Vietnamese education system
The educational system in Vietnam has undergone significant changes in the years since the country’s independence from France in 1954. Today, Vietnam has a literacy rate of 97.7%, and education is seen as a priority by the government. In this essay, we will discuss the history, structure, curriculum, and challenges of the Vietnamese educational system in detail.
History
During the French colonial period, education was only available to a select few Vietnamese. French was the primary language used in schools, and Vietnamese language and culture were suppressed. After independence, the government placed a high priority on education and launched campaigns to increase literacy rates.
The early years of the educational system in Vietnam were focused on creating a basic education infrastructure. The government made primary education free and compulsory for children aged six to eleven. However, the system was severely disrupted during the Vietnam War, and many schools were destroyed. After the war, the government had to rebuild the educational infrastructure and improve access to education for all children.
In the years following the war, the Vietnamese government focused on improving the quality of education. In the 1980s, the government launched a campaign to eliminate illiteracy and improve the quality of education in rural areas. The 1990s saw further improvements in the educational system, with an increased focus on vocational education and training.
Today, the Vietnamese educational system is one of the strongest in the region, with a high rate of literacy and a large number of graduates from higher education institutions.
Structure
The Vietnamese educational system is divided into five levels: preschool, primary school, lower secondary school, upper secondary school, and higher education.
Preschool education is available to children aged three to five, but it is not compulsory. There are two types of preschools in Vietnam: public and private. Public preschools are free, while private preschools charge fees.
Primary education is compulsory for all children aged six to eleven. The primary school curriculum covers Vietnamese language, mathematics, social studies, physical education, music, and art. The curriculum is centralized, meaning that the government sets the curriculum for all schools.
Lower secondary education is for students aged twelve to fourteen and covers a wider range of subjects. In addition to Vietnamese language, mathematics, social studies, and physical education, students also study natural sciences, foreign languages, and computer science. The curriculum is also centralized at this level.
Upper secondary education is for students aged fifteen to eighteen and is not compulsory. Students can choose between academic or vocational tracks. Academic students study subjects such as mathematics, literature, foreign languages, social sciences, and natural sciences, while vocational students study subjects such as mechanics, electronics, and economics. The curriculum at this level is also centralized.
Higher education is available to students who have completed upper secondary education. Higher education institutions in Vietnam include universities, colleges, and vocational schools. The government heavily subsidizes higher education, and many students receive scholarships to attend.
Curriculum
The Vietnamese curriculum is centralized, meaning that the government sets the curriculum for all schools. The curriculum is based on the socialist ideology and the desire to build a strong, independent Vietnam. The curriculum includes subjects such as Vietnamese language and literature, mathematics, social sciences, natural sciences, foreign languages, physical education, music, and art.
The curriculum places a strong emphasis on the study of Vietnamese history and culture. Students learn about the country’s struggle for independence and the role of socialism in building a modern Vietnam. They also study the Vietnamese language and literature, which are essential to the preservation of the country’s culture.
The curriculum is often criticized for being too rigid and not allowing for creativity and critical thinking. However, the government has made efforts to improve the quality of education by introducing new subjects and teaching methods. For example, the government has introduced a new subject called “life skills”.
The new subject named “life skills” was introduced into the Vietnamese educational system in 2017 as part of a broader effort to modernize and improve the quality of education in the country. The subject is currently taught at the secondary school level, and its purpose is to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate the challenges of daily life and to prepare them for success in the workplace.
The life skills curriculum covers a range of topics, including financial literacy, health and wellness, interpersonal communication, decision-making, and problem-solving. The goal is to provide students with practical skills that they can use in their daily lives and that will help them succeed in a rapidly changing world.
In addition to traditional classroom instruction, the life skills curriculum also includes practical exercises and projects designed to help students apply what they have learned in real-world situations. For example, students might work on budgeting exercises to learn how to manage their finances, or they might engage in role-playing exercises to practice effective communication and conflict resolution.
The introduction of the life skills curriculum has been widely praised as an important step forward in the modernization of the Vietnamese educational system. By equipping students with practical skills and knowledge, the curriculum is helping to ensure that they are better prepared to navigate the challenges of daily life and to succeed in the workforce. It is also seen as a positive development in terms of promoting critical thinking and creativity, which have traditionally been somewhat neglected in the centralized Vietnamese curriculum.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Vietnamese educational system has undergone significant changes over the years, with a focus on increasing access to education and improving the quality of education. Today, the system is divided into five levels, including preschool, primary school, lower secondary school, upper secondary school, and higher education. The curriculum is centralized and emphasizes subjects such as Vietnamese language and literature, mathematics, social sciences, natural sciences, foreign languages, physical education, music, and art. While the system has made significant progress, there are still challenges to be addressed, including the need for more flexibility in the curriculum and the need to address disparities in access to education between urban and rural areas. Overall, education remains a priority in Vietnam, and the government is committed to continuing to improve the system to ensure that all children have access to quality education.
