Concerns Over Compulsory English From Grade 1 in Vietnam

A sweeping shift to early English in every classroom

Vietnam has set a firm deadline for English to enter the school day from the very start of primary education. Under a national program now being shaped, English will become a compulsory subject from grade 1 nationwide by 2030. The school system is expected to adopt English as a second language by 2035, with a longer vision to 2045. The Ministry of Education and Training describes an approach that places English in classrooms, in daily school communication, and within selected subjects. The move aligns with broader government goals to raise investment in human capital and to support long term growth. An official government update lists the English plan among current policy priorities.

For a country moving deeper into global supply chains, an early start in English is a practical decision. Vietnam ranked 63rd out of 116 countries in the Education First English Proficiency Index in 2024, a low proficiency band. Employers in technology, services, tourism, and finance cite language bottlenecks. Families feel the pressure too, spending on private lessons so children gain confidence early. Making English present from grade 1 aims to reduce private costs, give every child exposure at the same age, and build confidence at an age when the brain is highly receptive to sounds and vocabulary. The shift follows a 2023 directive that called for stronger foreign language education across all levels.

What exactly will change between now and 2035

The program Bringing English as a second language in schools covers 2025 to 2035, with a vision to 2045. It sets three levels for schools, based on how much English is used in teaching and campus life. By 2030, the targets are at least 20 percent of schools at Level 1, 5 percent at Level 2, and 2 percent at Level 3. By 2045, the targets rise to 50 percent, 20 percent, and 15 percent. Evaluations consider teacher capacity, digital tools, curriculum design, and the use of English in daily routines such as announcements or clubs. The plan bundles standards with infrastructure, training, and partnerships so schools can move up step by step.

Primary schools timeline

All primary schools will teach English from grade 1 by 2030. Schools with adequate teachers and facilities are encouraged to begin earlier. The policy is designed to make English present beyond the single subject period, with scope for selected content subjects in English where feasible. Ho Chi Minh City has conducted grade 1 English lessons for more than a decade, with very high participation, giving a model of song, game, and simple communication based lessons that reduce pressure on young learners.

Beyond primary schools

Preschools are expected to introduce English within five years, aiming for 10 percent to reach Level 1 by 2030 and half by 2045. At universities, the goal by 2035 is for half of institutions to meet Level 2 and 35 percent to meet Level 3. Vocational schools will expand English use in career oriented learning. Wider education reforms support access and consistency, including a plan to adopt a single set of textbooks nationwide from 2026 and free textbooks by 2030, steps that can help reduce cost barriers for families.

Parents cheer the move, raise quality concerns

Many parents welcome the policy because an early start at school could save money on private classes and spread opportunity more evenly. Families in major cities report paying from VND 2 million to VND 3 million each month for after school lessons so children gain confidence with basic English. The hope is that quality instruction becomes available during the school day, making extra classes optional rather than necessary.

Van Quy, a 34 year old father in Hanoi, said the plan will ease both cost and pressure if quality is assured. He voiced enthusiasm while keeping a close eye on classroom reality.

“I think this is extremely necessary. Even though I worry a bit about how she will adapt, I completely support it. I would even like to see it start in kindergarten.”

Teo Thi Thanh Mai, principal of Le Quy Don Primary School in Hanoi, said that beginning early can build a solid base for future study and work.

“Starting English from grade 1 will create a generation trained in foreign languages from an early age.”

A central worry among parents and teachers is staffing and quality. The ministry estimates that preschools will need about 12,000 additional English teachers and primary schools about 10,000. At least 200,000 teachers across subjects will need training to teach in English by 2030. Without a strong workforce, families fear they will still need private centers, and that would undermine the equity goal.

Can early English help children learn better

Research suggests many children benefit from early exposure when it comes to sound, vocabulary, and comfort with communication. Psychologist Ellen Bialystok has documented gains in memory, focus, and flexible thinking among bilingual learners over decades of work. Linguists Heidi Dulay and Marina Burt found that children learning English often make errors similar to those of native speaking children at the same stage, a sign that natural language learning mechanisms are at work. Pronunciation is a clear advantage of an early start. Studies by James Flege and colleagues have shown that those who begin before about age 10 can more easily form new sounds and may develop a lighter accent. Not every study finds the same effects, and language learning can stall if lessons are dry or pressured. For Vietnam, the policy will succeed if schools deliver frequent, playful interaction and listening practice, rather than grammar drills and heavy homework. Success depends on quality of instruction and the language environment, not only on the age at which lessons begin.

