Vietnam to pilot AI teaching across grades 1-12

Prof. Le Anh Vinh, director of the Ministry of Education and Training’s Vietnam Institute of Educational Science, said the AI competency framework for students was developed based on a 2024 survey of 11,000 students in 44 provinces, which found that 87% of students have been using AI in learning.

Some challenges were identified, including lack of knowledge, insufficient technology and inadequate teacher guidance. Vinh presented these findings at the "Open STEM Day 2025" at FPT School Bac Giang in Bac Ninh Province on Sunday.

Another survey, this one in early 2025 of nearly 35,000 teachers, found that 76% had already used AI in their classrooms. Though nearly 70% of teachers viewed AI positively, there were concerns about accuracy, privacy, data security, and reduced human interaction. Vinh said the findings underlined the urgency of teaching AI in schools, emphasizing that students need early instruction to use it effectively.

An IT class at Tran Binh Trong Primary School, HCMC, in 2021. Photo courtesy of the school

The ministry plans to start AI training for teachers in February, he said. Three teaching models will be tested: integrating AI into existing subjects, teaching standalone AI topics and organizing experiential activities and clubs. The results will decide the nationwide rollout of AI education across grades 1 to 12.

Although the ministry has not set specific lesson hours, AI would primarily be integrated into existing subjects and there would be standalone lessons in critical content, Vinh said. The AI curriculum will focus on four main areas: human-centered thinking, AI ethics, AI techniques and applications, and AI system design.

It will be divided into Level 1 for primary school students, focusing on basic AI concepts, Level 2 for secondary school students and covering AI ethics, techniques, applications, and social impacts, and Level 3 for high school students, emphasizing practical use, simple AI design and critical analysis of social and civic issues.

Vinh said AI could also help mitigate the high student-to-teacher ratio in schools. "Integrating AI allows students to engage with learning materials more frequently. They can seek information to expand their thinking and optimize learning outcomes."