VietNamNet Bridge – While the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has been strictly supervising the implementation of the program on teaching English at primary schools, it does not keep a keen eye on the preschool’s teaching.

A foreign language center for kids in Hanoi.

Urban parents tend to bring their children to English classes very soon at the age of four or five, because they believe that it would be better to start learning foreign languages as soon as possible

This explains why English has been taught not only at primary schools, but preschools as well. In general, nursery schools join forces with English centers to provide English lessons at the schools.

In Hanoi, for example, Smart Kids center has been providing English teachers to both state owned and private run preschools, including Tuoi Hoa Nursery School in Dong Da district, Hoang Gia and Nhat Mai on Thai Ha street and Bim Bon in Dinh Cong area.

The high demand for learning English has led to the “international nursery school boom.” Any nursery school which cooperates with English center to teach English to children would introduce itself as “international school” or “bilingual school.” Therefore, a lot of parents misunderstand that their children follow international curriculums.

Well-off parents now tend to bring their children to the international schools. Where they believe the children can begin learning English soon. Sesame Garden, Kid’s Garden, Blue Star, Cherie Hearts, Color House are the best known names to the parents.

The tuitions for English classes have not been managed by MOET, but negotiated by the schools and parents. The average tuition is VND80,000-450,000 a month.

Luu Thi Tuong Van, Deputy Head of the Ba Dinh district’s Education and Training Sub-department, said there is no legal document mentioning the teaching of English to children at preschools.

While the English teaching at primary schools has been put under the control by MOET, and every move by schools need MOET’s approval, the English teaching at preschools has been “floated.”

“Preschools join forces with English centers to teach English to children, why they are not required to submit reports to the watchdog agency or any other management agency,” Van said.

Nguyen Phuong Thuy, a parent in Cau Giay district, said she wants to send her 5-year old daughter to a preschool where children can learn English. However, she does not know where to go to.

Thuy said the ad pieces prove to be unreliable, because the schools all introduce themselves as international schools which provide education services in accordance with international standards. Meanwhile, there has been no information from MOET or any relevant agencies about the schools and their teaching quality.

The other thing that worries Thuy is that MOET does not say which curriculums are suitable to preschool children.

It may happen that the children, who begin learning English at preschools, would have to repeat the same lessons at primary schools. This would make the English lessons boring to students.

“A friend of mine said her daughter has two English lessons at her preschool. Meanwhile, the school where I am going to send my daughter, said English would be practiced every day.”

Song Moi