Parents welcome Vietnam's bold plan to teach English from grade 1

When 34-year-old Van Quy heard that English would soon become a compulsory subject from Grade 1, he felt both excited and relieved. His daughter in Hanoi will enter primary school next year, and he has been spending VND2–3 million ($76-114) a month on private English classes so she can gain confidence speaking a foreign language early.

"I think this is extremely necessary," Quy said. "Even though I worry a bit about how she'll adapt, I completely support it, I'd even like to see it start in kindergarten."

The government this week announced a sweeping 10-year plan to make English the second language in schools by 2035, aiming for all primary students to begin learning it from grade 1 within the next five years. The program promises free English lessons in public schools, replacing the current system where English is optional from grade 1 and mandatory only from grade 3.

For parents like Thu Hue, 31, that is welcome news. Her first-grade daughter currently studies three English-based subjects: English Support, English Math, and English STEM Robotics, for VND550,000 a month at a Hanoi school that partners with foreign teachers.

"If English becomes mandatory, that means we’ll save some money. Any savings help, so I’m really looking forward to it," she said.

Ho Chi Minh City has already been piloting English lessons for first graders for over a decade, with nearly all students participating. Parents say the program mainly helps children get familiar with the language through songs, games, and simple communication, without putting them under heavy pressure.

"Learning at school makes it easier for parents, and teachers can guide the children closely," said Thanh Ngan, 42, a mother of three.

Educators have also praised the new policy as a major step toward global integration.

"Starting English from grade 1 will create a generation trained in foreign languages from an early age," said Teo Thi Thanh Mai, principal of Le Quy Don Primary School in Hanoi.

But many parents and teachers remain concerned about one thing: finding enough qualified teachers.

"My daughter once learned math in English, but the teacher wasn’t fluent, so the lessons didn’t really work," Quy recalled. "Even if it’s free, parents might still need to send their kids to private centers if quality isn’t there."

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, Vietnam will need 12,000 more English teachers for preschools, 10,000 for primary schools, and at least 200,000 teachers capable of teaching other subjects in English by 2030.

Education minister Nguyen Kim Son recently met with the U.K.’s Secretary of State for Skills to seek support in developing Vietnam’s English-teaching workforce. The ministry plans to work with local authorities to draft detailed guidelines and a roadmap for rolling out the new program.