Vietnam to Add 12 Core AI Lessons to Grades 1-12 Curriculum From 2026-2027 School Year

Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training will incorporate 12 core AI lessons into the general education curriculum from grades 1 to 12 starting in the 2026-2027 school year, covering four areas: human-centered thinking, AI ethics, AI techniques and applications, and AI system design. Professor Le Anh Vinh, Director of the Institute of Educational Strategy and Policy, said the debate has shifted from whether to ban AI in 2023 to how to use it in 2026. He cited a 2024 survey in which 48% of surveyed students had not received teacher guidance on using AI, 47% felt a lack of knowledge and skills, and over 42% faced equipment and technology difficulties.

This is a national-level arrangement that writes AI content into the basic education curriculum, directly changing Vietnam's school curriculum structure, teacher preparation, and textbook needs, while setting content boundaries for education products entering classrooms. The 2024 survey cited by Le Anh Vinh shows nearly half of students previously lacked teacher guidance, indicating that implementation depends heavily on teacher training and equipment. The original text does not provide lesson-hour arrangements, teacher training plans, or assessment methods, so implementation effects cannot yet be verified. Vietnam's grades 1-12 curriculum will add 12 core AI lessons, creating demand for textbooks, teacher training, and classroom equipment. Students previously learned AI on their own from friends or family; with the curriculum, schools must take on guidance duties and teachers need to adjust assessment methods.