The teacher challenge and how Vietnam plans to meet it

Vietnam faces a scale challenge to build a workforce that can deliver effective early English. By 2030, preschools will need around 12,000 more English teachers and primary schools around 10,000. The ministry also plans to retrain or upskill at least 200,000 teachers so they can teach content in English where appropriate. Training programs will expand, digital and AI based tools will support instruction and assessment, and international partnerships will help build capacity. Senior officials have begun outreach to partner countries, including recent talks with education leaders in the United Kingdom on teacher development. Government updates also include a commitment to raise state expenditure on education to at least 20 percent of total spending, an important backdrop for teacher salaries, training budgets, and learning tools.

Avoiding grammar stuffing in grade 1

Parents urge schools to resist the old pattern of long vocabulary lists and repetitive worksheets. First graders are still mastering how to read and write Vietnamese, and English letters and sounds can feel different at first. Gentle, lively instruction works best at this age. That means songs, stories, gestures, role play, and short speaking turns in pairs or small groups. Reading and writing should be introduced steadily, with strong phonics and a focus on listening and speaking first.

A parent of a first grader at a public school in Hanoi urged the ministry to build joy into early lessons, rather than pressure and tests.

“Learning through games, songs, role playing, and storytelling will foster love and natural acceptance, rather than fear of testing and evaluation.”

Bridging the rural urban divide

Conditions differ widely across Vietnam. In big cities, many schools already offer early English with experienced teachers and modern equipment. In rural, mountainous, and remote areas, schools may lack qualified staff, language labs, or stable internet. Rolling out a single policy without targeted support can widen gaps in speaking and listening skills. A fair rollout depends on planning for places where resources are thin.

• Invest in teacher pipelines that prioritize remote districts, including scholarships, housing support, and salary top ups for English teachers who serve outside city centers.
• Equip every primary school with a basic audio kit, a projector, and stable offline resources so lessons continue even when connectivity is weak.
• Create regional mentoring hubs where strong schools host visiting teachers for short practical courses and classroom observation.
• Recruit local graduates with solid English and train them for primary teaching, backed by distance learning and coaching.
• Adopt assessment that values listening and speaking, not only written grammar, so rural students are rewarded for real use of the language.
• Use the planned national textbook set and the policy of free textbooks by 2030 to ensure consistent materials and reduce family costs.

These steps can narrow gaps between city and countryside, so the grade 1 mandate improves opportunity rather than mirroring existing disparities.

What schools can do now

Schools do not need to wait for every regulation to start building an English friendly environment. Small routines add up quickly when they are frequent and predictable. The goal is to increase meaningful exposure and student talk time in a way that feels natural and fun.

• Begin each day with a short English warmup, such as greetings, dates, weather, and a simple question of the day.
• Use bilingual signage around campus for rooms, objects, and common instructions so everyday life doubles as a lesson.
• Run story time twice a week with short picture books, chants, and gestures, focusing on understanding and pronunciation.
• Create English clubs at lunch or after school run by teachers and older students, focused on games, songs, and show and tell.
• Build teacher communities of practice where colleagues share lesson plans, short videos, and feedback on classroom techniques.
• Use simple digital tools to record short speaking tasks so students hear themselves and track progress over time.
• Offer parents short guides and weekly playlists of songs and cartoons, so families that do not speak English can still support exposure at home.

How success should be measured

Test scores alone do not capture early language growth. Measures should reward frequent use, confident speaking, and steady progress. When schools track the right signals, they can adjust support quickly and keep the focus on learning.

• Number of new English teachers placed in preschools and primary schools, especially outside cities.
• Share of teachers who complete new training and demonstrate classroom skills aligned with the program.
• Student speaking and listening time each week, measured through class observations or short recordings.
• Progress on simple proficiency bands for primary students that emphasize oral communication and understanding.
• Retention rates for teachers in rural and remote schools after new incentives are introduced.
• Share of schools achieving Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 targets each year.
• Change in family spending on private English lessons as school quality improves.
• Student well being indicators, including enjoyment of English class and reduced test pressure in early grades.

Key Points

• English will be compulsory from grade 1 nationwide by 2030, and the system aims to adopt English as a second language by 2035.
• Schools will be rated at three levels based on English use in teaching and campus life, with targets for 2030 and 2045.
• Vietnam needs about 12,000 preschool and 10,000 primary English teachers, plus 200,000 teachers trained to teach in English by 2030.
• Parents welcome the early start, while urging a focus on quality and a reduction in private lesson costs.
• Early exposure supports pronunciation and confidence, but success depends on playful, communicative teaching, not grammar drills.
• Rural and remote schools need targeted funding, equipment, and teacher incentives so the policy closes gaps rather than widens them.
• Government updates include plans to raise education spending and to standardize textbooks, which can support a fair rollout.
• Schools can act now with short daily routines, story time, clubs, and family guides that increase exposure without pressure.