Vietnam's general education schools need English-speaking leaders to meet new standards

This is one of the criteria outlined in the ministry's Circular No. 94/2026, which establishes standards and assessment procedures for implementing the project titled 'Making English the Second Language in Schools for the 2025-35 Period, with a Vision Toward 2045.'

Approved by the government in October 2025, the project aims to expand the use of English in teaching, learning and other educational activities.

The circular, which takes effect on December 19, sets three levels of implementation and separate standards for general education schools, as well as for four other groups of educational institutions: preschools, continuing education centers, vocational education institutions, and universities.

For general education schools, the criteria cover school leaders, teachers and students, with requirements becoming more demanding at each level.

At level 1, schools must have at least one principal or vice principal able to use English to work directly with foreigners, as well as a sufficient number of English teachers meeting the ministry's proficiency requirements.

Teachers delivering other subjects or educational activities in English must also be able to work directly with foreigners in English.

At least 50 percent of students in classes implementing English as a second language in the grade completing the relevant education level closest to the time of assessment must achieve English proficiency at least one level higher under Vietnam's Foreign Language Proficiency Framework, or an equivalent standard.

For schools that have no classes implementing English as a second language that are completing an education level at the time of registration, the threshold is 20 percent of all students achieving the required proficiency level in the most recent school year.

At level 2, the requirement for school leaders remains unchanged, while teachers delivering subjects or educational activities in English must additionally design at least 10 percent of periodic test content for those subjects in English.

The student proficiency thresholds rise to 60 percent of students in the relevant classes completing an education level, or 30 percent of all students at schools without such classes.

At level 3, at least two principals or vice principals must be able to use English to work directly with foreigners, while teachers delivering subjects or educational activities in English must design at least 50 percent of periodic test content for those subjects in English.

The corresponding student proficiency thresholds rise to 90 percent and 50 percent, respectively.

The circular also sets out assessment criteria covering the English-speaking environment and communication activities, education plans and teaching activities, learning materials and facilities, digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence, and international cooperation and partnerships in English-language education.