Report Survey Reveals English Proficiency Challenges Among Ho Chi Minh City Teachers

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Photo: VN Express

 

A comprehensive government survey in Ho Chi Minh City has illuminated a significant proficiency gap in English among public school teachers, uncovering that 31% have skills below the intermediate level. The Department of Education and Training's study, which assessed approximately 50,000 teachers including 4,700 English instructors, found that English proficiency varies considerably across different educational levels and subjects.

 

The survey categorised results into three reliability tiers: reliable, moderately reliable, and data lacking sufficient information. This distinction helps ensure the accuracy of the findings. In the reliable data set, 41% of teachers displayed a B1 level proficiency, characterised by basic language independence, while 31% fell below this benchmark, and 28% achieved the B2 level or higher.

 

Notably, the survey revealed that elementary and secondary school teachers demonstrate similar proficiency levels, with 30-33% below B1, 38-43% at B1, and 27-29% at B2 or above. High school teachers, however, showed stronger proficiency; none reached the C2 level (the highest), yet 45% attained B2 or C1 status.

 

A stark contrast emerged between teachers of English and those of other subjects. While 8% of English teachers possessed C2 proficiency, none of the other subject teachers reached this level. Furthermore, 45% of English teachers were at the C1 level, compared to just 2% of their peers from other specialties.

 

Despite these gaps, the survey results, conducted via an online test over 90 minutes, are not intended for ranking or evaluating teacher performance. Instead, they offer an overview of current English skills, informing the development of training and educational strategies in pursuit of improving the quality of foreign language instruction.

 

The results will guide future educational reforms, including the possible project "Gradually making English the second language in schools." The department plans to facilitate additional training for teachers requiring English proficiency improvement, including self-study options. Those excelling in English might have opportunities to teach other subjects in English, with international study placements offered for further development.

 

Director Nguyen Van Hieu highlighted the department's commitment to supporting teachers in enhancing their language skills, aiming to implement effective training pathways to meet educational reform objectives and foster a bilingual teaching environment.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-05-08