Speaking at the Speak Up 2025 final, held on 17/1 at the Ho Chi Minh City Theater, Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong highlighted Vietnam's ongoing fundamental and comprehensive education reform, which focuses on developing student competencies. He stated that beyond cultural knowledge, digital literacy and foreign language proficiency are two crucial conditions for students to integrate globally.

Thu truong Pham Ngoc Thuong phat bieu tai Chung ket Speak Up 2025. Anh: ILA

Politburo Resolution 71 calls for enhancing students' foreign language abilities, gradually making English a second language in schools. Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong views this as a favorable condition to promote English teaching and learning, fostering the skills necessary for students to become global citizens.

To achieve this goal, the Deputy Minister stressed the importance of society-wide collaboration through a "Three-House" cooperation model: State – School – Enterprise. This approach aligns with the spirit of Resolutions 57-NQ/TW and 71-NQ/TW, which focus on developing high-quality human resources in education and training.

"The project outlines practical tasks and solutions, including socialization and international cooperation in foreign language teaching," he said. "The coordination between local Departments of Education and Training, schools, and international educational organizations over many years in foreign language teaching and learning is a very sound policy."

The Speak Up 2025 competition, organized by ILA Vietnam, exemplifies this collaborative effort. With over 30 years of supporting Vietnamese education, ILA has established academic platforms that help move English beyond the classroom, transforming it into a tool for students to develop critical thinking, confidence, and integration skills.

The Deputy Minister also urged local departments and schools to select practical and appropriate educational activities to develop student competencies. This ensures that students have access to effective programs and capable teachers with suitable methods and skills.

Thi sinh trong vong thi phan bien bang tieng Anh tai Speak Up 2025. Anh: ILA

Speak Up 2025: students use English to think

The Speak Up 2025 competition began in September 2025, attracting nearly 20,000 participants nationwide. The final, themed "Voice in Power – Tieng noi la suc manh" (Voice is Power), brought together the top 8 outstanding contestants across two categories: Super Juniors (8-11 years old) and Smart Teens (12-16 years old). Participants competed in three demanding rounds: presentations, talent displays, and live debates.

During the competition, contestant Nguyen Thu Trang confidently delivered an English speech in the Super Juniors category on "A Magical Tool for a Better World," spreading a positive and inspiring message. Jonathan Bird, Training Director at ILA Vietnam, noted that the quality of this year's contestants was the highest ever.

"They showed a diverse range of English skills, from strong linguistic foundations, confidence to passion, and adaptability on stage. Most impressively, they truly used English to express their thoughts and personal views," he said. "Many projects and speeches at the final night showed that they can fully use English as a tool for thinking and dialogue if placed in a suitable educational ecosystem."

Quan quan cua hai bang dau thuoc ve Le Quang Phuc va Nguyen Khanh Han. Anh: ILA

At the Speak Up 2025 final, successful contestants received prizes including international summer study trips and long-term scholarships, totaling nearly 1 billion VND. Le Quang Phuc, 8 years old, from ILA Vung Tau, was crowned champion of the Super Juniors category, while Nguyen Khanh Han, 12 years old, from ILA Phan Van Tri, Ho Chi Minh City, won the Smart Teens category.

Experts agree that the competition's greatest value lies in fostering student confidence, expressive ability, and a desire for global integration. The competition plans future expansion, aiming to help students express themselves and engage with the world, consistent with ILA's educational approach over the past three decades.

Quang Anh