Ministry of Science and Technology talks about how to bring AI into primary school

Speaking at the regular September press conference of the Ministry of Science and Technology , Mr. Ho Duc Thang said that to bring AI into primary schools "quickly but surely", we need a clear and practical 5-step action plan, based on the Prime Minister's direction and international experience.

Firstly, according to Mr. Thang, bringing AI into primary school is not to train "little AI engineers" but to equip children with three core competencies of global citizens: understanding AI, knowing how to use AI safely and responsibly, and helping children think creatively when interacting with technology.

“To do this, we only need to incorporate about 5-10 hours of study each year for students from grade 1, integrating it into existing subjects and experiential activities, as Singapore is applying from 2025,” Mr. Thang said.

The second content, according to the leader of the National Institute of Digital Technology and Digital Transformation, is to build two mandatory "safety fences" to protect children. This is a prerequisite, because education is a particularly sensitive field, requiring maximum caution.

The first barrier is supervision and age. Students are not allowed to use GenAI tools freely. All activities must take place through school accounts and under the direct guidance of teachers.

Mr. Ho Duc Thang, Director of the National Institute of Digital Technology and Digital Transformation, Ministry of Science and Technology.

The safety fence only allows the use of AI tools that are on a “white list” approved by the relevant authority. These are software that has been thoroughly vetted for content, student data protection, and age-appropriateness.

Mr. Thang also believes that AI should focus on teachers – the key to all success. The most urgent task is to train teachers. "We need a standardized training program and build a core team of about 1,000 "core teachers" on AI to lead and spread experiences nationwide, similar to the Estonian model from 2025," Mr. Thang said.

Another important content, according to the leader of the National Institute of Digital Technology and Digital Transformation, is to learn from international experience intelligently. We do not copy mechanically, but distill valuable lessons. For example, from Singapore, we will learn how to do it in short, practical modules, focusing on safety and responsibility.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the introduction of AI into primary education is being carried out step by step.

From Estonia, we learn to prioritize teacher training to be one step ahead. From Korea, we learn not to rush to replace textbooks with apps, but to start with supplementary learning materials and electives, avoiding the "slowdown" situation like Korea in 2025 due to concerns about inequality.

“Most importantly, from the US, we learn that success comes not only from the curriculum, but from the E-Rate program with a budget of about 4.9 billion USD/year to ensure that every school, whether in rural or urban areas, has good internet,” Mr. Thang said.

Finally, according to this expert, instead of mass deployment, we will take steady steps, starting with a clear pilot roadmap for 18-24 months, carefully preparing teaching materials and teacher training, then piloting in some localities, and then expanding nationwide based on actual results.

“In short, bringing AI into primary schools is the right time, but it must be done "in the right way" in the spirit of putting teachers at the center, the tools must be safe, and each step must be taken firmly," said Mr. Thang.