Under the new general education program, to start from the 2022-2023 academic year for high school education, students will have five compulsory subjects, while the other subjects will be optional. History will be one optional subject in the group of social science subjects (history, geography, economics, law education). 

The new regulation has stirred controversy among teachers and education experts. Some warned that once history is no longer a compulsory subject, students’ won’t register for the course because history is a difficult subject. This will affect patriotism education. 

MOET officials spoke at a meeting between the Central Propaganda and Training Commission and press agencies on April 19, 2022. 

Resolution 29-NQ/TW says the new general program needs to be sure that students at a secondary education level have basic knowledge; and students at a high school education level should prepare for careers. 

The resolution also requires building and standardizing general education content towards modernity, high quality, high integration in lower classes and gradual differentiation in upper classes; and reducing the number of compulsory subjects and increasing optional subjects, topics and educational activities. 

To implement the resolution, the National Assembly enacted Resolution 88 dated November 28, 2014 on the renovation of general education program and textbooks. 

Under the resolution, general education lasts 12 years, divided into two phases, including basic education (5-year primary education and 4-year secondary education) and career-oriented education (3-year high school education). 

The education ministry affirmed that it has organized the new general education program in accordance with guidelines of the Party and regulations of the State. 

Under the program, history has strengths in educating patriotism and national pride.  

At the secondary education level, history is taught in all grades, from sixth to ninth grades. Students are provided basic knowledge about the history of the world and Vietnam.  

At a higher education level, history is a subject in the group of social science subjects. It comprises in-depth topics which help students better understand the knowledge students learned in secondary school. 

In addition, the new general education program reserves 20 percent of time for the local education program, i.e., lessons about localities where students live.

Hai Nguyen