Ho Chi Minh City to offer students free English, AI, STEM classes and school meals

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee is drafting a resolution outlining support policies for public schools to promote comprehensive education.

5 enrichment programs to be offered free of charge

Under the proposal, the state budget would cover between one and five areas of education for each student to support their all-round development.

The five areas include English education, aimed at strengthening students’ language skills through practice, communication and experiential learning, while creating an English-speaking environment in schools.

Computer science, digital literacy and artificial intelligence education would provide hands-on computer training, build digital skills, teach students to use AI tools safely and responsibly, and promote online safety.

STEM and STEAM programs would offer practical and experiential learning in science, technology and engineering, alongside scientific research activities and academic clubs.

Life skills education would cover personal values, ethics, law, traffic safety, violence and abuse prevention, basic financial literacy, field trips and career guidance. The latter would be linked to businesses, export processing zones, industrial parks and high-tech parks. 

Students would also learn about the city’s history, culture and traditions, and take part in volunteer work and community service.

Sports and arts activities would include extracurricular physical education, sports clubs and competitions, swimming and drowning prevention, as well as cultural activities, performing arts, visual arts, music and reading. 

The program aims to give every student opportunities to regularly practice at least one sport and learn to play at least one age-appropriate musical instrument.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee defines comprehensive education activities as programs organized by schools under their own education plans, outside the regular teaching hours and compulsory educational activities prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training.

These activities may take place during second-shift sessions, after school or on days off, and can be organized by class, group, club, project or across multiple schools. 

They must be provided free of charge, suit students’ ages and abilities, and aim to foster balanced development in character, intellect, physical health, aesthetics and life skills.

Meal subsidies for students at public schools

Under the draft resolution, the city budget would also provide lunch subsidies for students who actually eat school meals at public educational institutions.

The funding would be calculated based on the actual number of students receiving school meals, multiplied by the daily subsidy rate and the number of days meals are provided.

In addition, the city budget would provide annual funding to each public educational institution, including its satellite campuses and affiliated branches, to support school safety, healthcare, psychological counseling and social work services.

The proposed policies would apply to public educational institutions across Ho Chi Minh City, including preschools and general education schools; continuing education institutions offering lower and upper secondary programs; and institutions serving people with disabilities, such as specialized schools and centers supporting inclusive education.