The Prime Minister has just signed the Decision No. 72/2014/QD-TTg dated December 17, 2014 of the Prime Minister on teaching and learning in foreign language at schools and other educational institutions, any foreign language may be used partially or entirely to teach learners at general education level in Vietnam with the priority given to such majors as mathematics, natural sciences, technology and computer science.
The Prime Minister also emphasizes that as for general education level, the final examination and test at the end of an academic year or grade of training programs or subjects designed in a foreign language must be designed in Vietnamese language. Learners shall be able to take more examinations in a foreign language in order to be entitled to incentives in accordance with instructions of the Ministry of Education and Training.
Training programs designed for university and vocational education levels must be approved by competent authorities while quality-certified academic programs offered by foreign-owned educational institutions may partially or entirely use a foreign language in the teaching and learning process; teaching and learning majors or
disciplines in basic science, and certain skills or professions serving the social demands and international integration purpose shall be given the priority.
Also in accordance with this Decision, for teachers of academic programs designed in a foreign language, teachers of general educational levels must hold the certificate of foreign language proficiency which is ranked at least 2 levels higher than the level required in the foreign language proficiency that a student is able to receive after they finish their training program. This calculation shall be based on the 6-level Framework for foreign language proficiency applied in Vietnam or the like. teachers of higher and vocational education programs are required to achieve the foreign language proficiency ranked 5 out of the levels specified in the Framework for foreign language proficiency applied in Vietnam or the like. Those who have gained bachelor, master and doctorate degrees after experiencing a regular training abroad shall be granted exception to the abovementioned regulations on requirements for foreign language proficiency.
This Decision takes effect on February 20, 2015.
