Digital transformation: The 'key' to Ho Chi Minh City education

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has made great strides in digital transformation, innovation in teaching methods and international integration.

LEADERSHIP IN DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Identifying technology as the "key" to opening the future of modern education , the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City has concretized the education development strategy associated with digital transformation through many programs, projects and pioneering models, aiming to build "Digital Schools - Digital Students - Digital Teachers".

Students learn foreign languages ​​with Metaverse virtual reality technology

PHOTO: BAO CHAU

Mr. Ho Tan Minh, Chief of Office of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, said that the application of information technology does not only stop at administrative management but also spreads widely to each classroom, each teaching and learning activity. The whole sector has synchronously deployed an education database platform that connects educational institutions, supports the management of student records, learning outcomes, teachers' expertise and school activities. This system helps to improve transparency, save time, and effectively serve the work of directing, operating and making decisions based on data.

Ho Chi Minh City is also the first locality in the country to deploy a large-scale online learning and assessment system, synchronized from primary to high school levels. Notably, after the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training quickly adapted, making online teaching a regular part of the flexible education strategy.

From teaching via Zoom and Google Classroom, schools have gradually moved to an internal digital learning platform, where each lecture, document, and learning video is built and stored into a "digital knowledge bank". Teachers are trained in digital skills, students are equipped with information technology capacity and skills to use smart devices safely and effectively.

In particular, Ho Chi Minh City is also a pioneer in bringing the international digital skills standard ICDL (International Computer Driving License) into mainstream teaching. The implementation of ICDL not only helps students obtain international IT certificates but also integrates technology, creating a solid foundation for the future generation of "digital citizens".

At the same time, the digitization of libraries, learning materials, smart management, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in education are being expanded. Many schools in Ho Chi Minh City have deployed "Digital Libraries", "Virtual Teachers", "Student Support Robots", turning the learning space into a multi-dimensional interactive environment, stimulating interest and creativity. This is an important foundation for Ho Chi Minh City to move towards the goal of "Smart Education, Smart City".

STEP BY STEP MAKE ENGLISH A SECOND LANGUAGE IN SCHOOLS

Also starting from this school year, Ho Chi Minh City is preparing for a step-by-step roadmap to make English the second language in schools, the earliest and most in the country.

Preschool students in Ho Chi Minh City experience virtual reality glasses on the inauguration day of the school's Digital Library.

PHOTO: THUY HANG

Regarding the preparation of steps in building a roadmap to make English the second language in schools, Dr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City, commented that Ho Chi Minh City has many advantages in piloting the implementation thanks to the effective implementation of programs and projects right from grade 1 such as the English Enhancement Program from the 1998-1999 school year, the Integrated English Program (Project 5695 - Teaching and learning math, science and English subjects integrating English and Vietnamese programs from the 2014-2015 school year)... The core goal of the project is to help students learn English, study subjects in English, thereby developing foreign language skills, academic thinking and the ability to integrate internationally right from high school. This is a pioneering step of Ho Chi Minh City in the process of comprehensive educational innovation, keeping up with the trend of integration and digital transformation in teaching.

Ho Chi Minh City is in the process of collecting opinions to complete a project to gradually make English the second language in schools with 2 phases and specific solutions.

Lessons with foreign teachers for students in Ho Chi Minh City

Photo: Dao Ngoc Thach

In particular, the 2025-2026 school year is phase 1, preparing and piloting with tasks such as establishing a city-level project steering committee, issuing professional, financial and human resource guidance documents for implementation. Completing a survey, comprehensively assessing the current situation and developing a detailed plan and roadmap for each school and each locality. Starting to implement language proficiency training courses and mass teaching methods for the teaching staff. Selecting and starting the process of building a detailed project for public schools to pilot the international program.

Phase 2 (from 2027 - 2030) will be widely deployed and evaluated, and digital classrooms will be put into operation as planned. Schools piloting the international program will begin enrolling the first courses. A mid-term review and assessment will be held at the end of 2027 to draw lessons and make adjustments (if necessary). A comprehensive review and assessment of the results of the Project implementation for the 2025 - 2030 period will be held at the end of 2030.

Based on the preliminary results of the 2025 - 2030 period, build the next phase project with higher goals, aiming to make English truly become a second language, popular in study, research and life, contributing to building Ho Chi Minh City into an educational, economic and financial center of Asia.

Information between teachers, parents, and students through technology applications

In the 2025-2026 school year, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training will deploy the EDUi interactive application system for all educational institutions at all levels. This is considered an important step to synchronize the management platform, improve teaching and learning efficiency, and at the same time connect with the general digital transformation orientation of the city and the whole country.

EDUi is designed as a common platform for the entire industry, ensuring consistency in data, management processes and operating methods. Through this, schools reduce administrative procedures, teachers conveniently manage classes, and students are supported in accessing digital learning materials, studying online, submitting assignments and updating learning information in a timely manner. The system also facilitates increased interaction between schools, families and society.

According to the Department of Education and Training, the application of EDUi not only brings practical benefits to each school, but also contributes to building a centralized education data infrastructure, interconnected with other fields. This is an important foundation for Ho Chi Minh City education to continue to pioneer in the digital transformation process, while accompanying the city towards the goal of a smart city.

Specifically, the EDUi interactive application functions will provide free information, news, and events of the industry; Help the Department of Education and Training organize public survey content for parents and students; Information on learning results (providing utilities for parents and students to register an account using their citizen ID to look up and monitor students' learning results); Educational information (providing utilities for parents and students to monitor student class bulletin boards); Sending leave requests; Providing utilities for students/parents to view student timetables, teachers to sign digital lesson books, etc. Providing a platform that allows organizations to build and share learning materials to serve to improve teaching quality; Interaction and communication between teachers, parents and schools; Managing student information, attendance, attendance, and violations.

In addition, the EDUi interactive application system also has a digital library feature, in which students and teachers can borrow and return books and read books online. Regarding facility equipment management, teachers can borrow and return equipment via the application. Regarding school health, update data on students' periodic health check-ups and student health issues during their studies at school. Teachers manage, evaluate, and monitor exercises to consolidate knowledge. Students can monitor and submit exercises on the app. Support online learning, assigning exercises, submitting exercises, testing, evaluating; applying AI in teaching and learning...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chuyen-doi-so-chia-khoa-cua-giao-duc-tphcm-185251012193309151.htm