Vietnam Set for Comprehensive Education Reform
The Vietnamese Parliament has opened discussions on a comprehensive education reform planned for implementation during the 2026–2035 period, with a total budget of $23.2 billion. The reform aims for broad transformation—from educational infrastructure and teacher quality to ethics education and digital competencies.
The primary goal of the program is defined as standardizing and modernizing the education system while strengthening equal opportunity. By 2030, all classrooms are expected to meet infrastructure standards, talent-development ecosystems are to be established in half of all schools, and at least 70% of students are expected to participate in cultural or sports activities. The reform also envisions involving half of all students in community service projects, expanding access to entrepreneurship counselors, and equipping young people with essential life skills from an early age.
National Assembly Vice Chair Nguyen Khac Dinh emphasized that the reform should focus not only on academic achievement but also on character development. Dinh advocated for making swimming lessons mandatory for children and supported the goal of ensuring that students gain proficiency in at least one musical instrument, one sport, and one area of art. Nguyen Thanh Hai, Chair of the Science, Technology, and Environment Committee, criticized the current assessment system—where over 90% of students are labeled “excellent”—as unrealistic. He argued that a more honest and transparent evaluation approach is necessary. Hai stated that the younger generation must be both academically strong and ethically grounded, adding, “We must raise students who are not only intelligent but also kind-hearted.”