Ministry of Education and Training (Vietnam)

Ministry of Education and Training (Vietnam)
Name	Ministry of Education and Training
Native name	Bộ Giáo dục và Đào tạo
Formed	1945
Preceding1	Ministry of National Education (1945–1946)
Jurisdiction	Government of Vietnam
Headquarters	35 Đại Cồ Việt, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hanoi
Minister1 name	Nguyễn Kim Sơn
Minister1 pfo	Minister
Keydocument1	Law on Education
Website	moet.gov.vn

Contents

History
Organization
Functions and responsibilities
Education system
Leadership
See also

Ministry of Education and Training (Vietnam) is the government ministry responsible for national policies and administration of the education system. It oversees all levels from preschool to higher education, including vocational education and teacher training. The ministry operates under the authority of the Government of Vietnam and is headquartered in Hanoi.

History

The ministry's origins trace back to the August Revolution of 1945, when the provisional government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam established the Ministry of National Education, with Võ Nguyên Giáp as its first minister. Following the Geneva Accords, the ministry was reorganized in the North and a separate Directorate of Education existed in the South. After the Fall of Saigon in 1975 and the subsequent reunification, the ministry was unified as the Ministry of Education. In 1990, it was renamed the Ministry of Education and Training to reflect an expanded mandate over vocational training, a change formalized by the National Assembly of Vietnam.

Organization

The ministry is structured into numerous functional departments and subordinate bodies. Key units include the Department of Preschool Education, the Department of Higher Education, and the Department of Teachers and Educational Administrators. Major affiliated national institutions include the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, and the University of Danang. It also oversees various national research institutes like the Vietnam Institute of Educational Sciences and administers bodies such as the National Council for Education and Human Resources Development.

Functions and responsibilities

The ministry's primary function is to state-manage the national education system, which involves drafting strategies, legal documents like the Law on Education, and issuing the national curriculum. It manages the network of public educational institutions, sets standards for teacher qualifications, and organizes national examinations such as the High School Graduation Examination. The ministry is also responsible for international cooperation in education, engaging with organizations like UNESCO and managing partnerships with entities such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Education system

The national system, managed by the ministry, follows a 5-4-3 structure: five years of primary education, four years of lower secondary education, and three years of upper secondary education. Compulsory education spans nine years, from primary to lower secondary. The higher education sector includes universities, academies, and institutes, with degrees ranging from college diplomas to doctoral levels. Major reforms, such as the "Fundamental and Comprehensive Innovation of Education and Training" initiated following resolutions of the Communist Party of Vietnam, have aimed to modernize pedagogy and curricula.

Leadership

The ministry is led by a Minister, who is a member of the Government of Vietnam and is appointed by the President of Vietnam upon approval by the National Assembly of Vietnam. The minister is assisted by several Vice Ministers. As of 2023, the Minister is Nguyễn Kim Sơn, who previously served as President of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Notable former ministers include Phạm Vũ Luận, who oversaw major curriculum reforms, and Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, who later became Vice President of Vietnam.