the Project "Making English a Second Language in Schools for the 2025 - 2035 Period, with a Vision to 2045". This is a strategic step aimed at building a generation of global citizens, contributing to turning Hai Phong into a modern, civilized, and livable port city of regional stature.
Breakthrough Goals and Roadmap According to the draft, the city aims for the widespread, regular, and effective use of English in teaching, communication, and management, forming an English-using ecosystem from preschool to university levels.
- 2025 - 2030 Period: 100% of primary education institutions will teach English as a compulsory subject from Grade 1; 100% of preschools will ensure conditions for children to become familiar with English.
- Vision to 2045: Strive for 100% of preschools and general education institutions to meet the standards for an English-using environment according to the levels prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training.
Human Resource Development and Educational Innovation To realize these goals, Hai Phong is focusing on key solutions:
- Human Resource Development: The city will review and assess the English proficiency of management staff and teachers. In particular, special incentive policies are expected to be issued to attract preschool English teachers and teachers who teach science subjects in English. Hai Phong University and Hai Duong University will research opening training programs for teachers to teach subjects (Math, Natural Sciences, Technology...) in English.
- Implementation of Teaching in English: Starting from 2026, eligible schools will deploy the teaching of subjects (prioritizing Mathematics and Natural Sciences) in English. The city will also pilot dual-degree programs at several public general education institutions.
- Building a Bilingual Environment: By 2026-2027, 100% of educational institutions must implement bilingual school nameplates, signs, and websites.
Application of Technology and Testing Reform The draft emphasizes the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital platforms to personalize learning. Concurrently, the city will innovate testing and assessment methods by: (i) Researching the application of testing all four skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) for English in the entrance examination for the 10th grade of high school; (ii) Organizing annual large-scale online surveys of students' English proficiency.
Funding and Inter-Departmental Coordination The total expected budget for the 2025 - 2035 period is more than 1,000 billion VND. This funding source includes the state budget, integrated capital, legal revenues of schools, and mobilized social resources from the community and businesses.
In the inter-departmental coordination network to implement the Project, the Department of Foreign Affairs has been assigned the important responsibility of being a "bridge" to help Hai Phong's education sector access international resources. Its specific tasks include:
- Connecting International Partners: Leading the connection with embassies, international organizations, and foreign educational institutions to support the implementation of cooperation programs and teacher-student exchanges.
- Attracting High-Quality Human Resources: Supporting the implementation of policies to attract volunteers and native experts to teach at schools within the city.
- Promoting Technology and Experience Transfer: Coordinating with the Department of Education and Training to promote cooperation with countries that use English as an official or second language to share management experience and promote advanced technology transfer in English teaching and learning.
Other departments are also closely involved: The Department of Education and Training leads the overall plan; the Department of Finance advises on budget allocation; the Department of Home Affairs coordinates the construction of special incentive policies for teachers; and the Department of Science and Technology supports the digital infrastructure. Making English a second language is a responsibility of the entire political system to improve the quality of human resources for the sustainable development of the city.