Vietnam shifts education focus to talent development over competition

Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau has instructed the Ministry of Education and Training to overhaul the role of specialized and gifted student schools, repositioning them as hubs for identifying and nurturing talent across the country.

The directive represents a strategic shift away from the traditional emphasis on national student excellence examinations, which have long dominated Vietnam's education system. Instead, schools are being encouraged to focus on comprehensive talent identification and development programs that serve broader workforce needs.

The move aligns with Vietnam's wider policy initiatives aimed at attracting, retaining, and developing high-quality human resources across key economic sectors. Government officials have emphasized the need to better utilize both domestic talent and overseas Vietnamese expertise to support national development priorities.

The education sector reforms are part of a broader government action plan to strengthen human capital as Vietnam seeks to maintain economic competitiveness and support its transition toward knowledge-based industries. Education officials are expected to develop detailed implementation guidelines for the restructured school system in coming months.