Brian Jeffrey
AI’s Transformative Role in Vietnamese Education
During the launch of the “Vietnam Education Innovation Forum with AI 2025” on April 9, Tara O’Connell, the Head of the Education Program at UNICEF Vietnam, emphasized the transformative power of AI in education, making it more inclusive and effective.
AI provides Vietnamese educators with valuable tools, from automating administrative tasks to personalizing learning experiences, allowing the nation to enhance its global competitiveness.
O’Connell highlighted that AI promotes inclusivity through tailored learning experiences and supports remote teaching, delivering quality resources to underserved areas and during emergencies.
Additionally, AI could alleviate teacher shortages by providing professional development and reducing administrative workloads.
It aims to improve access for students with disabilities, assist multilingual learners, and inform data-driven decisions for fair resource distribution in education.
However, O’Connell warned that a significant gap in digital skills, particularly AI literacy among educators, might impede the effective integration of advanced educational technology. Without adequate digital pedagogy and AI tools, teaching methods could remain outdated and inefficient.
Vu Minh Duc, from the Ministry of Education and Training, acknowledged that while AI offers personalized learning opportunities, it also introduces ethical and legal concerns regarding equitable tech access.
Nguyen Chi Thanh, Dean of Pedagogy at the University of Education, affirmed AI’s deep integration within education, noting trends such as tracking student performance, utilizing chatbots for assistance, and automating grading.
A recent study revealed that 15% of schools in major Vietnamese cities employ AI, with 25% in Hanoi and 30% in Ho Chi Minh City. Despite this, 80% of teachers have not participated in AI training programs.
“It’s essential for teachers to effectively utilize AI tools. Training them and creating AI competency standards for students are vital for advancing AI in education,” Thanh commented.
In sharing his research “AI’s Impact on Vietnam’s Education,” Thanh urged caution in AI application. Concerns about inconsistency and potential pitfalls highlight the need for mindful implementation to prevent over-reliance on technology.
Key issues include risk of dependency on AI, including its biases and potential for enabling academic dishonesty.
Over-dependence on AI may diminish fundamental skills and creativity in teaching and learning. Moreover, AI tools, especially large language models, are prone to inaccuracies and biases, undermining fairness and reliability.
“The sophistication of AI opens avenues for advanced cheating methods, which can be challenging to detect without properly trained educators,” he warned.
Chu Tuan Anh, Director of Aptech International Programmer Training System, noted that reliance on AI could stifle students’ creativity. If students resort to AI for quick solutions without engaging their critical thinking, both their personal development and economic innovation may suffer.
“While AI offers substantial advantages, its drawbacks must be managed. Just like with the internet’s evolution from criticism to necessity, we must excel in using AI responsibly. It remains a tool, shaped by human input. Understanding its pros and cons is essential to avoid excessive dependence in education,” Anh explained.
Assessments are evolving to evaluate comprehension and contextually relevant choices rather than rote memorization.
Aptech advocates for incorporating AI in education to leverage technological advancements—students frequently rely on AI for clearer explanations of complex programming concepts.
For coding projects, although AI can generate code, critical analysis and comparison of solutions remain vital. Additionally, AI can serve as a tool for assessment by posing questions and identifying knowledge gaps.
“Nonetheless, oversight on AI use is crucial. Relying solely on AI for solutions may produce a generation lacking in critical thinking, posing a significant risk for an economy that already faces a shortage of skilled workers,” Anh cautioned.
Anushka Siriwardana from RMIT Vietnam suggested that cultivating a questioning culture in students, encouraging them to interrogate AI-generated information, can enhance their critical thinking abilities in tech-supported learning environments.
