Many students studying English under Project 5695 of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee have achieved outstanding results in international examinations, including five students who earned the “Highest Mark in the World” distinction.
Outstanding student achievements
In 2022 and 2023, brothers Bùi Trọng Nguyên and Bùi Khôi Nguyên, students in Ho Chi Minh City, consecutively achieved the Highest Mark in the World in Mathematics in the international Pearson Edexcel examinations.
In 2024, Văn Hoàng Minh Anh, a student at Le Quy Don Secondary School, also achieved the world’s highest score in Mathematics. Previously, Phan Ngọc Châu Anh and Trần Hà Thanh Trúc (Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted), as well as Huỳnh Hà Mi (Nguyen Thuong Hien High School), achieved excellent results across Mathematics, English, and Science.
Bùi Trọng Nguyên (left) and Bùi Khôi Nguyên both achieved the highest Mathematics score in the world
According to Bùi Đức Nguyện, the father of Bùi Trọng Nguyên and Bùi Khôi Nguyên, both students had followed the Integrated English Program from an early age and had not taken extra classes outside school when they achieved these results. He believes the learning environment has helped them develop their strengths and build a strong foundation for the future.
These achievements are part of the results of the Integrated English Program under Project 5695 of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training reported that the project has helped many students excel in international academic examinations.
Notably:
- 5 students achieved the Highest Mark in the World in Pearson Edexcel international examinations
- 41 students received Highest Mark in Vietnam awards
- 119 students received Outstanding Learner Awards for high achievement across Mathematics, English, and Science
Academic results of students in Project 5695 remain consistently high, especially in Mathematics and Science. After 10 years of implementation, more than 93% of primary students achieved good or excellent results, while the rate at secondary and high school levels exceeded 80%.
Most students completing the program also reach proficiency levels aligned with Vietnam’s 6-level Foreign Language Framework, equivalent to levels in the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
Foundation for English as a second language in schools
The government has recently proposed investing 580.133 trillion VND over the next decade to modernize and improve education, including the goal of gradually making English a second language in the national education system and piloting innovative schools that foster creativity, critical thinking, and international integration.
For many years, Ho Chi Minh City has prioritized programs and initiatives to improve English teaching and learning. At the recent 50th anniversary celebration of the city’s education sector, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Phạm Ngọc Thưởng praised the city for pioneering innovative models such as the Integrated English Program and internationally integrated schools.
Nguyễn Văn Hiếu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, delivered a keynote speech at the professional conference on the implementation of Project 5695
The Integrated English Program has been implemented since 2014 under Decision 5695 by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training and EMG Education. Its goal is to transform English from a foreign language subject into a tool for thinking and acquiring advanced knowledge.
After more than a decade, the program has proven effective by harmoniously combining international academic standards with Vietnam’s educational goals. Students study subjects such as Mathematics and Science entirely in English, based on an integrated framework combining the Vietnamese curriculum with the UK curriculum.
The CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) approach is applied throughout the program, helping students master academic knowledge while naturally developing multilingual thinking - from problem-solving to presenting ideas in English.
This provides a strong foundation for Ho Chi Minh City to continue leading efforts to make English a second language in schools and to develop education models that foster creativity, critical thinking, and global integration.
Source: Dân Trí
