CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN VIETNAM: DEVELOPMENT PROCESS FROM 1945 TO PRESENT AND ORIENTATION FOR THE PERIOD OF 2025-2030

This article examines the evolution of continuing education programs in Vietnam from 1945 to the present, analyzing their development across major historical periods. The findings indicate that during the Literacy Campaign period, continuing education programs focused primarily on eradicating illiteracy, making a significant contribution to improving educational attainment and disseminating basic knowledge among the population. During the Supplementary Education period, program content became increasingly diversified to meet practical learning needs and support the enhancement of educational and professional qualifications among cadres and workers. In the Equivalency Education period, programs were reoriented toward practical application and tailored to the needs of young people engaged in work and production activities. The study demonstrates that, throughout different stages of development, continuing education programs in Vietnam have been built upon the foundation of the general education curriculum while being flexibly adapted to learners’ characteristics, needs, and learning conditions. Based on an analysis of this historical development process, the article proposes several orientations for the development of continuing education programs in the 2025–2030 period, with the aim of meeting lifelong learning needs and contributing to the construction of a learning society in Vietnam.