The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has recently signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation with Pearson Education and EMG Education to help preschool children in Ho Chi Minh City approach English as a second language, rather than merely as a foreign language.
On the morning of March 23, the department organized a seminar titled “Introducing English in Preschool Education Based on International Standards and Applying Technology in Language Proficiency Assessment,” with the participation of numerous experts in education, information technology, and teaching.
1. Growing demand for standardized English proficiency
According to a report from the Preschool Education Division of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, preschools across the city have shown great interest in introducing English to young children and in selecting appropriate partners to organize English education at this level effectively.
As of now, out of a total of 1,305 preschools in the city, 1,240 have implemented English introduction programs for children — accounting for 95%. Among them, 423 are public preschools (34.1%), while 817 are private preschools (65.9%).
Ms. Lương Thị Hồng Điệp, Head of the Preschool Education Division, emphasized that familiarizing children with English has become an essential need and has received strong support from parents and caregivers.
At the seminar, many experts and educators from preschools across Ho Chi Minh City expressed their desire to see preschoolers make tangible progress in early English exposure — especially through establishing a solid foundation in internationally standardized English.
Leaders from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, Pearson Education, and EMG Education at the signing ceremony on the morning of March 23
Mrs. Mai Yến Hằng, Principal of Thanh Pho Preschool, shared that children at the school begin familiarizing themselves with English from the age of three. The school plans to collaborate with educational partners to help students meet the standards set by the Ministry of Education and Training, aiming to reach international benchmarks in the future.
Ms. Huỳnh Thị Bích Phượng, Vice Principal of Mai Vàng Preschool (Go Vap District), noted that given the current context and parents’ expectations, introducing English to preschoolers has become an urgent need.
She emphasized that having international English standards at the preschool level not only meets parents’ demand for early English education but also brings greater consistency to language teaching. “With a common assessment framework and proficiency standards, English familiarization programs at preschools will help students learn more effectively when they enter primary school,” Ms. Phượng said.
At the seminar, Mr. Lê Hoài Nam, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, stated that according to global studies published in 2014, many parents were still hesitant about introducing foreign languages to preschool children.
“However, more recent research shows that exposing children to a foreign language from an early age is the right approach, as language knowledge and skills developed during this stage create a strong foundation for more effective language learning in the future,” Mr. Nam explained.
Children playing at a preschool – Photo: Mỹ Dung
2. Integrating information technology into language proficiency assessment
Speaking at the seminar, Mr. Nguyễn Văn Hiếu—Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training—stated that the city’s education sector strives to ensure that “preschool children in Ho Chi Minh City can access the best possible language foundation—enabling them to use English as a second language, rather than merely as a foreign language. This is the shared aspiration of both the city and the education sector.”
For that reason, the department is particularly focused on applying technology to assess preschoolers’ language proficiency.
“The Department has collaborated with Pearson and EMG Education to integrate technology into the assessment of students’ English proficiency. These assessments can be conducted regularly and periodically to draw lessons and enhance teaching quality. The goal is not to pressure children—such as requiring specific skills at age three or four—but to provide timely guidance and adjust teaching methods appropriately,” Mr. Hiếu emphasized.
Also during the seminar on the morning of March 23, Ho Chi Minh City officially launched a Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Education and Training, EMG Education, and Pearson Education, aimed at realizing the integration of information technology into language proficiency assessments for students.
Pearson and EMG Education will continue to implement Pearson’s digital English proficiency frameworks, including the Pearson English International Certificate (PEIC) in its online computer-based format. In addition, Pearson will collaborate on research and consultancy in digital transformation methods in education, supporting the Department of Education and Training in achieving an effective and comprehensive digital transformation.
Mr. Christopher Cuddihy, Global Director of Government Relations and International Cooperation at Pearson – Photo: Mỹ Dung
Regarding the International English Proficiency Standards for Preschoolers, Pearson introduced an age-appropriate and highly visual English assessment approach based on the Global Scale of English Pre-Primary (GSE Pre-Primary) framework. This model allows children to access English standards aligned with those of their peers around the world.
Sharing at the seminar, Mr. Christopher Cuddihy, Global Director of Government Relations and International Cooperation at Pearson, said:
“We are proud to introduce Pearson’s preschool English familiarization and assessment program, and we are honored to share our experience in applying technology to testing and evaluation—contributing to the city’s educational digital transformation.”
Source: Tuổi Trẻ
