Forms of Teaching Ethnic Language in General Education Institutions in Vietnam

What are forms of teaching ethnic language in general educational institutions in Vietnam?

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 5 Circular 32/2021/TT-BGDDT:

Form of teaching

1. Ethnic minority language subjects are implemented according to the curriculum of each level of education, using elective time in the existing general education curriculum to organize teaching in educational institutions.

2. The learning of ethnic minority languages is organized according to the classes specified in the Charter of Primary Schools, Charter of Lower Secondary Schools, Charter of High Schools, and Charter of Schools with Multiple Levels, as well as the Regulations on the organization and operation of continuing education centers. For each ethnic minority language, if all learners in a class wish to learn, a class for teaching that ethnic minority language will be organized accordingly; in cases where only a few learners in a class wish to learn, a separate class for teaching that ethnic minority language will be organized and may be combined with another class if the number of students is insufficient. The minimum number of learners in a class is 10 (ten) people.

Ethnic minority language subjects are implemented according to the curriculum of each level of education, using elective time in the existing general education curriculum to organize teaching in educational institutions.

Additionally, the learning of ethnic minority languages is organized according to the classes specified in the Charter of general education institutions.

Forms of Teaching Ethnic Language in General Education Institutions in Vietnam​ (Image from the Internet)

What are the conditions for teaching ethnic minority languages in general education institutions in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 2 Circular 32/2021/TT-BGDDT, the conditions for teaching of ethnic minority languages in general education institutions and continuing education centers are as follows:

- Ethnic minority people in the locality have the wish and need to learn ethnic minority languages in educational institutions.

- The written script of the ethnic minority language taught and learned in educational institutions must be a traditional script that has been widely circulated and used in the ethnic community, identified by specialized agencies, and approved by the Provincial People's Committee (PPC) or a script promulgated by the Government of Vietnam. For ethnic minority languages with multiple scripts, the selection of the script for teaching shall be decided by the Ministry of Education and Training.

- The ethnic minority language curriculum is issued by the Ministry of Education and Training, and the textbooks on ethnic minority languages are approved by the Ministry of Education and Training.

- Teachers teaching ethnic minority languages must meet the qualification standards corresponding to the educational level as stipulated in Article 72 of the Education Law 2019. In cases where there is a shortage of qualified teachers, individuals meeting the teaching conditions for the educational level and holding a certificate of ethnic minority language teacher training may be employed.

- Facilities in classes teaching ethnic minority languages should be equipped like other regular classes, meeting the general education program. Teaching equipment for ethnic minority languages should be provided according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training concerning the minimum list of teaching equipment for each ethnic minority language teaching program.

What is the process for incorporating ethnic minority languages into teaching in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 3 Circular 32/2021/TT-BGDDT, the process for incorporating ethnic minority languages into teaching is regulated as follows:

Step 1: Primary schools and lower secondary schools compile the demand for learning ethnic minority languages and report it to the Department of Education and Training; high schools, continuing education centers, and vocational education - continuing education centers compile the demand for learning ethnic minority languages and report it to the Department of Education and Training.

The Department of Education and Training compiles the demand for learning ethnic minority languages from learners at educational institutions under its jurisdiction in the province or centrally-administered city; based on specific local conditions for organizing teaching, it develops a plan and advises the Provincial People's Committee to prepare a dossier requesting the Ministry of Education and Training to approve the teaching of ethnic minority languages in educational institutions.

Step 2: The Provincial People's Committee prepares a dossier and submits 01 set of documents through one of the following methods: directly, by post, or online to request the Ministry of Education and Training to approve the teaching of ethnic minority languages in educational institutions in the locality.