On the morning of September 11, 2015, a Signing Ceremony of Cooperation took place at the headquarters of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training (DOET) between the department, EMG Education, and Pearson Education Limited.
This event marked a significant milestone in the implementation of the project “Teaching and Learning Mathematics, Science, and English through the Integrated Program of Vietnam and the United Kingdom”—known as the Integrated Program—which has been approved by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. The cooperation aims to expand the international qualification framework for the program, as well as to enhance teacher training and professional development in Vietnam.
Attending the ceremony were distinguished guests including:
Mr. Đào Văn Lừng, Head of the Southern Representative Office of the Central Propaganda and Training Commission;
Mr. Hà Hữu Phúc, Director of the Representative Office of the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) in Ho Chi Minh City;
Mr. Đỗ Quốc Anh, Assistant to the Minister of Education and Training;
Mr. Lê Hồng Sơn, Member of the City Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Director of HCMC DOET;
Mr. Trương Quốc Hùng, Chairman of EMG Education;
Mr. Andy Moss, Managing Director of Pearson Education;
along with senior executives from Pearson, department leaders, district education officers, and principals of primary, secondary, and high schools implementing the Integrated Program.
Prior to the signing, Ho Chi Minh City had already adopted the Edexcel framework as the official outcome standard for the Integrated Program. With this agreement, from the current academic year onward, Pearson Edexcel’s examination and qualification standards will officially serve as the international certification benchmark for Mathematics, English, and Science subjects taught under the Integrated Program.
In addition, the parties will cooperate in teacher training and professional development, as well as other educational initiatives such as digital learning support, publishing, and advanced assessment standards, aligned with the city’s educational development strategy.
Mr. Lê Hồng Sơn, Director of HCMC DOET, stated:
“To enable our students to access advanced international curricula while preserving Vietnamese cultural identity, the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City approved the Integrated Program in the 2014–2015 academic year.
Students completing the program will receive both a diploma from the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and an international qualification from a recognized global examination board, such as those in the UK, Australia, or the United States.”
He also noted that the department will continue to collaborate with Pearson Education in teacher training to expand the program and provide more students with access to this educational opportunity.
Mr. Andy Moss, Managing Director of Pearson Education Limited, expressed his delight:
“Pearson Education is proud to partner with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training and EMG Education in introducing the Edexcel assessment standards to schools implementing the Integrated Program.
With Pearson Edexcel’s globally recognized qualifications, as the largest awarding body in the UK, we are confident that these exams and certificates will accompany Ho Chi Minh City students—and hopefully, Vietnamese students nationwide—on their educational journey.
We also look forward to supporting teacher training initiatives to enhance English proficiency and subject teaching through English, in line with Vietnam’s and Ho Chi Minh City’s education development goals.”
Leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, EMG Education, and Pearson Education Limited at the signing ceremony
Mr. Trương Quốc Hùng, Chairman of EMG Education, added: “Since 2011, we have studied Pearson Edexcel’s standards and recognized that over 70% of UK students take Edexcel examinations. This alignment makes Edexcel an ideal outcome framework for the Integrated Program. EMG Education is committed to ensuring that students meet both Vietnam’s national academic standards and Pearson’s international benchmarks through high-quality teaching and learning.”
Pearson Edexcel is the UK’s largest awarding organization and a division of Pearson, the world’s leading education company. Its globally recognized qualifications include Edexcel International Primary, Lower Secondary, International GCSE (IGCSE), GCSE, and International Diploma programs.
According to the cooperation agreement:
At the end of Grade 5 (Key Stage 2), Integrated Program students will take the Edexcel International Primary Achievement Test, graded by Pearson Edexcel, and receive official certificates.
In Grade 9 (Key Stage 3), students will sit for the Edexcel International Lower Secondary examination.
At the high school level, students may take Edexcel International GCSE or GCSE exams in subjects such as English, Mathematics, and Physics.
This partnership marks an important step forward in modernizing the city’s education system, aligning teaching and learning quality with international standards, and creating broader opportunities for Ho Chi Minh City students—especially those in the Integrated English Program—to pursue studies at leading educational institutions worldwide.
