Over 96% of Ho Chi Minh City preschool teachers fall short of B2 proficiency

On Saturday, Luong Thi Hong Diep, head of the Preschool Education Division at the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that the city was planning training programs to prepare preschool teachers for the introduction of English as a second language.

According to Diep, a survey of 741 educational institutions offering English familiarization programs for children found that only 484 of the 15,554 preschool teachers assessed had English proficiency at B2 level or above, accounting for just 3.11 percent.

“The biggest obstacle is that preschool teachers lack confidence in communicating with children in English. As a result, English instruction currently relies largely on teachers from foreign language centers," Diep said.

"In many local areas, there are no teachers who meet the B2 benchmark, meaning implementation remains limited to a number of well-positioned public schools,” she said.

To carry out the 2026-45 program, the city will prioritize improving the English proficiency of teachers currently at B1 level and key teaching staff, while exploring policies to attract qualified personnel, Diep said.

Diep said the department would develop training programs based on teachers' English proficiency, prioritizing those at B1 level for further training to reach B2. 

The plan would also provide funding and time for teachers to attend courses, while exploring incentives to attract teachers with stronger English skills.

The estimated funding required for the 2026-2045 initiative exceeds VND738 billion (US$28.7 million). 

The budget will cover teacher training, teaching materials and learning resources, facility upgrades, equipment purchases, digital infrastructure and technology platforms, as well as other related activities.