Ho Chi Minh City has launched an ambitious project to increase English language skills for students in schools and vocational centers during the academic year 2012-2013 at an estimated investment of about VND408 billion (US$204,000).

An English language class in Tran Khai Nguyen High School ( Photo: T. Han)

The Department of Education and Training held a meeting to launch the project for enhancement of English language skills during the academic year 2012-2013.

The project aims at a comprehensive renewal of teaching and learning methods in every grade and at every training level, so as to achieve dramatic progress in students’ speaking, listening and reading skills.

The project will then stretch over a 10-year period in which English language will be a compulsory subject from third grade onwards in schools.

Le Hong Son, director of the Department of Education and Training, said that during the academic year 2012-2013 the education sector will recruit more English teachers as well as spend more money on implementing this project.

Teachers passing the examination set by the department to teach English will receive a bonus of up to 70 percent on their salary.