General education program 2018: Making a difference in teaching and learning

The 2018 General Education Program, which was implemented starting in the 2020-2021 school year, represents a significant milestone in education reform in Vietnam. The end of the 2024-2025 school year will provide an opportunity for the education and training sector to reflect on the five-year journey of executing the 2018 General Education Program. After five years of implementation, the program has undergone initial trials, encountered various challenges, and also achieved many positive changes.

Positive changes in teaching and learning

Starting with the 2020-2021 school year, the 2018 General Education Program has been implemented in a "rolling" manner, adding one grade each year until the 2024-2025 school year, when all levels of education adopted the new program simultaneously. This program is designed with an open, student-centered approach, shifting the educational focus from merely imparting knowledge to fostering and developing students' qualities and abilities.

According to the program, each educational level and subject is structured in an integrated, interdisciplinary, and differentiated manner, granting greater autonomy to schools and teachers. There are also significant innovations in teaching methods, testing, and assessment.

To effectively implement this new program, educational institutions in the province have proactively developed school education plans that align with the 2018 General Education Program. The planning is flexible, tailored to the specific conditions of each school and locality, ensuring a focus on developing students' qualities and abilities. Many schools have successfully adopted open-plan strategies, allowing teachers the freedom to create their lesson plans.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Dao, Principal of Khanh Binh Primary School in Tan Uyen City, noted that the 2018 General Education Program has introduced "a breath of fresh air for both teachers and students." She explained, "Over the past five years of implementing the new program, our school has guided teachers to effectively educate students on their capacities, qualities, knowledge, and skills. We have also promoted digital transformation and integrated information technology into each lesson. Although we still face challenges with facilities that are inadequate to fully support the 2018 General Education Program, our efforts have significantly improved the quality of education."

To continue developing 

Binh Duong, as an industrially developed province with a rapidly increasing mechanical population—especially in industrial parks and large urban areas—has seen a significant rise in the demand for education at all levels. The province has successfully implemented the new General Education Program and introduced general education textbooks that align with the guidelines provided.

Recently, the education and training sector has actively prioritized budget balancing to enhance facilities and ensure minimum teaching equipment is available for effectively implementing the revamped curriculum. Educational institutions are now equipped in accordance with the regulations established by the Ministry of Education and Training, addressing the learning needs of students and professional research requirements while integrating information technology into teaching.

Currently, schools are sufficiently equipped with classrooms and functional spaces to facilitate effective teaching and learning. They have computer labs, dedicated rooms for practicing computer science and English, as well as areas for teachers to conduct online research. Most schools have also installed interactive boards to support the use of technology in education.

The education and training sector plans to continue investing in advanced and modern teaching equipment to facilitate student access to 4.0 technology, as well as develop STEM rooms to support experiential and creative teaching approaches. Additionally, non-teaching departments within educational institutions are being equipped with essential facilities, such as computers, printers, internet access, fiber optic cables, and online meeting rooms to aid in administration, assessment, communication, training meetings, etc. Annually, staff in the sector participate in training programs focused on professional skills, educational curricula, and new textbooks…

However, despite these achievements, several challenges remain that need urgent attention. The lack of synchronization in facilities and human resources presents a significant issue. The 2018 General Education Program mandates that teachers innovate their methods and skills in designing learning materials and assessments, but not all teachers have received adequate training. The approach of integrated teaching and the selection of subject combinations in high school also shows gaps, particularly as many schools are struggling to provide enough specialized teachers.

Mr. Nguyen Van Phong, Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Education and Training, stated that the 2018 General Education Program has been implemented as per the prescribed roadmap, ensuring quality, efficiency, and alignment with innovation goals. Moving forward, the sector will continue to strengthen its directives and guidance for educational institutions across the province to effectively and comprehensively implement the 2018 General Education Program, tailoring educational plans to meet actual conditions. Efforts will also focus on enhancing professional training and coaching for teachers to boost their pedagogical skills, innovate teaching and assessment methods, coordinate with relevant units, and increase investment to improve facilities and teaching equipment, with particular emphasis on subject-specific classrooms and practical equipment for experiential activities…

Reported by Hong Phuong, Khac Thinh - Translated by Ngoc Huynh