Abstract

Bilingual education is a widely adopted model in multilingual and multi-ethnic countries. In Vietnam, educational policies have promoted bilingual programs to preserve minority languages, including the Khmer language for Khmer students, while fostering proficiency in Vietnamese, the majority language. These programs aim to enable students to use both languages fluently and support the universalization of primary education. This study conducted semi-structured interviews with four school administrators and six teachers involved in bilingual education programs to examine the opportunities and challenges of Khmer-Vietnamese bilingual education for Khmer primary school students in three provinces of the Mekong Delta. The findings highlight opportunities, including the development of Khmer and Vietnamese language skills, the preservation and promotion of Khmer cultural values, and the enhancement of multicultural connections among Khmer students. However, challenges were also identified, such as shortages of qualified teaching staff, limited teaching materials, and insufficient instructional time for the Khmer language. The study discusses these findings and their implications for bilingual education policy and practice.