On the morning of November 25, the National Assembly heard a proposal from Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son regarding the national target program to modernize and enhance the quality of education and training during the 2026–2035 period.

The program aims to comprehensively standardize and modernize Vietnam’s education system. It seeks to drive a fundamental shift in quality, expand learning opportunities for all citizens, ensure equitable access to education and lifelong learning, and better meet human resource demands - especially for highly skilled labor.

The government has set key goals for 2030, including sufficient infrastructure and standardized teaching equipment, with a strong focus on STEM/STEAM labs, practice rooms, recreational spaces, and physical training environments. The program also plans to complete a network of boarding schools and provide staff housing in remote, mountainous, border, and island regions.

Raising Vietnam’s global education profile

Another target is to invest in approximately eight public universities to help them break into the top 200 in Asia. At least one is expected to enter the global top 100 in selected academic fields.

By 2030, the plan calls for 95% of educators and administrators, and 70% of students to be trained in digital literacy, educational technologies, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning. At least 30% of educational institutions are expected to effectively implement and integrate digital technologies and AI. English is also to be gradually adopted as a second language across the national education system by this time.

Looking ahead to 2035, the program targets full standardization of infrastructure in all preschools and general education institutions. All of them should also be equipped to support English as a second language in classrooms.

Funding the transformation

The total projected investment for the 2026–2035 period is approximately 580.133 trillion VND (roughly USD 23.7 billion). This includes about 349.113 trillion VND (USD 14.3 billion) from the central government budget (60.2%) and 115.773 trillion VND (USD 4.75 billion) from local budgets (19.9%). Additional funding will come from educational institutions and other legal sources.

From 2026 to 2030, the minimum investment will be 174.673 trillion VND (USD 7.14 billion), including 100 trillion VND (USD 4.08 billion) from the central budget and at least 45.101 trillion VND (USD 1.84 billion) from local budgets.

From 2031 to 2035, the projected investment is 405.460 trillion VND (USD 16.56 billion).

Calls for feasibility and focus

During the assessment report, Nguyen Dac Vinh, Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Society, affirmed the necessity of the program but urged the government to thoroughly evaluate the feasibility of the goals - especially the target for 30% of schools to adopt English as a second language by 2030, and 100% by 2035.

The committee suggested that targets for physical infrastructure in early and general education should focus on ensuring enough permanent, standardized classrooms and essential teaching equipment.

Regarding human resources, Vinh recommended including targets for sending teachers and students to study abroad at reputable international universities using state funding.

For the program’s financing, the committee emphasized the need to allocate funds with a clear focus, ensure feasibility, and avoid duplication with other existing programs.

Tran Thuong