Vietnam needs some 2,000 English teachers a year

PANO – The Ministry of Education and Training is planning to implement a large pilot project to teach English to third form pupils on a large scale and pupils in the fourth and sixth forms at a number of primary schools during the school year of 2011-2012.

Under the project English will be taught to all third-form pupils but only a number of fourth- and sixth-form pupils at 20 per cent of the total primary schools in the country.

If the pilot project is successful, English may be taught at all primary schools in the country, the Ministry said.

However, there are 4,000 English teachers at primary schools across the country and the numbers are sufficient only for the pilot project.

According to officials, Vietnam should train from 1,700 to 2,000 English teachers at the primary levels from 2011 to meet the need for English teachers when English will be taught in all primary schools.